The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-06-01
CONSPIRACY OF FIRE BUGS
STARTL1NG FAOrs BROUGHT OUT IN
II NEW YORK COURT,

There We're Five in the Plot and the
Scheme was to Set Fire to Buildings and
Then ollect Bonus on the Insurance
1t is Said That Several Women Are Inn
plicated in the scheme.
New York, May SL--Morris Schoen-
holz, who was arrested several days ago
on charge OF arson, was arraigned
in the YorlSville court this afternoon
and held under $4,000 bail for examina-
tion. The facts brought out by Schoen-
holz's arrest are of a startling nature
and show the existence of a gang of
frebugs in the city besides the recently
scattered Granger gang. The principal
witness against the accused was Morris
Weiner. He made affidavit that he was
present at a conspiracy in which
Schoenholz, Hams, Deitch, man nam
ed Rosen'blum, whose first name he
did not know, and the deponent par
ticipated.
1t was agreed that Schoenholz should
fire the premises selected. Schoenholz
was paid 500 on account Weiner also
swore that on the morning Of January
8 last he saw Schoenholz enter the
premises in question with a bundle be
Jieved to contain combustibles and
explosives One hour and twenty min
utes later the place was infiamed. Wit
ness also stated that certain tenants
had been cautioned to leave the build
ling prior to the date. week later
Deitch collected $1,000 on policy he
/ had placed with the Phoenix company
|of Brooklyn. Schoenholz pleaded not
'guilty and asked for time to obtain
counsel. The case was set for examine
tion June 4. It Is reported Schoenhoz
HAS made a confession in which he
admitted setting fire to dozen places.
Assistant District Attorney announced
|to-day that by Thursday he would have
la startling disclosure to make as the
result of his Investigations into testi-
|mony and facts laid before him by
Fire Marshall Mitchell. Mr.. Davis said:
Il have secured evidence Of the most
startling character and the develop
Iments will be most sensational. I shall
tay the facts before the grand jury
and / expect that over a dozen indict-
'ments will result. All those implicated
,are business men who now stand high
bin their various lines. There has been
evidence laid before me which points
howard a firebug brotherhood-a thor
bughly organized gang Of scoundrels
who make money through their opera
tions. BY next Thursday 1 shall unfold
bne Of the greatest schemes ever at
tempted in that line"
1t was said by attaches of the dis |
Irict attorneys office that among those |
Implicated in this latest frebug swim |
He were women, several fire under |
writers and at least one lawyer. The |
lawyer is alleged to have advised the |
lirebugs in many details; the under |
writer's acted as go-betweens and |
damned most important part in mulct- |
ing the insurance companies. The wo- |
hen acted usually for their husbands |
litter the natter had been burned out |
several times and the companies re- |
fused to take further business. 1t is |
laid this gang has made over 5000 900 |
! ut of their unlawful proceedings. |
These new developments, 1t is announc-
kd, wtl1 show that all the recent fires
bn the upper west side which have nom
blussed the police, are the result of |
|hese gangs work. Schoenholz will be
'lsed as the chief witness against those
Who will be indicted. He is known to
|he police as Schoenhauer and has
lerved eight years for burglary and
Nne year for conspiring to start a
+ re.
Assistant District Attorney Davis
bells certain that Schoenholz worked
kith the Grauer Isaacs and Mich
Sangs and that these gangs aided and
7betted one another.
; Adolph Herschkopp, a member of
3choenholz's gang, has also confessed.