The times., 1899-08-17
UNDER ARREST FOR ARSON.
Man Charged With Firing Tene-
menf for InSurnncp.

New York, Aug. 16.-In order that he
might have chance to collect small
amount of insurance money, it is charged
Max Press, who is under arrest today, on
July II deliberately set fire to the big
double tenement at 101 Monroe Street, in
which sixteen families were asleep. HIS
alleged greed for money resulted in the
suffocation of twelve persons. three OF
whom have died.
On information furnished by Samuel
Bushman, of II Orchard Street, Press was
made a prisoner shortly before II o'clock
last night by the police of the Madison
Street station. Bushman asserts that Two
nights before the fire Press informed MIN
OF his intention and removed most OF his
valuables from his apartments, which were
subsequently gutted by the blaze. For
keeping his mouth shut" Bushman says,
he was TO be rewarded by the gift OF
suit of new clothes.
In his own defence the prisoner declares
that he has been made the victim of spite
work. Denying that he is guilty OF arson,
as charged Press asserts that Bushman $
allegations were undoubtedly prompted by
a quarrel which the men had.
1t will be remembered that few years
ago the authorities succeeded in breaking
up a band of incendiaries that had been
tAituSlNtie Oli hhS 1|oSS SiNS
About a dozen men and one woman were
sent TO prison for long terms. Since then,
and until a few weeks ago, arson cases in
the neighborhood have been comparatively
rare. Recently, however, several fires OF
a suspicious nature have occurred and the
police have begun to believe that another
band of frebugs is at work.
Press lived with his family and a
boarder on the fourth floor OF the Monroe
|, ,,nH, fe Exya t1rio- hiorh
and surrounded by other tenements of six
stories. The sixteen families in the house
comprised eighty-two persons.
1t was about $3.50 o'clock in the morning
of July Il when these persons were sound
asleep, that the fire started in Press
apartments in the front, north side, OF the
fourth floor. His family and the boarder
reached the street in safety. Others were
1 not so fortunate
/ Thirteen men, women, and children,
! overcome by the dense smoke, were car
4 ried out of the burning tenement by fire
men and laid out in a row on the street.
! The victims were mostly members of the
| families of Morris Basek and Harris Silver,
/ whose apartments were on the fifth floor
Firemen worked over them trying to
1 save their lives, until ambuiances came
| and carried the sufferers to hospitals.
! Three have since died.
! Press and his family now live at 1S0
Madison Street Detectives Little and
John ]. Delaney, of the Madison Street
station, took him into custody on infor-
nation furnished by Bushman. The police
say Israel Jacobs, of SO Orchard Street,
will also appear as witness against the
| prisoner
Bushman states that two nights previous
to the fire Press brought TO his home some
table cloths and bed quilts. He said, it is
alleged that he would have some jewery
and ether valuables packed up and his
! family would be prepared to leave the
| tenement as soon as the fire was started
Keep your mouth shut and I'll buy you
new suit of Clothes" Bushman alleges
Press said.
OF the $500 for which, it is alleged Press
was insured, he is said to have COLLECTED
/ 1925.