San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-07-23
SCHUMACHER'S PRIZE.
RUNS DOWN THE FIRE BUG AT
Last
Who Finds KinoI,ng Easter
Than Spreading Paint.

Yesterday afternoon, about 5 O'clock
the tiremen were called 10 the San Pedro
Springs by an alarm turned in from box
43, and an immediate response developed
the fact that small house situated on
the north side of the ditch, near the
museum, had been fired and was burning
Sarah Miller, colOred woman who was
passing, saw the smoke issuing from a
window and ran down to the museum,
Menk, owner of the museum, who occu-
pied the house. Mr.. Menk ran
to the house aud discovered a
mattress had been set afire and
this, with other articles that were burn
ing he threw out of the window and en-
tinguiShed the fire before the arrival of
the department. Sarah Miller. at the
time she first noticed the blaze, saw a
man leap out of window and run away
in the direction of Flores street. She
told this TO Officer Schumacher, the first
mounted policeman who arrived on the
scene, and gave the officer a description
of him, saying he was Young, slim built,
white man, wearing good clothes and
with a coat thrown over his arm. The
officer took up the pursuit and tracked
him down Flores street to the Fredericks-
berg road leading to West End. Pound
Officer Perez Joined in the chase at the
|. 4 G. n. railway crossing and soon the
two officers traced their man in a zig gag
direction out to West End, by people who
had seen him running through the road
and brush. The officers whipped up. and
on arriving at West End found him sit
ting in front of the West End store,
pretty well blown by his long run and
~ f,r, 70 A. he, hn
officers riding up, he went inside the
store and when they came up, he
was seen apparently hiding some
thing in the store in pile of bacon. This
something proved to be two reVOlVerS.
The officers covered him with their
weapons and placed him under arrest and
found the revOlverS. He gave his name
as Joe Mcdonald and claimed to know
Officer Schumacher. He said he was a
painter and had worked on Schumacher'S
house last year. This the officer now cor
rObOrateS, although at the time he did
not remember him.
On being searched McDonald's pockets
revealed a chiSel and file, three rings and
some diamond pins, a tool for blowing
empower into drilled holes, and coat
and badge, the latter two articles after
ward being identified as belonging to
Julius kriSch. who was member of the
old volunteer fire department, and which
was stolen from him about two weeks
ago, when his house on Ala2an creek was
burned and robbed. One of the re-
volverS Mcdonald had endeavored
to Secrete was afterward identified
as having been stolen from Menk, whose
house had been thoroughly ransacked
before the fire, and revolver, pair of
opera glasses and a coat and vest stolen.
The burglar and fire. bug had cut a Stat
in the window blind and thus gained easy
entrance into the building. Mcdonald
has been placed in jail to await
the action of the grand jury,
His bond has not been fixed
and 1t is doubtful, from the feeling
aroused in the city against him, II he will
be allowed bond. He is well known in
this city and has a sister who is younger
than he.
Between and o'clock this morning
Captain Hughes went to McDonald's
boarding house, 43O Hayes street, where
he met the landIady and asked to be
shown the prisoners room. That lady
did as requested and assisted the Captain
all she could in looking over McDonald'S
things. A valiSe. gun and other articles
were taken to the city hall where the
vaise was opened and found to contain
several pictures, rGvOlverS, Watches
bracelets, razOrs rings, necklaces. cart
detectives have descriptions Of.
Some of the jewelry taken from Mrs.
Stewart, on Marshall street. was idenli-
fed and also pair Of opera glasses that
belong to her. The lady with whom Nc
Donald was boarding when questioned,
said that she had always held a good
opinion of him and that up to the past
two weeks he had been very regular
about his mOveme so far as she knew
him, but that of late his actions were be-
coming suspicious and that she laid il to
gambling and women.
When the Captain came back to town
he visited pawn shop across the creek
and got two reVOIverS left there bv Nc
Donald which have since been identified.
1t Is thought that a large amount of goods
will be restored and that most of what he
stole has been sent OutOf the city and dis
posed OF elsewhere.
The police were after Mcdonald once
before for stealing a boat but some of his
friends got him out of their way.
Officer Schumacher followed his man
from to o'clock finally running him |
down at the place above mentioned. He |
was arrested by Officer Schumacher alone. |
in the warehouse. while attempting to |
hide the revolverS. AT present there are |
seven cases likely to be brought |
against Mcdonald. He has been
Identified in one case as the party who |
robbed Dr. Max Lindner of his pants and |
pistol and frightened his wife. DR.. Lind |
ler offered $50 reward for the perpetrator, |
which is now, apparently. due and owing |
10 Officer Schumacher beside a good deal |
more, If the value of the arrest is to be |
considered.
In a Terrible Hurry