San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-05-31
FIREBUG CAPTURED.
is A MEMBER OF A PROMINENT
FAMILY.
Oonfesses an Appalling List of Crime,
Was a Full Pledged Burglar
and Mail Robber.
By Special Wire to the SUNDAY LIGHT.

By Special Wire to the SUNDAY LIGHT.
AUSTIN, May 30.-The citizens
Of Austin and the firemen were
narrowly saved from another con-
flagrstiou last night at the hands
Of the firebug that has been
"dolng" this city to the queens
taste for the past few weeks. There
is an old saying about the pitcher
going once too often to the well
and that Is certainly applicable in
the present case, for the young
man who lies in the city jail this
morning was caught red-handed
last night while just entering up
on his nights work.
The police have been unusually
active during the past few days
and nights and while the public
have not, for prudent reasons, been
informed Of their movements, they
have ever been on the move and
lookout. There has been no let up
in the work, the officers being on
duty most Of the twenty-four
hours In q vain attempt to locate
the man or men who have been
turning this city upside down dur
ing the past few weeks with
matches and coal oil.
Last night as usual the police
were out scouting and watching
carefully every corner and hiding
place possible. For several days
past they have had one young
man in town under the closest
watch, thinking that he was the
one they wanted and last night
proved that their surmise was not
without foundation.
1t was near midnight when
Chief of Police Lucy and two Of
his men followed the man they
have been shadowing for the past
two days to a little empty house
on West Fifteenth streets and per-
mitted him to break into the
house and then, just as he was
about to carry out his nefarious
plans, they nabbed him. He was
game and showed fight, but 1t was
useless as the officers were on him
In a trice and he was overpowered
before he knew exactly what had
happened.
The minute that he was arrested
he was searched and all the
paraphernalis necessary to his vo-
cation was found on his person.
His name is Harris Fisher and he
is of one Of the most prominent
families In this city. He is just
turning the age of his majority
and has been on the dow inward
course for several years. ..
When taken to the police station
last night he at first stated that he
had only been in town for a short
time, but after a while he admitted
that he had been here for some
time and that he was responsible
for all the incendiary fires we have
had of late. He admitted that he
fired the store OF Mr.. Eugene Rob-
inson, the house on East Eleventh
street, the house on West Ninth
and the Graded school building.
He says that in the case Of the lat
ter fire he stayed at the fire until
the Protection hose company ar
rived and then left. He added that
at most all the fires he had spent
considerable time knocking around
the houses before firing them, and
in the case of the Graded school he
had stayed there at least half an
hour before ne fired 1t.
He seemed to talk very indiffer-
emily about the whole matter and
in addition to confessing about
firing all these houses he said that
he was also responsible for the
robbery Of the U. s. mail boxes
here last Friday night.
He explained that with a power
full jimmy he had he could prize
open mail boxes with as much
ease as though they were made OF
paper. He has several very fine
burglar tools with him and is we'll
equipped for business. When
asked for an explanation as to why
he fired the buildings, he said that
he used to be fireman here him.
self and he liked to see the boys
run, and that he just had a desire
to fire the buildings anyway and
could give no other reason. He
seemed to be very unconcerned
about his desperate acts and ex-
pressed no regret, nor did he even
manifest any fear at the work
he had done. He saiu that he had
Visited several houses in the city
(the houses are known but are not
mentioned for prudence sake), and
spent several hours there in get
ting what he wanted to eat and
helping himself to anything in the
way of wearing apparel that he
fancied.
His arrest is due to the untiring
energy of the police force, who
have taken no rest during the past
ten days in trying to locate him.
AS above stated, they have had
this party Swallowed for several
days but it was not until last night
that thav could catch him dead to