Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-26
HELD ON SUSPICION
HENRY BECKER PLACED IN GUS
TOBY THIS MORNING.
Fire in His Rooms Said to Have
Caused Arrest-Life and Prop
-,--
erty Endangered.

Following fire at els 1th street north
west about IL o'clock last night, in which
property valued at $500 was destroyed and
two lives endangered, DR.. Henry Becker,
in whose apartments the fire occurred, was
placed under arrest this morning by Pre-
clnct Detective O'Dea and Sergeant Murphy
and escorted to the sixth precinct police
station where a charge of suspicion was
lodged against him.
The fire was discovered by Crossing Po-
liceman c. w. Gwynne. who Is stationed
at the corner of Tth and G streets north
west
After sending in an alarm from box 1850
he hurried to the scene of the fire, which
proved to be on the second floor Of four
story building. the lower part Of which Is
occupied by Ryan's millinery store. The
officer entered the hallway and assembled
the steps to the rooms occupied by George
Barry, the janitor. and his family. Barry
was not at home, and the officer had to
grope his way along the hallway through
the dense clouds of binding, suffocating
smoke until he reached the sleeping room
occupied by Mrs. Barry and her son.
They were asleep. but were soon awak-
ened. and it was necessary for Gwynne to
carry the boy down the steps He then re-
turned and assisted Mrs. Barry to place
of safety.
The alarm was responded to by Chief
CINE companies Nos. 1. 3, 6 and IA and
trucks and D. The firemen, after few
minutes of hard work, had the flames sub
dued and extinguished, but not before loss
of about $500 had resulted.
Recall Previous Blaze.
The fire occurred in the two rooms occu-
pied by DIR. Becker. forty-one years old,
who is patent attorney. The police re-
called that fire broke out in his rooms
,{erI,f 1oc hut ir1yl hin
gished, the loss being confined to a sofa.
An investigation of last nights fire was
made by Detective O'Dea and Sergeant
Murphy, who found that the floor of the
rooms had not been damaged at aA by the
flames. they having apparently had their
origin among the curtains and portieres. A
empty gallon oil can was found on the
floor in the front room with few drops
of Oil in it. Several books bearing the
odor of oil were found in different parts
of the room and on top of bookcase.
During the course of their investigation
the officers found that Beckers books, sill
yer ware and other yaluableS, including his
trunk. had been moved from his apart
mentS into a room not heretofore occupied
by him. In the rear part of the building.
They also learned that he purchased a gal
Ion of coal oil Thursday night. When ques-
toned Becker said he bought it to fill the
tank on his oil stove, and had. not used 1t
for any other purpose. The tank attached
to the Oil stove was examined, and found
to be quart can and full of Oil.
Becker was unable to tell what became OF
the remaining three quarts of oil. The Of
ficers also learned he had his furniture
mortgaged, and that the mortgage COM
pany officials were coming today to take
possession of 1t.
Fire Marshal Bieber and Assistant Fire
Marshal Nicholson are also making in
quiries into the fire, the investigation of
which has not yet been completed