New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-09
NO FAITH IN ARSON THEORY
POLICE AND FIREMEN BELIEVE An
DREws FIRE WAS ACCIDENTAL.
THREATENING LETTERS. THE OFFICIALS
SAY. DO NOT SUPPORT THE INCENDIA-
RIsM sToRY-TROUBLE AMONG THE

RISM STORY-TROUBLE AMONG THE
SERVANTS IN THE HOUSE.
Ingenious attempts were made in some quar-
ters yesterday to prove that the fire which cost
twelve lives on Friday morning in the house or
Wallace c. Andrews No. East Sixty-seventh-
St, was OF incendiary origin. AS evidence TO
prove this theory the threatening letters sent 10
the inmates of the Andrews home. and referred
70 in The Tribune yesterday. were quoted. NO
connection between the alleged proof and the
theory was established however. and the police
aud fire authorities who probed the mystery all
yesterday are positive in their announcements
that the fire was accidental.
This much has been established. however. that
the Andrews home contained a lot OF rather un-
ruiy and troublesome servants. that some OF the
women among them we're accustomed TO ADMIT
male visitors TO the basement at night con-
trary 10 the orders OF their mistress; that on
tho night befsre tbs fire some Of the help at
least had drunk more than good for them
and were making merry in the servants dining
room and that a small fire started In some
manner in the areaway late Thursday night.
but was extinguished before 1t did any harm
As already told in The Tribune. the Andrews
family had been packing up on THURSDAY pre-
paratory to going to Hot Springs. Va, on Fri
day. In the areaway under the flight or stone
steps leading TO the front door. some packing
material had accumulated. Some person dropped
q few paror matches the stone floor Of the
area. whether by design or accident Is not
known and Mary Flanagan. one OF the servants
who was burned to death. stepped upon them.
They ignited with a loud. cracking sound. and
set fire 10 some Of the nearby rubbish
There was nothing but stone and iron In this
areaway. and the burning rubbish was quickly
put out with one pail OF water by the servants
who laughed at the incident One of them
however seemed so anxious TO get the others
into trouble that she went upstairs. awoke Mrs
Andrews, and told her about the area fire This
naturally frightened Mrs. Andrews. who was
of nervous disposition. Moreover. her Gus
:tomary tmdty had been Increased by the
Threatening letters referred to. She asked the
girl to send the butler. Andrew Foley 10 her
room. Foley, who was implicitly trusted by the
family, out Of the house at the time, but
returning about II o'clock went at once TO Mrs.
Andrews's room. and was by her sent for a
policeman. whom he instructed to ask to
see that the little fire was wholly out.
SENT FOR A POLICEMAN.
Foley went to the East Sixty-sevent hist. sta
zion and made the request as ordered Patrol
man Thomas Donohue was sent back with him.
Donohue made an inspection of the areaway.
again. The servants then retired. Foley says
he was in bed in the Fifth-ave house Of Mr..
Andrews by o clock on Friday morning. Be-
fore o'clock the second fire. the great and dis
astrous one. was doing its deadly work
This IS the story told by the police yes
terday They declare II TO be coincidence
only. though a somewhat remarkable one. that
the fire destroyed horne In which the servants
were pickering and which had been annoyed
by anonymous letters. Police Captain Donohue
allowed the reporters TO see these letters yester
day.
The first was dated January 10. and although
the envelope was addressed to Mary Fanna-
gan. the letter began ITO Mrs. Foley" 1t was
indecent and unfit for publication, 1t con-
tanned no threats. The seqApd letter which was
dated January 1S. was.as Mhows
Mrs Andrews feel CORY for-you because
you are certainly being blindfoded by two old
frauds in your house. They are Alice White
and Mary Flanagan. Mrs Andrews. whenever
q servant tells you she won't work with another
servant hope you will understand what II
means They got me out. so will tell. anyway.
--"I often told would tell on her. and she de-
rided not TO live with me any more. because she
nor Mary Flanagan had nothing me and
they knew had lots on them They called me
a Mar. but am not and you know the biggest
;got friend who lives in Lexington-ave Her
name is Mrs Mills. Alice's brothers board with
Mrs Mills and Alice boarded them out OF your
% She stole cold meat. flour. sugar tea,
coffee and everything else she wanted
The third letter was addressed to Mrs. ST.
sJohn and in It the anonymous writer said
81 hope neither you or Mrs. Andrews think
FOR a moment that reconciled or peaceful
with Mary Flanagan for am not. anu, what
rs more. will never be until get my revenge.
i am going 10 fix her for life. and II you and
Mrs Andrews do not take heed TO my warning
will Ak you. too.
IT am going 10 make some one throw some
thing In your nurses and children's faces that
will disfgure them for life. 1t will burn the
flesh off the bone. will do so because you did
not let Mary Flanagan 60 as told you TO.
You might tust as we'll let her go first last.
You will have no girl there at all when get
Through with here
THE LETTERS INVESTIGATED.
These letters. which, it will be seen. contained
Mr.. Andrews. who asked that the anonymous
writer be discovered and punished The police
went TO work on the theory that. as one Helen
Robinson a former servant in the Andrews
household had been recently discharged after
ouarrelling with Mary Flanagan. she might
know something Of the letters their writer.
She was found and closely examined, but de-
clared she knew nothing OF the letters, and, in
fact could only write her Her
sweetheart James O'Mara. laborer. also
examined by the police. without connecting him
IN any way with the letters. Captain Donohue