New-York tribune., 1891-12-26
READY FOR a BRISK TENEMENT FIRE.
PLENTY OF KEROSENE N THE ROOMS, AND A
81 800 POLICY ON THE PROPERTY.

PLENTY OF KEROSENE N THE ROOMS, AND
81 300 POLICY ON THE PROPERTY.
An excited looking man ran into the Twenty first
Precinct station shortly before 10 O'Clock last night
and in frightened voice told Captain Ryan that he
had reason to believe that William Mccoy and his
wife Nellie who live In the basement OF NO. 3l9 East
Thirty y-arstst, were about to burn down the house
for the sake Of 500 insurtnce. The building Is
q fve-story tenement, containing from twenty-five TO
thirty people The eamestness OF the mans manner
impressed Captain Ryan, who at once started out to
investigate the story.
The front part OF the basement Is occupied by a
small candy and newspaper store, which Is under the
control of Mrs. McGoey. In the rear OF the store
are three sleeping rooms, used by the husband ana
wifc and their three children. Mccoy. who Is a
cattle on the National Line Of steamships, makes
periodical trips to Europe and last reached New
about three weeks ago. When shore he Is always
more ,or less drunk
when Captain Ryan reached the house he was met
at the entrance to the store by Mrs. McGoey, who
asked him what he wanted and told him TO get out.
When 1 60 out you will probably go with me- re-
piled the Captain. Il am Captain Ryan"
Then he forced his way past Mrs. Mccoy into
the store and walked into the rooms, where
there was strong smell of kerosene. Looking around
the rooms, he noticed that number OF holes
had been made in the aths and plaster of the walls
According 10 the captain the cavities had been filed
up with excelsior and sticks OF wood which were sat
urated with kerosene. Some of the oil had been
thrown on the floor. In the hallway Just underneath
the staircase stove, which had been dragged out
Of the first OF McGoey's sleeping rooms Here, 1t
seemed to Captain Ryan, were all the materials for
brisk tenementhoIse blaze, with intention to convey
the impression that the fire had originated through an
accident 10 the stove Mccoy sitting the edge
OF his bed, apparently stupid with drink, and could
make intelgibe reply to the Captains questions
Then he and his wife were taken TO the station.
search Of the rooms brought TO light policy from
the Home Insurance Company, of this city, for $loOO
The insurance papers which had been issued last June
were made out in William McGOeys name. 1t was
also ascertained rhat only three weeks
ego the Insurance agent had offered
70 increase the value Of the policy, although the stock
and furniture were worth certainly not more than $500
In their statements to Sergeant Chapman the
couple made desperate attempts to cast
the blame each upon the other. McCioey said
that he knew nothing of the intended
incendarsm. and that his wife had done it all Mrs
Mccoy on the other han1 told the sergeant that her
husband, while drunk, had spilled the kerosene.
McGoey's daughter Florence, the other hand,
denied that any attempt to burn the house had been
made either by her father or mother. The family at
one time lived In Harlem, and while there she and her
sister became acquainted with two SpaDards named
Manuel Parez and Manuel Culoherln. Mccoy objected
to the Spanards and when they called at the house
last night began quarrel which cllmlnated IN q
fight Culozeran went away vowng " be revenged.
The police refused to give the name Of the man who
reported the at the station, but McGoey's
was Cnlozsran who tried to carry ont his scheme OF
vengeance.