The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-12-07
GOOD DETECTIVE WORK.
DARING GANG OF FIREBUGS AND
sWINDLERs RUN DOWN.
Authors Of the Disastrous Fires in Chicago,
Milwaukee and Other Cities Behind the
Bars-One Arrested in Galveston
Yesterday Morning.
Special to The Statesman.

Special to The Statesman.
GALVESTON, Dee. 1.-Detective f.
G. Cowie of Chicago, assisted by the
ocal police force. arrested Henry
Schueck as he alighted at the union
depot this morning. Schueck had
just come in from the City of Mexico
for the purpose of having a conference
with Messrs. Ed Fisher. his brother
in.law. and James F. Hook, who ar
rived last night from Chicago and took
rooms at the Washington hotel.
Schueck is implicated with gang who
bad conspired to defraud fire insurance
companies, and had skipped out from
Chicago about the first of last October
to avoid arrest and imprisonment and
has been travelling under the name of
Hugo Schiller. After leaving Chicago
he came to this city and remained
three days and left for the City Of
Mexico. Detective Cowie has been
trailing Schueck, alias SCHUYLER, for
the past two months. By some means
he learned that Fisher and Hook were
coming to Galveston and divinipg
they were coming here to meet
Schueck and Disgusting himself
as priest, Cowie Travelled in their
company as far as st. Louis, where he
ascertained that Fisher would take
the Missouri, Kansas and Texas. Cowie
switched off on to the Iron Mountain,
which brought him into Galveston 12
hours ahead and afforded him ample
time to lay his plans to capture
Schueck.
On arriving here Cowie Immediately
conferred with Chief of Police Jordan
and at once secured his active CO.
operation. Fisher and Hook arrived
| last night and were Immediately
Swallowed to their hotel and kept
nnder constant espionage, while every
train arriving from the west was
closely watched for Schueck, alias
SCHUYLER, and this watch was rewarde d
by his arrival and arrest this morning.
He was hurriedly driven to the police
headquarters, while q detective called
at the Washington hotel and informed
Messrs. Fisher and Hook that a friend
of theirs was at police headquarters
and would like to see them. They
were dumbfounded but accompanied
the detective to the office of chief of
police where they found Schueck.
They asked if they could confer with
the prisoner, and being allowed the
privilege, talked some time with him
~, SohIInoly oe lxo6 If hn
was willing to return to Chicago with
out requisition papers, and replied
! that he was, and tonight in charge OF
Detective Cowie accompanied by Fish.
er and Hook, left for that city where
he will have to answer to seven indict.
ments for arson and conspiracy.
1t is alleged that he is a member of a
gang who had conspired to defraud
insurance companies and that the dis
astrous fires which have occurred in
Chicago, Milwaukee, Duluth, Indian
agolis Louisville and other points dur
ing the past year are due to the opera
lions of this gang and that they have
already fraudulently collected of the
various insurance companies 100000
and had claims in for $50, 900 more
which have been stopped.
An investigation Was set en- foot by
| the police and insurance companies
which has resulted in the arrest and
imprisonment in Chicago of Fred
Smith, the Cronin jury briber; Dave
Brown, Paul Louenmeyer, Dave Ro-
senblatt, A. g. Churchill, Roqert Nc
Knight and Fire Adjuster A. Q. Peck
and Clearance Bowe. Detective Cowie
says; There is one more of the gang
at large, Leo Mckee of Indianapolis,
who is one of the principal parties, and
who now since the capture of Schueck
will run down and have inside the
bars in the next go days" He also
states that there is Chicago million
aire implicated, if not the chief pro-
moter of the diabolical work of the
gang, who has been spotted and bis
every movement Swallowed, who will
undoubtedly be landed behind the
bars in short time, which will result
in breaking up one of the most daring
gang of scoundrels and frebugs that
has ever existed in this country.
Schueck is about 40 years old, feet,
II inches, coal black hair and
eyes, black eyebrows and mus
| tache, speaks with marked
German accent and is quick
and nervous in his actions. He Is by
birth a bohemian, but has spent the
most of his life in Germany. He is
married and has a wife and two
daughters residing in Chicago. He
came to this country seven years ago
claims to be an importer and belongs
to the American Toy company. 1t is
asserted that it was the purpose of this
company to establish toy stores in diff
ferent parts of the country, insure
them heavily and then apply the
torch. Schueck virtually admits hi
guilt and stated that when he arrived
in Chicago he would "Give the whole
snap away" when sensational develop
ments are expected.