Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-10-29
John Ludwig Owns Up to
Setting aScore ofFires.
Brooklyn Young Man With a
Mania For Conf|agrations.
Prisoner Has Been Injured on Head
and Is Thought Insane.

BROOKLYN ~ Y Oct. 2S-Confessing
that he has set fire to more than 20
houses in Brooklyn and Queens, John
Ludwig. 20 years old, an iron worker,
of No. 325 Furman street, Brooklyn, is
a prisoner in the Raymond street Jail.
in his confession, which covers in
detail the story of his uncomfortable
mania to destroy property and see the
engines dashing through the streets,
Ludwig told Fire Marshal William l..
Beers that whenever the desire 10
commit arson came upon him he was
powerleSS to resist il.
Among the buildings that Ludwig
admits setting fire to were two houses
in which he lived in Bath Beach, the
home of his father at No. ST. Dekalb
avenue. and the Church of St. Jude, at
saith street and 18th avenue. Most Of
the buildings were unoccupied. Ludwig
explained that while he could not re-
sist the temptation to apply the torch
to houses. he did not wish to endanSer
life.
He lives with his young wife and
two small children at the Furman
street house. His father was formerly
the proprietor of q large iron foundry
in South Brooklyn. The young man has
been a hard worker and none Of mis-
family or friends suspected that he
was a firebug.
1t was not until July Il last. accord
ing to his confession, that Ludwig was
seized with desire to start fire. At
that time he was living in Bath Beach.
At 3 o'clock in the afternoon he went
to an unoccupied house at No. 155 Lef-
WI hr s-t1 rio
in the bath room.
Before the end of July Ludwig says
he started three other fires. In these
houses he cut out the plumbing and
gas fixtures before applying the match.
Until the temptation to burn property
came to him Ludwig says he never
had been guilty of theft. but that the
impulse to cut out the plumbing was
as strong as that which impelled him
to apply the torch.
In August. according to his state
ment Ludwig started six fires. Two of
these were in his own home, which at
that time was at 18th avenue and list
street. In each instance the fire was
out when the engineers arrived and lit
tie damage had been done. The credit
for extincuishinS both blaZes was given
to Ludwig by the policeman who made
the report. With the exception Of a
blaze in house at No. 449 Van Sicien
avenue. East New York. all the fires
during August were near Ludwig'S
hoiac in Bath B"aCh.
Suspicion was first directed to Lud-
wig when the second fire occurred in
his home. He was questioned by Assist
ant Fire Marshal Brophy. but denied
that he knew how the fires originated.
After that he went to other parts of the
borough and even to Queens to start
fires.
On several occasions, when the fires
got good start and there was danger
of the flames sprca ding to adjoining
buildings. Ludwig aided the firemen
and warned persons Of their danger.
Peers and Brophy learned on Friday
that a man had been arrested with a
bundle containing plumbing and gas
fixtures that had been stolen. BrOphy,
on going to the Raymond street Jail.
recognized Ludwig At first TIE pris-
oner denied that he had ever set fire to
4 house or that he was q thief. After
he had been questioned for some time
he confessed in the presence Of several
witnesses.
Sunday Il warrant for the arrest Of
Ludwig on n charge of arson was is
sued by Magistrate Steers. Fire Mar
shall Beers believes that Ludwig should
be committed to some institution,
where an examination can be made as
to his sanity. lie has learned that tho
prise nor was injured on the head sew
eral years ago. and he believes that this
may have affected his mind.