The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-03-27
NCENDIARY MILLER.
The Young Man Who Is Held fol
Arson in Brooklyn.
HIS RECORD AS A FIRE rIEND.

Eleven Confiagrations which the
Police Believe Were Started by
the Prisoner - At One of These
Six People Were Burned to
Death.
BROOKLYN, N. Y, March 27.-Capt.
Eason, of the Second precinct, sub
mitted long report of the evidence
which he has discovered connecting
Hugh G. Miller with the recent incen-
diary fires in his precinct. After re-
counting the circumstances of Miller's
arrest, and his confession of having set
fire to two houses in Bridge street,
Capt. Eason gives the following start
ling list of fires with which Miller is
believed to have been connected. The
list includes the Brooklyn institute,
which was burned out after two un-
successful attempts. The report covers
the following fires:
On Jan. Il the double fiat, No. 146
High street, was set on fire In the cell
lar and an alarm given. A man on
rushing into the hallway met Miller
coming from the stairway. Miller
passed him and went to where the fire
key was kept and sent out an alarm.
Six Lives Were Lost.
On the night of Feb. 81 fire was dis
covered in the flats owned by Emil Au,
Nos. 1879 and 131 Sands street, and the
flames spread with such rapidity that
six persons were burned in their efforts
to escape, Jacob Benedict, aged 72;
Margaret Griffin, aged 80; Edward Ben
edict, II months; Margaret Downey,
aged 20; Daniel Downey, aged 8 years
and Mamie Downey, 4 years, losing
their lives. On investigation the next
day the detectives were convinced that
the fire was of incendiary origin. Miller
was in the building No. 1871, q few min
utes prior to the outbreak and was there
when the alarm was given LATER
On March A the buildings Nos, 175
and III Bridge street were set on fire
and Miller, since his arrest, acts as if
he desired to be reported as far away
from that locality. A boy on that eve
ming purchased from him bottle of
oil for which he gave the boy five cents.
The boy has seen Miller and has posi-
lively identified him as the person he
gave the bottle of oil to. ..
He Acknowledges This Fire.
Miller acknowledges setting fire to
No. l33 Bridge street on March 81 and
the bottle shown to him by Fire Mar
shal Lewis was the one he said he used.
He must have set fire to No. 1888, and
crossing the top to No. 1870, set fire to
the places with the remainder of the
oil, leaving the bottle there.
On Jan. 20 the premises No. he Pros
pect street were discovered on fire.
Miller was seen coming out of the hall
way and gave the alarm.
On Jan. 22 a fire WAS discovered in the
basement of the fiat and Higgins un-
dertal1ing establishment, Nos. 1876 and
1877 Jay street, and on that, occasion
firebox 80, in Prospect street near
Bridge, was found plugged up.
On Jan. q the unoccupied house, No.
1f6 Sands street, opposite his home, was
set on fire in some mysterious manner.
Always Seen ut Fires.
On JAN 30 the flat, No. lei Wash
ington street was set on fire, and a man
answering Miller's description was seen
coming out of the cellar.
On June 81, July and Sept. 12, 1890,
the Brooklyn institute WAS discovered
to be on fire, and on the second and last
occasion Miller was present On Sept.
12 he was seen coming from the place,
his eyebrows and face being scorched,
which he stated had happened while he
was trying to save property.
On Jan. 10, Reart's grocery store, at
Lawrence street and Myrtle avenue,
was set on fire, and on Jan. 23 Mr.
Rearts stable at No. 90 Lawrence street
was also seen to be on fire. Miller gave
the alarm and he was present at the
second.
On March 81 fire was discovered in
the cellar OF fats at Tillary and Bridge
streets, where he was also present and
spoken to.
Capt. Eason is convinced that all the
fires in this and the First precinct have
been done by the same person, and
were deliberately planned.
Miller is only % years old,
nounsIod H., -