Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-11
SUSPECT ARRESTED
Investigation Regarding a
Fire in Fendall Building.
EARLY MORNING BLAZE
GEORGE JOHNSON HAS TO Elk
PLAIN POSSESSION OF WATCH.
Members of the Bar Lose Valuable
Books and Other Property
Damage $4,000.
EARLY MORNING BLAZE

More than a score of members OF the
bar who occupy apartments in the F'endah
building, at John Marshall place ana u
street, were surprised this morning wneh
they reached the building to find themselves
practically without business headquarters.
Fire had visited the building few minutes
before 4 o'clock and caused considerable
damage. While the exact amount OF DAM
age to the structure is not known, 1t Is be-
lieved it will be something less than SlO-
600. The loss to the several members OF
the bar in the building whose offices were
Quilted will probably exceed the amount OF
damage to the building. 1t is not definitely
known what caused the fire. There was a
suggestion of incendiarism. but many
thought the fire was caused by electric
wires.
Detectives Helan and McNamee were as
signed to the case by Captain Boardman,
and they started an investigation. They
learned that Policeman Lee had arrested
colored man named George Johnson, and
found on him gold watch answering the
description of a timepiece that had dsap-
peared from the room in which the fire is
supposed to have started. Miss Agnes X.
Barker of 112O B street northeast is the
owner of the timepiece. She was employed
with the law firm of Berry & Miner, and
the watch was left in the drawer of her
typewriter stand yesterday afternoon.
Johnson was employed as assistant JAM
tor in the building but he denies that he
was in there last night. When the de-
tectives visited him at the sixth precinct
police station he said he came to this city
more than four years ago from Ounce
Orchard. Montgomery county. Md. His
story concerning his possession of the
watch is that he bought 1T from I'M
known colored man In Baltimore about
year ago. He says he paid SIS for it. Just
before he was arrested. he stated. he was In
Chinese restaurant on Pennsylvania ave-
nue.. and about midnight went to the Fen
dali building, and. finding the door locked,
he went away. He went to the building,
he said, intending to spend the night there
with the janitor.
Suspicious Conduct
Johnson was on Louisiana avenue near
the Central Union Mission when Police
man Lee first noticed him. His slow move
ments convinced the policeman that he was
waiting for somebody or for something to
happen, and he stopped him to ascertain
what account he was going to give of HIM
self. The colored man started to explain
his presence on the street at. so early an
hour, and while he was talking the police
man was patting him to see If he could
feel weapon or other suspicious article
in his pocket. His hand went against the
pocket in which he had the tmepiece. and
he then called upon Johnson to explain his
possession of it. His explanation was not
satisfactory and he was conveyed to the
station.
When the watch was reported as having
disappeared from the building in which
the fire had occurred Lieutenant Moore, be-
lieving that there might be some cOnnec-
ton between the man under arrest and the
fire, informed the detectives of the Incl
dent, and the investigation was started.
Johnson said he had been in the habit of
sleeping in the janitOrs apartments in thu
building, and that he sometimes spent his
nights with a friend near LIST and o streets.
This statement the janitor denied, but the
friend referred to said Johnson had spent
many nights at his house. 1t is the belief
Oh the police that Johnson had light in
the rooms of the law firm. and that he
either accidentally dropped lighted match
or that he purposely set fire to the place
to cover theft.
Location of the Offices.
The law offices of Berry & Miner were on
the west side of the building on the sixth
floor. while on the floor beneath them were
the rooms occupied by John B. Dahlgren. a
grandson of Admiral Dahlgren. Besides his
books and papers, the latter lost number
of valuable oil paintings which were sus-
pended in his rooms. These he cannot
duplicate. The law library of Berry e
Miner. which was practically destroyed.
was valued at something like 5000, and
was not insured.
About four minutes before o'clock
colored man who was at work on the street
railroad discovered the fire He rushed to
the front door and aroused Morris Gather,
the elevator conductor who was sleeping In
the basement Gather did not have the
keyes to the front doors and he broke them
quarters and that was followed by the
turning in of a regular alarm. Then sec
ond alarm was sounded. which called out
additional companies Of the fire depart
ment.
When the firemen reached the building
the flames had gained some Roadway, and
1t was impossible for them to tell in just
what room 1t had originated. The light
from the blaze was bright enough to be
seen from all parts of the city. That the
building was not more seriously damaged.
it Is believed, Is due to the work of the
water tower. That apparatus was able to
pour big stream of water from the top
of the building and drown the flames in
short time, thus preventing them from
spreading to the front portion of the build
ing. Besides the damage to the two floors
there was some damage caused by water.
Fireman Hurt by Fall.
During the progress of the fire Foreman
Hooper of truck A fell from the roof of
the building to the sixth floor and was pain
fully cut about the head and breast. He
was taken to the Emergency Hospital.
where his injuries were dressed. Water
and smoke did some damage throughout
the building. and many Of the persons who
had occupied rooms were obliged to seek
quarters elsewhere today.
Members of the fire department fully ap-
preciate the advantages of the coffee fund
this morning. Mr.. John D. Coughlin, who
has charge of the building for the Fendail
estate was an early visitor at the building
this morning. He called upon the repre-
sentative Of the companies in which the
building Is insured and requested them to
adjust the insurance as soon possible in
order that there might be no delay in put
ting the building in order.