The times., 1897-07-27
RUNNING DOWN A F|REBUG
Board of Inquiry Investigates
the Navy Yard Blaze.
AN EMPLOYE Is SUSPECTED
T. ro hably Be Followed by an
Arrest Swallowed Man Believed
to Have Started All of the Recent
Fires es-Incendiary Hus a Motive.

The third of the series OF fires at the
navy yard, all OF which are believed 10
have been OF incendiary origin, is the sub
iect OF investigation by a board of inquiry
now in session at the yard. Admiral Nor
ton yesterday appointed as members of the
board Commodore Pendelton and Lieuts
Rohrer and Nicholson.
The board met and heard testimony from
employees, seamcn, and marines yesterday
morning and afternoon, but have not con
clGded their lators. They Will probably
make their report to Admiral Norton, who
is In command OF tie yard, some time TO
day. Thefirebug is known, but the members
OF the board are Rot sure that they have
sufficient evidence 10 secure his conviction
in court OF justice.
This last attempt TO burn the Govern
ment property was made, as in the two
former cases, in storehouse No. 6, and in
that Particular part occupied by Pay In
spcctor Putnam and his clerical force.
The employees OF this department quit work
at 4 O'Clock Saturday afternoon, and
watcbnan who was passing discovered
the flames and turned in the alarm at five
minutes after A. The fire was extin-
guished after but slight damage was done,
owing to the extinguishing apparatus re-
Gently placed in the yard Rags soaked
with kerosene were found where the fire
broke out.
Although the proceedings of the board
were secret The Times is able to give
Its readers an authentic account of the
procedure 1t was found from the testi-
mony of the watchn.an tsat the flames
were discovered in closet, and from
other witnesses that the closet was q
receptacle for buckets and other utensils
used by the janitor of the building The
attempt was made by employees to explain
away the presence of the oil soaked rags
by the fact that oily waste brought from
the shops was employed in polishing furni-
tGre, nut the OIL and rags were found to be
uf different character from any used in
the machine or gun departments The
guilty party was sought for by means of
the investigating procedure known as ex
clhsion
The seamen and marines Were the first
to be excluded as it was shown that they
very seldom came Into the building. and
at the time when the fire broke out none
of them could have been near the place
Having narrowed the matter down to the
clerical force in Pay Inspector Putnarn's
office who are not enlisted men the board
OF inquiry still further narrowed the cir.
Gle of suspects. Paymaster Putnam was
| called ard In response to inquiries stated
| That the duty of certain man called
| him at a O'Clock into the room where the
| fire occurred. The evidence, although cir
cunstantal, is very damaging, and it is
said that the detectives who are working
| on the case have secured additional mat
| ter which will throw more light on the
! subject and establish d motive for the
| burning.
The same man was suspected of the
two other burnings, but the crime could
| not be fastened on him. So sure are
the officials that this man made the at
tempt, that in an unguarled moment,
| Fay Inspector Putnam mentioned his name
| and, While the fire was in progress W aIked
! up to the suspected individual and told
him that he would have to bear the brun,
/ of the affair.
Admiral Norton is very much exercised
/ over the attempts to burn the BUILDINGS
i and eagerly inquired as to the success with
which the investigators had met. The
! board will probably make its report +,
! the admiral today. The detectives whr
are working on the case consulted, an6
course of action was mapped out. The
arrest OF the suspected man, who is ar
employe in the pay inspectors office. anf
in subordinate place, will undoubtedI,
! follow.