The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-10-16
TRAPPED BY A WOMAN
Blue Island, lIls., Firebugs Run
to Earth.
RESPONSIBLE FOR MANY BLAzEs.
of Four Men Under Arrest Two Have
Made Confessions AN Were Formerly
Members OF the Biae Island Volunteer
Fire Corps aud Did Their Nefsrious
Work AS Part of "a scheme for the For
nation of "a Paid Department.

Work as Part of "a scheme for the For |
nation of Paid Department.
Chicago, Oct. l6.-Blue Island. Ills. |
is at once indignant and jubilant. The |
five frebugs who are responsible for
the long series of incediary fires in the
town. nearly wiping 1t out of existence.
are known. Four OF them are under
arrest, and two have made full confess
sions. The men are former members
of the volunteer fire department. who
tried by incendiary means to scare the
town into organizing a paid fire de-
partment, In which they hoped 10 hold
positions The men under arrest are
George Duschene. arrested Monday
and locked up at the Desplaines street
station this city; Tony Maddy. arrested
Saturday and locked up at the same
station: Emil Polsen. a saloon keeper
and ex-chief of the volunteer IRE de-
partment. arrested Wednesday after
noon and locked up at the Central sta
ton. this city; Fred Nogt, tailor. arrest
ed Wednesday afternoon and brought
to Chicago. George Chorland. anoth-
er member of the gang, is said TO be
in northern Wisconsin. Deputy Sher-
If DIETRICH has left with warrant Tor
his arrest.
Woman Bared the Plot.
IL was a woman who gained the EVIL
dence which lead to the arrest OF this
remarkable gang Of firebugs. Her
name Is guarded as a profound secret.
but Inspector Shea. Fire Marshal Con-
way and the other officials agree that
she is pretty. clever, and attractive
Suspicion was directed toward the men
afterward arrested. and she started out
TO get evidence. She rode wheel into
Blue Island allowed it to break down
| in front of Tony Maddy's machine
shop His assistance was called, and
| the two soon became acquainted, the
mysterious woman soon made him faii
a victim to her wiles, and he told her
| about the plot and those who were con-
| nected with il. Maddy was then ar
| rested and partial confession secured
| from him. George Duschene's arrest
| followed. and he told the whole story.
after much pressure on the part OF In
| spector Shea.
The fires have been going on for the
| past wear and a half. the most serious
one being that of May II last. when the
town was nearly destroyed. BY the
| use OF uNntilllt PiO6iNos % 49,
| blaze was checked after loss OF about
$3.50. 600 The five firebugs were respon
| sible for nearly all these. ''' -
| FoIsen said To Be the Leader.
Polsep is said To have been the lead
| er in the plans He expected to be ap-
| pointed chief of the paid department
when it was organized. The fire OF last
May brought the citizens around tc
having a paid department. but the IRE
bugs failed In getting positions.
The first fires were in barns. They
were started with kindling. soaked
| with Kerosene Polsen furnished the
kerosene. and planned the work. The
others executed IL. The fires all oc
CURED between midnight and o'clock
When the citizens arrived on the scene
they always found the members OF th'
volunteer department working hard Il
| extinguish the flames. This diverted
suspicion at first, but II afterward fas
tened itself upon the guilty men. Out
side assistance was called in. A re
ward Of 81, 500 was offered-s500 by th'
citizens and 81 900 byan insurance com
rany The arrests are the result o
work since last May.