The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-07
ARSON is CHARGED.
Two Women and a Man Behind
the Prison Bars.
QUEER FIRE IN NORTH SEATTLE.
Furniture and Walls Saturated With
Ceal On-Fire Engines Prompti-
tude Saves the House.

AS result OF IRE a. sls Howard street Fri.
day night at II 80 O'Clock two women and a man
Mrs. sophia Kurth, her brother, Charles Hurr-
mann, and his wife, Annie Hurrmann-were ar
rested on warrants sworn out by Fire Chief
Kellogg charging them with arson. Mrs. Kurth
has husband who is working q cook at Sno-
homsh, while her brother Hurrnann has been
employed as q waiter at the Dairy restaurant on
Washington street. near the corner Of South
Third.
1t was II 80 O'Clock Friday night when an ex-
cited individual telephoned fire alarm to head
quarters from seventh and Howell streets.
Chemical engine No. was promptly on the
scene and found the fire to be in two.story res
idence at 6I3 Howell street. The place was de-
serted and the firemen burst open the doors and
soon put out the flames with a stream from the
chemical, as they had been confined to the sit
ting-room down stairs The total damage to the
house will not excsed $l2o and the damage TO
the furniture $50.
The smell of coal oil was everywhere, and
Chief Kellogg made an investigation. In every
room were traces OF oil. Up the walls. on the
wsinscoting, the oil had been thrown and the
carpets were saturated with it. In every room,
both upstairs and down, oil had been spilled on
the furniture. A few moments more and the
whole building would have gone up i'll flames
The building, which 10 owned by d. J. Ben
senhofier and ia valued at $1,000, was rented to
Mrs. Sophia Kurth in August. She sub-rented
the upper story to her brother. Hermann. and
his wife. During the latter part of August MI
Kurth insured her furniture through the office
of Hanford 4 Stewart for $3.50. Two weeks ago
Hermann also called a. the insurance office and
took out a policy for $3.50 on his furniture, al.
leging that his household effects were worth
5000.
Bensenhoffer, who lives in a small house in
tho rear of the two-story house which he rented,
says he never noticed anything suspicious shout
his three tenants until Thursday and Friday.
but that all day Thursday they were acting as
ii they were preparing to leave the house, and
about O'clock Friday morning the two women
did go away thurman remaining until o'clock
that evening, when he too went away after
locking the premises up 1t has since become
known that Hurrmann and his wife went 10
Newcastle Friday evening, while Mrs. kurth
spent the night down town with friend.
About 11:30 o'clock Mr.. Bensenhoffer was
awakened by the breaking of glass and a lurid
light playing On his window. He sprang out of
bed and saw flames bursting out of a lower
window OF his house in the front part of the
lot He hurried out of the house and sent in an
alarm from the nearest telephone. Chemical
engine No. responded and saved the build
ings.
Ate o'clock yesterday morning Mrs. Kurth
called at the insurance Office OF Hanford Il
Stewart and stated that someone had burned
her out of house and home" She wanted the
fire examined into. She then went out to the
house and found Detective Roberts and Chief
kellogg in the building examining the prem.
Uses. The woman was very nervous and excited,
and when she attempted to leave the house was
placed under arrest by the detective and taken
to police headquarters. The other prisoners
were captured on their return from Newcastle.
The trio refused to talk. They will probably
be arraigned for hearing tomorrow before Judge