The morning call., 1894-02-20
MISCREANT'S WORK.
A Market-Street LandIady Is Per-
secuted

Mrs. Sophie Henckel, who keeps a lodging
house at 1122 and 1924 Market street, has
been driven almost crazy by the dastardly at
tempts or some miscreant to drive away dodgers
by setting fire 10 the house and other modes of
persecution.
1 he building is a three-story one and Mrs
Henckel occupies the two upper floors She
days afterward the first manifestation OF the
persecution occurred in the shape Of the disfig-
urement of a sign at the entrance. This was
kept up for about TWO weeks, and it was
thought it was done by some enemy OF the den
tIst.
But about o'clock one morning toward the
end Of January one Of the dodgers in the upper
floor saw smoke pouring out of a closet near
the head OF the stairs. The flames were quickly
extinguished. but not before the woodwork had
been badly scOrched, the plaster ruined and
window broken by he heat Next day work
men repaired the damage, and on The following
night the plaster was cut from the walls, the
newly painted woodwork was scratched and
cut and a Window was broken.
Mrs. Henckel became alarmed and posted a
notice Offering reward OF S25 for information
that would lead TO the discovery of The persons
who had done the damage, but IL has not been
claimed. A few nights later the notice was torn
down, ana the gas-bracket near 1t was twisted
of.
About 9 O'Clock In the morning of Monday.
February IL, fire was again discovered in the
closet at the Dead OF Tie STAIRS but was eXtiu-
guished by a chemical engine. 1t caused about
the same damage as on the previous occasion
After ho fires bits OF paper and kindling were
found where the flames started, proving that
they were he work of an inc ndIary.
On Thursday night, while nearly all The lights
were burning the miscreant stole a key to the
bathroom on the second floor, which was hung
TO a nail on the third floor. The gas meter Is
In the bathroom and lie climbed I'D to IL ana
turned off the gas. Then he turned It on again.
and the odor OF escaping gas began to fill the
rooms. The dodgers were so fearful of causing
an explosion that they did not dare strike a
light. Mrs. Benckel CROPPED her way 10 the
bathroom, turned of the gas. locked the door
and supplied her dodgers with lamps tor The
rest of The night.
The last attempt was made on Friday night
the repairs done af er the second fire were de-
stroyed, the newIy-lald plaster having been cut
from the walls, the new woodwork OF the win
dow cut and The premises otherwise defaced.
Fire Marshal love Is now bending all his
energies TO solve the mystery. He visited the
house yesterday and made careful investiga-
Iion.
81 am satisfied" he said last night, "that II
is all the Work OF some one in the house. for a
stranger would hardly venture into the place at
8 O'clock in the morning and build fire in a
closet. SO far have no reason TO suspect any
one more than another, for the landlady has
dodgers. and no motive for the malicious acts is
apparent.
MRS. Henckels husband died on December
20 last, aud soon after she bought the lodging
house. She had 1t insured, but for much less
than what she paid Tor IL.
81 will continue my investigation, and hope
to lind clew soon 10 the incendiary."