New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-18
BELIEF THAT 1T WAS A PLOT
INVESTIGATING THE GAS EXPLOSION
PLUG FOUND BENEATH THE SUPPLY PIPE
ERATELY REMOVED - OTHER sUs.

INDICATIONS THAT IT HAD BEEN DEI1b-
ERATELY REMOVED OTHER sUs
PIcIoUs CIRCUMSTANCES.
It is believed by the police that the explosion
In Thomas Maccabe's crockery store at the
southeast corner of Grand and Clinton-sts. on
Friday evening the work of some miscreant.
The police were hard at work fine case all
day yesterday, and an arrest was likely TO DO
made at any moment Sergeant Muret. OF the
Thirteenth Precinct spared no efforts to ferret
out the one who is responsible for the explosion.
and Inspector Williams also gave the case his
attention.
1t was rumored during the day that a former
employe of Maccabe was responsible for tho ex-
plosion but Maccabe laughed at the idea, and
refused to tell the boys name and address Ser
reant Muret said that he had no suspicion Of
tho boy, although he did not know him. and thao
it would have been impossible for him to cause
the explosion
Sergeant Muret added when asked IL he sus-
pected any one
"On Thursday night Patrolman Edward Mag-
ner. whose beat included the corner where the ex-
plosion occurred, was informed by Robert Pail,
whose wife was the housekeeper Of the buildings
that there was a strong smell Of gas coming from
Msccabe's store. The officer sent a messenger To
Maccabe's house, at No. 422 Cherry-st., to inform
him of the escape Of gas and to ask him to como
I'D Immediately. Maccabe answered that he could
not come just then, but would be up IN iew
moments He gave the keys Of the store to the
messenger, who hurried back to the store as rass
as possible. When he arrived Magner took tho
KEYS and opened the store door The amount Oh
gas that had escaped was enough to sunocatc
any one There was lighted gas jet in the store,
and the danger was so apparent that Pail refused
to accompany Magner in. The officer went In with
a boy named Edward Leach, who lived In the
buidnc. They found the spot In the cellar
where the leak was by the kissing noise it made
while coming from the pipe. plug had been
removed from the TT Of the Consolidated Gas
Company's pipe, which enters the cellar on the
Grand-st side. Magner found it on the floor and
put it in its place.
A short time afterward Maccabe arrived, and
was told of the leak, and he said he would inform
the gas company on the following day. The Cons
solidated Company sent man, who examined the
mines and reported them to be in sound condition.
officer Bowe on Friday night detected the odon
of gas coming from the place, and informed MAC.
cabe While the messenger was on his way the
explosion occurred. This morning the plug OF q
cas-ppe entering In ChntOn-st. was found on tha
floor of the CELLAR
When asked if he suspected Maccabe, hs said
he had no suspicious
When Inspector Williams was talking to o.
Tribune reporter he said: "Of course you
wouldn't suspect Maccabe, a man who has only
50. 500 insurance and lost $4,000 When esked
if he thought Maccabe carried $4,000 worth OF
goods in stock, he answered: " Oertainlyi that IS
what he clalms.'
In Maccabe's cellar there are several gas plpess
The meter in the northeast corner on the Grand's~
side belongs to the Consolidated Gas Company
Pipes belonging to the Mutual and Equitable entel
the collar beside it. There is another pipe 3-4
inches in diameter entering the cellar In the reaF
an the Clinton-st. side This pipe also belongs to
the Consolidated Company. From tins pipe Una
Mug was removed on Friday night When tho
dremen arrived on the scene Captain OHearn, or
tho Attornev-st. truck company, No. lS says
a fame was issuing from the mouth OF the pipa
and striking against the door Oh closet uIrecog e
opposite. He secured cake OF Casue soap nS.s
Louis kasch's drug store which is on the opposloo
corner. and plugged up the pipe with IL. Inc laoe
that the soap was not forced from the pipe by the
gas might indicate, he thought that the pug ui"
not drop out accidentally .
"1here was not mose than pounu Oh pressS
ure said Captain O'Ilearn That plug did noo
come from the pipe without hands
Captain O'Hearn failed TO find the pug on tna
nicht of the explosion, but found 1t yesterday
morning on the floor, just below the mou1h OF
the pipe The threads were not worn. ana th9
threads of the pipe were none the worse lor wear!
The cellar can be entered in only two ways: one.
on the Clinton-st. side, where there Is stairway
on the outside. leading down to 2 double ooos h
the other from the inside of the building. Maccapd
said TO a Tribune reporter that when ne leit MY
store at o'clock Oh Friday night the cellar dooE
on the outside was securely locked, rs III Always
was The main and side entrances IN Gsand anu
Clinton sts. were also securely fastened. lie
II don't see how any one could have gained
rla GAa
poson has covered up all traces OF this
lie knew of one who had key to the store
except himself. ,, -
Company said he had been correctly quoted by
Sergeant Muret One of our men made an ex.
animation of ali the pipes in the cellar on Fri
day and found them in order,' he SAID. DlrSt
Pail who had her chin badly injured by the eN.
plosion, was comfortable yesterday She could
talk to the reporters. but could not throw any
light on the subject. The other tenants Of thc
house are equally in the dark. The tenantsi
furniture was slightly damaged. Failing plastes
did all the ha=m that was done III the upper
stories
Those who were injured by the explosion were do
ing we'll yesterday. Theresa Makaus OF SUFFOLK and
RivingtOn sts, who was most seriously hurt havs
ing large piece OF glass driven INTO her Dsokt
was doing well at Gouverneur Hospital. The
doctors removed the glass, and they think she
will recover.
,JacObS the seventeen year-old boy OF No llI
Ridge-st., who was killed, will hold an inqueSg
on Monday evening. The coroner says he VIII
! make a thorough investigation. Acting Fire
Marshal Forbes also is conducting an inyestiga.
| tion. and will hold his court OF inquiry neAs
| Thursday evening. The fire marshall examined
| the building yesterday Maccabe said that yhen
he left his store on Friday evening at Z O'CLOCK
there was no marked odor Of gas there Az I:oo
| the explosion occurred. Those who are az woEs
on the case are trying to find out how long
would take the gas from l-4-inch plpeto III
| the cellar. a., c, =.
| Insurance Company, through See, johnson q De-
pew. of Liberty-st. lie is little doubtful as td
| how much of the $4,000 insurance money ne Gag
excludes liability for loss by gas explosion, Wheq
asked if he would sue the gas company, ne said
that this was a subject TO which ne bad not Nyen
! eny attention. He thinks ihat IRE ana "sses
| did much damage 10 his Stock