The evening world., 1891-03-26
M|LLER'S GUILT.
Police Proofs that He Caused All Of
BroOklyn'S InCendiary Fires.
A Damning Chain of Evidence
Against Him.
Capt. Eason's OmcIal Report to the
Police Superintendent.

Police Capt Eason, OF the Second Precinct,
made long report this morning TO Supt
Campbell, OF the Brooklyn police, In regard TO
the large number OF incendiary fires that have
occurred In his precinct. and ne states start
ling facts, tending to crminate Hugh &. Miller,
who Is now under arrest, and who confesses
to have caused at least one Of the fires.
"since Miller was arrested" says Capt.
Eason, ~ and my detectives have been busy
trying to place the responsibility of other
numerous incendiary nres that have occurred
during the past few months In this and ada
cent precincts.
"Jan. IL the double nat building 146 High
street, was fred in the cellar and an alarm
given. man rushing into the hallway met
Miller coming from the stairway. Miller
passed him and went where the nre-key was
ana sent out the alarm.
''No. l4s High street is the building In front OF
which the bottle was found, and believe that
Miller was going into the place and seeing the
occupant coming out became excited aud
dropped the bottle on the sidewalk.
"ou the evening Of Feb. q nre was discov-
cred in the fats owned by Emil Au. l2s and l81
Sands street, and the flames spread with such
rap dty that six persons were burned In their
efforts to escape-Josenh Benedict aged sew
enty-iwo, Margaret Griffen aged nifty, Edward
Benedict ageI seventeen months, Margaret
Dorney aged twenty-five, Daniel Dorney aged
eight, and Minnie Dorney aged four.
oughly examining the building and my de-
tectlves were convinced tnat the lre was
lncendiary. / know that Miller was in the
building No. l31 a few minutes prior to the
| ire breaking out, was there when the ala m
was given later, and was walking home; when
asked what was the matter, ne saii he fell on
some hose at the tre. 1t is positive he was
there.
"March IA the premises 175 and 1T Bridge
street were set on hre. have boy who on
that evening purchased for Miller bottle OF
ooy paying three cents for the oil, Miller CIV
ing him two cents for his trouble. The boy
has seen Miller and has positively Identified
| him as the person he gave the bottle OF oil to-
Miller acknowledged setting fire TO 1873 Bird q
| street, March q. and the bottle shown to him
| by Ftre-Marshall Lewis, which he said he used
"Tne bottle was found 10 the basement ol
| the rear house, 100 Bridge, opposite, which
was on nre the same evening. pile OF wood
aud barrel being 8 rlnkIed with Kerosene and
then fred. He said ne did not know how 1t
got there.
" The truth is he must have set nre to 1873.
and then crossing the street TO the rear OF 100
| set that place on ure with the remainder Of the
| oil, leaving the bottle there.
''Tnis connects him with both nres without
| a doubt.
Jan. ~ tue premises, liz prospect street,
were discovered to be on fire. Miller was seen
coming out Of the hallway and gave the alarm
| for the fire.
"Jan. q, IRE was discovered In the base
ment Of the nat-house and HigRins's under
| taking establishment. 1876 and 1877 jay street.
| and on that occasion frebox 81, on Prospect
| street near Bridge street, was found plugged
up-the same box and In the same manner a
last Saturday evening. Both the ABOVE are
nat-houses.
'Jan. 0, an unoccupied house, l46 Sands
street, directly opposite Miller's own house,
Jan. 80 the nat at 1871 WAshinRton street
was set on nre- A young man was seen CON-
ing out OF the cellar by Mra UnibeR, whose
description answers that of Miller.
"June "a, July and Sept l2 last year, the
Brooklyn Institute was discovered 10 be on nre.
| On the second and last occasions Miller was
present. On the 12h he was seen coming from
the place. his eyebrows and face being scorched,
and he stated that he had been at the nre at
the institute, trying to save property.
"Jan. 10 Reasrs grocery store, corner
Lawrence street and Myrtle avenue, was dis
Ressts stable, % Lawrence street, was dis
covered on 1re.
"In the first instance Miller gave the alarm.
In the second he was present saving property.
March 81 IRE was discovered in the cellar OF
1ats ut the corner OF Tillary and Bridge streets
He was present at that nre and was spoken to-
~ am convinced that all the nres in this
and the First Precinct have been caused by the
same person, and with no regard whatever al
to what loss TO life or property would occur,
liberate and premedtated design on the par,
OF ;he incendlari"a"
Capt son concludes his report by saying
he mas other clues which he will investigate.
Miller IL still locked up IN Raymond Street
Jail, By order OF his counsel nobody will be
| q NNasNa tENS