St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-12-03
FOUR IN THE FOLD.
The Alleged Incendiaries Going
Over the GridirOn.

The discovery and clever capture of
the leaders of a gang of fire bugs on
the West side on Tuesday evening
caused great excitement in the city yes
terday, and in all circles the affair was
discussed at length. Yesterday Ida
Gees, whose house was burned down
some weeks ago, and who is alleged to
have given Marx and Moritz Michael
$500 worth of jewelry as security for
their share of the insurance money, was
arrested by Lieut.. Rouleau acting on
orders from the county attorney.
Shortly after midday Julius Rosenthal,
the man arrested early yesterday morn
ing for being an accOmplice of the
MichaelS, was taken to County AttOr-
ney O'Brien'S Office and put through a
long examination. Ben FinkelSteiD, one
of the detectives of ThiePS agency who
secured the confidence of the gang,
acted as interpreter. Just what Rosen-
thai divulged is known only to the
county attorney, but it is surmlSed that
he will turn states evidence, for when
he was arraigned in court he was dis
missed from custody on the motion of
the county attorney.
The woman Ida Gees was also put
through long examination by Mr..
O'Brien, but she did not seem to realize
the position she was, placed in when
told she would be charged with assist
ing the Michaels to burn down her
house in order to defraud the Insurance
companies. She was, with Marx and
MOritZ Michael, arraigned at half past
2 in the municipal court on charges
of arson. Attorneys Ben Davis and H.
l.. Williams appeared for the prisoners
Tor nd
tinued until Saturday afternoon at 2,
the prisoners being remanded without
bail in custody of Sheriff Bean.
Detective Bergman,of ThiePs agency,
who was detailed to watch the house
on theWest side which was to have been
burned down, reported to his superiOrs
that after the MichaelS had been az
rested that ROSenthal, who has been re-
leased, called at the house and inquired
for Marx Michael, whom he said he
wished to see on business.
The officials of ThiePs Detective
agency were engaged yesterday in pre-
pairing evidence which will be presented
at the trial of those under arrest. The
detectives, of course, are very reticent
in giving any information as to the
nature of the evidence, as a number of
persons in the city are now being shad-
owed, whose houses have during the
past year been destroyed by fire under
suspicious circumstances, and who are
suspected of being accompliceS of the
Michaels, who have already confessed
to firing number of places. 1t is I'M
derstood that evidence will be produced
to prove that certain house OF ill-fame
was fired by MoTitZ Michael, and that a
number of diamonds were given him as
security for his share of the insurance
money when paid.
In another case man who. secured
insurance on a building which was
fired was compelled to give MOritX all
the money under threat of exposure to
the police. In another case a building
was fired on West Seventh street. but
the owner becoming afraid at the last
minute, repented and put out the flames
when started, and refused to have the
diabolical plan carried out.
The underwriters of the city are
jubllant over the arrests made, and be-
lieve that a dangerous gang of incendi-
aries has been broken up.