The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-06-01
UEGANIZED FIREBTGS.
Breaking Up Of a Gang That Has Ter
rOrized New York City.
OATH BOUND ORGANIZATION.
= Triple Alliance of Incendiaries Revealed
by One of the scoundrels-Insur-
ance Adjusters Said to Have
Been the Instigators.

New YORK, May s1.-Following close
upon the twoscore of apparently incen-
diary fires on the upper west side during
the last three months comes the startling
revelation that there are three regularly
organized gangs of frebugs in this city,
who are in the pay of insurance adjusters,
and bound by horrible oaths to imperil the
lives and property of New Yorkers for
few paltry dollars, and not TO disclose their
secrets undor penalty of brutal torture.
Months ago during series of inoen-
diary fires on the lower east side there was
printed the belief Of Fire Marshal Mitchell
that those fires were kindled by meroenary
wretohes at the instigation of creatures
whose insatiate greed stopped at nothing,
not even the roasting alive of innocent
men, women and children in their beds.
The trial of Grauer now in Sing Sing,
last February, only strengthened this be-
lief but it remained for the confession Of
Adolf Hirschkopf, member Of this triple
alliance Of pillagers, to show conclusively
that the instigators of cold blooded con-
spiracy were robbers of insurance COM
panies, whose interests they were hired TO
protect.
1t is believed, too, that the confession Of
Hirschkopf will lead to the arrest OF the
inoendiaries who are responsible for some,
If not ALL Of the many fires in tile Column
bus avenue and Harlem districts. That
the police, in spite of their apparent mac
tivity in the past, are now close on the
trail of this gang, there seems to be little
doubt.
The Leader of the Gang.
Morris Schoenhauer. whose real name
the police say is Mark Schoenholz, the
alleged leader of the gang, was arrested
last Wednesday by Detective MoCauley of
the central Office.
He has been arraigned twice in Yorkville
police court, and each time remanded back
to police headquarters by Justice Ryan,
without any of the evidence being made
public. This was done to enable the de-
tective to make other arrests,
In the meantime Sohoenhauer has been
kept in close confinement at police head
quarters, and has not been allowed to COM
munioate with his friends or relatives.
Warrants have been issued for about
dozen more persons charged with arson,
but as yet the police have not located the
persons wanted.
The arrest of Schoenhauer and the issu-
ing of warrants for the other members Of
the gang are the direct results of written
confession made by Hirschkopf who is un-
der indictment for arson both in this city
and Lynn, Mass. Hirschkopf is now in
the custody of Fire Marshal Mitchell and
will be the chief witness against Insurance
Adjuster Samuel Miloh whose trial for
arson will follow that of Police Inspector
Mclaughlin in the court of oyer and ter
miner.
Hirschkopf's confession revealed the fact
that there have been three organized bands
of incendiaries in the city.
The Three Despicable Bands.
The members of the gangs. known as
Isaacs, Grauer's and Milcb's arc oath
bound and have regular headquarters
The conspiracy is known as the Ozark
Secret, r" and each member was duly in
itiated SChoenhauer is said to have been
the head or 'ohief mechanic of the gang
which fred the west side apartment houses,
the headquarters of which was in saloon
in Suffolk street.
According to Hirschkopf, who fled to San
Francisco at the time of his Indictment
several months ago, they tried to burn to
death Simon Rosenbaum, who was sus-
peoted of betraying the conspiracy, in a
fire whio4s started at Lynn Mass.
Rosenbaum, who was formerly the
chief mechanic" of the Isaacs gang, was
frightfully burned, and upon his recovery
was the principal witness against Adjust
er Grauer on his trial last February
Rosenbaum then testified that he knew
one member of the gang who was driven
insane by torture, because his fellow con-
epirators suspected he was traitor.
Hirschkopf returned to this city and was
promised immunity If he would turn
stato's evidence He did so and has been
giving valuable information to the dis
trict attorney and Fire Marshal Mitchell
regarding the methods of the three gangs
and their members.
rFor,oo 1,ootu;,o S,.,4iass