New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-12
BROKAW FIRE WAS ARSON
$4,000 IN JEWELS GONE.
Cmetaker, arrested, Confesses Al,
according to Police.

The arrest last night of the caretaker of the
magnificent home of William Gould Brokaw. the
wealthy merchant. yachtsman and automobile
racer, at No. ia Madison-ave. disclosed the
fact that the mansion had been set on fire on
February y last after valuables estimated to
be worth between $4,000 and SIS, 600 had been
stolen, the police allege by the custodian. Oscar
F. Johnson. The police say he has confessed.
Two charges have been preferred against
Johnson; one, arson in the second degree. made
by Assistant Fire Marshal Herman ". de Ma
lgnen: the other. grand larceny male by AR.
Brokaw himself. johnson spent the Night in a
cell at the East 6zth-st police station.
For more than two years Johnson, who Is
Norwegian was employed by Mr. Brokaw as q
porter. In the absence of the family from the
city Johnson was left IN of the house.
'The prisoner has made a complete confes-
sion," said Captain Hogan. of the East 67th-st.
station. HE does not implicate any one"
So far as Mr.. Brokaw and the other members
OF the family were concerned. so restrictions
were placed on the servants and the caretaker
had access to every room in the house John
son was in every sense a trusted employee"
On the morning of February q, soon after
$50 o'clock. fire was discovered in the house
It seemed to be central on the second floor, but
smoke and flames were issuing from the rear
windows on the second, third and fourth floors.
On the arrival of the fremen it was found that
the flames had communicated to the adjoining
house.
After an hours work the fremen extinguished
the fire unusual efforts being exerted to protect
as many of the art objects in the house as
possible. The fire, according to the fremen. had
its origin in bathroom on the second floor.
Miss Catherine BREEDER, a servant, asleep in her
room on the fourth floor. was awakened by the
smoke, and found her way to rear window on
the fourth story. She was seen at a window,
partly clad and about to leap to the paved
courtyard below. Patrolman Mooney, of the
East 67th-st station called to her to stay where
she was. ran up the stairs in the house adJoin-
ing the Brokaw mansion and, by means OF
ladder which was lowered. rescued the woman
The members of the Brokaw family were at
Palm Beach at the time.
The cause of the fire was given at the time as
defective insulation of electric wires
Jobn Edwards. Mr. Brokaw's valet and the
butler of the house when the family are at
home was sent North at once and began an
investigation Evidently the result of the valet's
investigation hurried Mr.. Brokaw here for on
his arrival few days later. Pnkerton detec-
lives were called in Many articles Of value.
such as clothing of costly texture, silverware
and jeweIry, had disappeared between February
and February 21 and no one appeared 10
know what had become of them That they had
all been lost in the fire seemed improbable
A week ago yesterday. after the Pinkerton
bureau had taken charge of things Mr.. Brokaw
asEed Captain Hogan, of the East 6Tth-st sta
ton TO make an investlga ton Detectives Ma
a,l1ire and Bonser we're detailed TO the case.
Al that time johnson stated that he knew ab-
soluteIv nothing about the fire. Mcguire and
Ronser kept Johnson under surveillance. Yes
terday they asked him to accompany them on
a walk he did As they walked down
Fifth-ave Mcguire told johnson he was under
arrest. Johnson. the police say. gave all the
information he could about where the stolen
stuff had been disposed OF, and asked the de-
tectives to accompany him 10 various pawn
shops.
johnson was searched in the street, and in his
pockets. the police say, they found gold rings
and valuable bric-a-brac worth 800 This stuff.
the police say, the property of Mr., Brokaw.
The detectives, with their prisoner. went from
one pawn shop 10 another, recovering stolen ar
ticles at each place. The roundup" included
eight fur automobile coats, about dozen silver
automobile race trophy cups won by Mr. Bro
kaw, quantity OF family silverware, eight or
ten suits of clothing. nearly dozen fancy ball
costumes and a number of imported Japanese
Continued second page.