New-York tribune., 1896-06-05
o,ys HE DID NOT CONFESS.
SURPRISES THE PROSECUTION IN
HIS TRIAL FOR ARSON.

80 rrsrIrlEs THAT FOX AND ASSISTANT DIS
rRrcr-ArroRNEY MILES THREATENED
,,,>, AND THAT WHATEVER HE SAID
WAS UNDER FEAR-AN IN
SHAKEN, STORY.
1yls,, went on the stand in his own de-
..os,srdav on his trial for arson in the
degree in ;he County Court before Judge
~ .rd Jury and denied absolutely that ne
.,s- made any confession which implicated
-. Marshal Lewis in "a conspiracy of In
HE He denied that he had ever said
eD' :. himself was mixed up In such con-
'-.ov and that he knew his house was 70 be
~. for the insurance. and he said that any
''' Wv, which was obtained from him was
"' , from him under threat Of punishment,
wv" a,d NOT really know what ii was when
s' - =, His testimony proved the most
..,,rg given during the days session, and
n II WERE evidently a surprise 10 the
.,r,,on. Klein has been on trial ever since
r, and various witnesses have said that
-, IN a conspiracy TO burn his house, at No.
w ,..or.ave In order to get the insurance.
wan named Adolph Hirschkopf was said 10
o., :" ,aen the prime mover in the conspiracy
.s T.. tOIntly indicted with Klein. Hirschkopf
the Tonbs in New York awaiting trial
...-ca of manslaughter, growing out OF an
e-son case. Klein was the first witness
''n.a n the stand yesterday by Robert ii.
-,,., his lawyer. He said that he had been
-..1sd twice. and that his first wife was di-
.,..s from him and is now living IN Europe
,-.a With his second wife and four children
"a Il Johuson-ave On the day or the nrs
.,. ~ New-York in the afternoon and saw
s.,.. Krakauer. who lad given him employ
-,. He spent the time with Krakauer and at
.rss,,ne Of society 10 which he belonged uh-
a ,.w minutes before 10 that night. on
q. r.v home ne met Betsy Schwarz, who told
.- ,ho, his house had been burned He ran
"a his home and found that all his FURNITURE
v,. destroved and that his wife ana chlioreh
r.,s nowhere 10 be seen. He searched Tor theih
ar.ne the rest Of the night and In the morn
.s he found his wife, more dead than aH'e'
~, Mrs Dantzinger He said that he DID not
MOT 10 burn his house. that ne was not aware
hat there was a plot TO burn 1t, and that ne d'd
M, SET FIRE 10 IL himself. After the fire MS loss
VAS adjusted by Hirschkopf. who was suggested
>, him as a good man by Mr. Dantzirger, the
man who had procured him his policy. He had
never seen Hirschkopf before and had never
Nan ~ his house. Hirschkopf made an inven-
tiny of the lost goods. and he was asked 10 sign
Il He said that he did not know where hirsch-
topt got all the Information regarding the goods'
y. had given him some but not all short
,,ros sf;erward he got a postal card from Hirscn-
koc, telling him to call for his money. He did
50 and II was paid TO him in checks. He re-
manned In Brooklyn for few weeks. then
STAYED IN New-York for three months. and
finally went to Philadelphia, where he stayed
for a year and half until he was arrested and
brought TO Brooklyn. Klein said that after his
arrival in Brooklyn he vas taken to a place he
did not recognize The DistrictAttorney put in
ar appearance and then Deputy Superintendent
Of Police Mackellar came.
They treated you nicely. didn't they?" asked
Mr. Elder
mo. they didn't" was the reply.
Klein said that his photograph was taken and
then he was taken before Mr.. Miles. Contnu-
ing with the story Of what followed. he said:
Il don't know what he asked me. I asked him
to please let me alone as was sick man. They
sent for two doctors, who examined me- One
said | was sick and the other said IL wasn't
dangerous. They then put me behind door and
wouldn't let any one look at me. They kept me
until $50 .. n.. and wouldn't let me alone.
Then was taken 10 the statbn-ho and put
in a cell. About II O'Clock Fox came.
THREATENED WITH SING SING
~ was lying on the floor. He said I'm Fox
got up. | had seen him once before in New
York. He told me the District-Attorney had
given him evidence which he had in his pocket.
ana that II | signed /; | would be free man
The rext day. He said IT was States evidence.
Dut Gould not read X. cannot read. There
vas another man with him, and he told me not
" " De AFRAID, as Hirschkopf was arrested, Fire
Narshal Lewis was not in the country. ana the
oIAers were arrested. told them knew moth
.ns and then they told me that If did not say
v nal they told me they would send me and my
"ns TO Sing Sing. Then they went away.
FOX returned the next morning and brought
He .s et'er which he said was from my people.
~, ~ 'Oia me they wanted me 10 say what ne
Wv ne | said would do anything TO get out.
,oix int Know wha; States evidence is. but ne
Nv ~, me MAT If ! would do what he said | would
49,. .ss man. Then they took me TO the Dis
tbs,r."uoiney's Office. Fox and Miles were
N, ana young typewriter was called in.
me -. ,ox Old most of the talking. anti he pulled
n " tne Sleeve every minute. and told me that
.s,t.s sao What was right would be free. He
'@'Ae' 10 ne In Yiddish
SAYS MILES MADE THREATS
"r Niles asked me when came In If knew
@. Was called for. | said no. and he asked
:" FOX did not tell me. | told him / did not
~, was too excited Fox told me that
~''s'er he said. must shake in nay head, other
,so would XIII me. They kept me there about
Ola 'urs. They read over nothing OF what
rrs. 70 them. and nobody told me | had a
ssss " IeIuse to answer. and no one said my
Y, Wms1ht might be used against me. No, but
r..s..s said that II told any one Of what had
sjsssui sjssu ne would have me and my wife arrested
sr away. Up 10 this time ] had seen none
~ H'ehds, but Fox told me he was a friend
sssH After leaving Mr. Miles they took me
HIS STORY UNSHAKEN
H. crcss-examination by Assistant District
h,,, "ey Miles. who appeared for the prosecution,
RAJ more than TWO houvs, but his story not
n. I.'n -" "a the least. He repeated over and over
ais mat ne had made the statements con-
,,.. "a MS confession offered in evidence by the