St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-12-02

about him for plan whereby 10
catch the fellows in the act. 1t
was skillfully arranged. Detective
Floyd represented to the Michaels that
he was expecting his wife to arrive in
st. Paul in few days. He wanted to
rent house. A few days later found
him installed Iii cottage at the corner
of Edward and Water streets. The
building was admirably chosen for the
work. 1t stands fifteen feet below the
level Of the grade and is reached by
flight of wooden steps. Detective
Floyd's wife changed her mind
about coming to st. Paul after the
place had been furnished for her re-
ceptiOn. This left him with furnished
house on his hands-juSt what he
needed. 1t did not take long for
Michaels to get an idea. Why not in
sure the furniture and make little on
it in the Old-fashiOned way? The idea
found favor with Detective Floyd. De-
tective Finklestein liked it, too. Marx
Michael was in with the deal, and
was to
Get a Share.
The details of the plan were carefully
arranged. Floyd secured a 500 policy
on the furniture in the St. Paul German
Insurance company. Detective Barnes
ROW began to feel sure of his game. 1t
was planned that the house should be
fired on Dec. l, as early in the evening
as practicable. Meanwhile Detective
Barnes had all his wires laid. Detec-
tive Mason, of census fame, and mana
ger OF the Thell agency, who had hith-
ertO kept quietly working in the back
ground, low took an active part. All
the details of the scheme were furnished
by the two men working in the conf
dence of the MichaelS. Last night was
the date set for the burning. Yester-
day afternoon Detective Barnes called
on Chief of Police Clark for assistance.
He wanted TO make sure of his men.
The chief assigned Detectives DAILY
and Koran of the city force to aid in the
capture. 1t was not known exactly at
what hour the fire would be set. At
$40 Detective Barnes crossed the Wa
basha street bridge on a brisk walk.
He was followed at a little distance by
a GLOBE representative. At o'clock
Detectives Daily, Koran and Mason
walked westward. They took upa posi-
ton in the shadow OF the cornice works
on Water street. Detective Barnes
lodged through alleys and side streets,
reaching the house by half a dozen cir
ambushed trio. 4 few minutes after
7:30 O'Clock Marx Michael was
Quietly Punched
and run across the Wabasha street
bridge to the central station by Detect
ives Mason an Daily. Detectives Koran.
Barnes and third operative
secreted themselves under the pi
aZZa of the house and awaited
developments. At o'clock exactly
MOritZ Michael came out by the front
door. Detective Koran jumped from
his place OF cOnceaiment, and, throwing
a revolver under the mans nose, babe
him throw up his hands. Barnes closed
up, and Michael saw he was caught.
He threw both hands above his head.
Don't shoot" he said, 1.-The game is
up, and you want the rest of the out
fit"
Operatives Finklestein and Floyd had
gone out by the back door. The front
door was at once burst open and MI
chael was at once taken into the house.
Immediately after Michael emerged
fire alarm was turned in, the idea being
that perhaps the building would burn
him before the flames could
be reached by any other means. 1t
was false alarm. The scene in the
paTlOr of the house was a strange one.
Straw foot deep was streWn all over
the floor. Gasoline ana other infiam-
mables had been poured on the debris
so that il would be the more cOmbusti-
bic. In the corners were piles of punk
saturated with kerosene. In fifteen
minutes the place would have been
Mass of Flame.
A candle had been set in the straw
and lighted, so that in about the time
mentioned the fame would have
reached the straw. The fire depart
ment responded. and the Ducus street
patrol wagon came dashing up just in
time TO convey Michael to the police
station. He makes a full confession as
also does his uncle. Marx Michael. About
twenty-five arrests will follow those
already made. Among them will be
several OF men who received their in
suTance money On burned property as
long as two years ago. julius ROsen-
thai. conducting a secondhand clothing
store OH East Third street, was also
taken in before midnight. A clean
sweep Is the order. and Detective
Barnes he can give it.
ROsenthal is believed to have figured
with the MIchaels in several bonfire
celebrations. The whole plan of cap
ture was well arranged and brilliantly
executed. The underwriters assOcia-
ton will attend to the prosecutions.
The Men Confess.
County Attorney O'Brien was at
police headquarters last evening. and
put the arrested men through long eX-
animation. Both men were unaware
that the other was under arrest while
the examination was under way, and
they were also under the belief that
Finkelstein and Floyd were also in
durance vile. The firebugs, while not
admitting all the charges brought
against them, confessed, however, to
setting fire TO number of houses on
the West side for the purpose CT obtain
ing the insurance money. MoritZ
Michael, when placed III his cell, dis
covered that Marx Michael was in an
adjoining cell. The men began to talk,
and in few minutes hot woIsls passed,
each accusing the other of betraying
the conspiracy to save his neck.