Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1904-10-15
POLICE on TRAIL



Wednesday night OF about midnight
The FIRE had started la room direct.
iy above the one occupied by Lau Sec
and her f3uiiy. Tho Fire Department
was called and quickly put out the
blaze.
The second fire occurred on Thurs.
day night. This time 1t was found in
q room next to Lau Sees rooms. AL.
ready on Friday morning a third fire
started In the same building, this
time In the kitchen which belongs to
Iau Sees apartments. In both the
latter cases the blaze was discovered
in its infancy and was extinguished
by the tenants.
Detective McDufle on investigating
the case found in examining her kitch.
en- where the fire took place two bot
ties which bore plain traces OF having
contained kerosene oil. The repeated
occurrence of fires In the same place
and their unexplained origin caused
the police to be absolutely certain that
the fires were the work of incendiaries
who were determined to burn down
the building. As all the fires had start
ed in the immediate vicinity of Lau
Sees rooms 1t was thought that this
woman must In some way be connect.
cd with the fires.
I.au See was accordingly arrested
and was last night locked up at the
police station for investigation. She
was examined by Deputy Sheriff Chill.
lingworth aud Detective &c DufIie, OF.
iicer All On acting as interpreter. This
investigation developed the extremely
interesting fact that Eirs Lau See was
tenant Of one of tho buildings on tho
corner of Aala and King streets which
were burnt down In the big condagra-
ton about two weeks ago, ard further
more that the fire on that occasion
started right behind her kitchen.
The police have never had any
doubt but that the Aala street fire was
the work of firebugs and they are also
certain that the fires in the Winston
building are of an incendiary origin.
Through Lau See connecting link
has been established between these
two fires and II is row thought by the
police that the same person or persons
is responsible for both fires.
In the meantime the police are
lampered in their investigation by tho
fact that the persons who ought to be
able to tell something about the fires
are extremely reticent. Lou See stat.
ed that on the night of the last fire she
saw Chinese enter the watcrcloset by
her kitchen. He soon left the place
and only A few minutes after his de-
partura the fire was discovered. She
says she does not know who this UNI
known Chinese was but stated this
morning that the two Chinese watch.
men employed In the building also saw
the stranger and might be able to give
some information These Chinese
watchmen were yesterday crossexam-
ined by the police. They said they
knew absolutely nothing about any
facts which might throw a light on the
cause of the fire. I.au Sees statement
has decided the police to get hold again
OF these two gentlemen as II Is thought
that they may know more than they
have told. Their names are Lee Chup
and All Pau. The former IL said to be
an old jailbird.
The police are at present at loss to
account Of Lau Sees connection with
the fires. II is thought that either she
Is possessed Of an incendiary mania
and put fire to the places herself, or
that someone Is trying to burn her
and her family out for the purpose OF
revenge. The latter theory seems by
far the most plausible. Iau See has
two young and attractive daughters
who have had several Chinese suitors.
Some OF these are said to have been re.
jected by I.au See and II Is possible
that the disappointed lovers are seek.