The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-31
FIRE IN SEVERAL ROOMS
THOROUGHLY PLANNED ARSON IN AN
EAST MARKET-STREET HOUSE.
Mrs. Gardner the SuRerer-COaI OIL
Had Been Used Freely by
the Incendiaries.

Socwell last night, possibly to settle a
grudge. The west half of the house is oc-
cupied by Ben Gardner, Lee Kahn occupy
ing the other portion. The incendiaries
were systematic in their work, Coal oil was
poured over the beds in three separate
rooms. in both the upper and lower stories.
The infiammable liquid was also poured
over other articles of furniture. Piles of
loose paper in a closet under the stairway
was also saturated, but in their hurry they
neglected to apply the match Afterward
the police found a pan and dipper which
had been used to carry the coal oil from
Mrs. Gardeners kitchen to the different
parts of the house. 1t is supposed that
after preparing for the conhagration the
ones who did the work applied a match in
the upper rooms, then came downstairs and
went through the house, leaving trail of
fire behind them. Without question back
window had been left open for hasty exit.
1t was lowered instantly and the shutter
slammed to- This theory is borne out by
the fact that every door locked keys
sticking on the inside of the locks.
In the next house to the west lives Mr..
Irwin, telegrapher, and his father-in-law,
Mr. Deeds. Mr.. Deeds was sitting in his
parlor at o'clock, looking into the street.
His attention was attracted to a dense
smoke curling up over SOcwell's house, be-
tween himself and a bright electric light
thirty feet away. He hurried to his door
and at once perceived that the smoke was
pouring from every door and window in
the Gardner home. AT the same moment he
saw two men standing on the Liberty-street
crossing in the middle of Market street.
They were looking at the smoke
Fire! fire.! cried Mr. Deeds
The men in the street took up the shout.
One Of them ran past Mr.. Deeds to an UNI
dertaking establishment few doors west
to send in an alarm, while the other jumped
over fence into Gardeners yard and ran
round the house He broke open the same
window by which the incendiaries had left.
He at once went to work industriously to
put out the fire. Mr.. Deeds had never seen
either man before. They disappeared after
the fire.
This all occurred in less than a minute.
The cries of fire aroused the neighborhood.
Isadore Feibleman was calling at house
near by and ran into the street Mrs.
Kahn opened her door in the east half of
the house to learn what was causing the
rumpus.
Your house is on fire" called Mr.. Fei-
bleman to her. Mrs. Kahn says that was
the first she knew of the fire. moment
or two later the fire department was on
hand. stream of water was turned into
the lower moor. The stairway could not be
used, as it had been locked or nailed up.
Ladders We're run up, shutters torn off and
windows broken in the second-story win
dow Owing to the fact that the fre was
discovered so soon after 1t broke out, 1t
was subdued before any extensive damage
had been done to Mr.. Socwelrs house. The
building is well insured. The greatest dam
age is to the furniture. 1t is completely
ruined.
MRS GARDENERS RETURN.
Mr.. Socwell has been at West Baden for
several weeks. His son, William Socwell,
went to the station house to report some
very mysterious features of the case. They
were afterwards somewhat cleared up when
Mrs. Gardner reached home. She had been
out of the city all day, as she went to
Muncie early yesterday morning with Mrs.
Heichenrich, of 50 North East street. Upon
her return, at 10 O'Clock, she was met at
the door of Mrs. Hechenrichs house by
Miss Stirk, who informed her of the mis-
fortune that had happened during her alb
sence Together they went to Mrs. Gard
ner'S house, which is just around the cor
ner on Market street. Mrs Gardner was
very much excited at the appearance of the
premises. In fighting the ire the tiremen
had torn the mattresses off the beds and
thrown them from the windows Feathers,
hair and excelsior, with torn strips of tick
ing covered the yard five or six inches
deep Mrs Gardner could not get her front
door unlocked A Journal reporter made
inquiries of her. She said that the house
was dil IISul WilGIl Sllo l6ll IOIilc III lllt
morning, about o'clock. When she was
informed of the systematic way in which
the fire had been started she began sobbing
and declared that it must be spite work.
1t seems that Mrs. Gardner rented rooms
to other tenants. Last week she says she
had trouble with man who was not only
delinquent in rent, but to whom she had
advanced money to get goods he used
about his work out OF the express office.
He proved to be an undesirable tenant, as
he got drunk and abused his wife. she says.
One evening over week ago Mrs. Gardner
says she came home to learn that the
husband and wife had been engaged in
fight. Then she ordered them to vacate,
at the same time telling them to settle
what they owed her. The man became
not permit him to remove his furniture
until the rent was paid. He and his wife
left. Last Wednesday he came around and
squared the account.
Afterwards Mrs Gardner says she
learned that both the husband and wife
had threatened to get even. To mutual
acquaintance he is quoted as saying that
he was like an Indian and never forgot
an injury Mrs Gardner was at a loss to
know what to do. The reporter suggested
that she go to the police station. By this
time Mr. Socwell had returned and told
for her to remain in the house over night.
He thought she could do no better than
mention her suspicious to the police. At
the station house she told her suspicion to
Captain Dawson, who was much impressed
with her straightforward manner Mrs.
Gardner says that her husband is employed
by Frank Maus in placing ice machines.
About nine or ten weeks ago he went to
Peoria H. to establish a plant. Since then
he has failed to reply to her letters, and
she has been thrown on her own resources.
Through one of her husbands friends she
learned last week that he intended TO re-
turn here about June To- So far as she
knows he is not in this city now and was
not last night Mrs. Gardner fears she Will
not see him again.
Mrs Gardeners misfortune is heightened
by the fact that she has bought and par
tiaIIy paid for her furniture by her own
~. l,n
night.
ONE ROOM NOT REACHED.
There was one room in the house that
was not despoiled by the incendaries. 1t
is a small room Mrs. Gardner had leased
to a young German by the name of Nico-
lai. She says that yesterday morning she
locked all the doors except that of side
room through which the stairway is
reached She left it unlocked, with the key
on the inside, so that Nicolai might take it
with him when he left the house. The sup
position is that he forgot to lock the door
when he left and that the incendiaries
found it unlocked, or else that they had a
duplicate key.
Nicolai was greatly excited when he
reached the house, long after the fire was
out, last night
What is the matter? Can I not sleep
here to-night?'
He seemed bewildered when informed that
he could not. Going to his room, he took
My Colt in himmel" he exclaimed
Somebody have stole my shirt"
Mrs. Gardeners furniture was insured for
$500 That amount will not cover her loss