Bisbee daily review., 1908-02-27
|ACEND|ARY
is CAUGHT IN
ACT BY POLICE
Refused Drink of Liquor, Mike
Welsh of Tombstone At
tempts To Start a Fire In a
Dangerous Place.

TOMBSTONE, Feb. 26.-Angered, it
is said, because he was refused a
drink of whiskey, Mike Welsh, better
known as Mickey made an attempt
at an early hour this morning to set
fire to the rear end of the Turf sa-
loon and was only prevented from do
ing so by the watchfulness of Con-
stable James Kelly.
About $3.50 this morning Constabfe
Kelly was making his rounds in the
rear Of the business houses on the
north side of Allen Street, AS ne
was passing the rear of the Turf sa'
loon he noticed that small blaze had
started in the corner adjoining the
back wall of the saloon. He quickly
secured bucket OF water and put
out the blaze He then noticed that
the fire had been of incendiary origin,
as a pile of paper and wood had been
carefully arranged so as to set fire to
the adjacent buildings. The WOOD
work of the frame buildings had
caught and were charred consider
ablS
Kelly realizing that the fire had
been set on purpose thought that the
party not seeing his efforts accom-
plished would return to see what was
the matter and decided to hide in the
vicinity. He secreted himself sn an
adjoining building SO that he could
watch the place. He had not been in
hiding long before he noticed that a
man was making his way to the place.
He followed the party. and watcnins
him from around the corner OF the
alley way, waited until he had lit an
ether match to the papers and again
started the fire. He then walked up
to and placed the man under arrest,
and not until that time did he know
who it was. He was taken to the
city Jail and held until this morning,
when a charge of arson was placed
against him in the justice court and
then taken to the county jail, where
he will be held until tomorrow after
noon. when he will be given pre-
Hminary examination.
Had not Constable Kelly happened
along at the opportune time there
might have resulted a most disas'
troUs confiagration. Within a few
feet of where the fire was started was
the warehouse of the Pony saloon, III
which were stored a number OF bar
reIs of whiskey. The buildings IN the
rear where the attempt was made are
of frame and like finder and IN 9
short time would have made roaring
fire that would have gained sucn
headway as to have resulted most Sc
riously and with the loss Of thousands
of dollars worth of property.
Mike Welsh, WHO is charged WIZ
the crime, is an old resident of Tomb
stone, coming here in his early boy
hood. He was an unfortunate vic
tim to the liquor habit and has beei
moving about the territory from ONT
mining camp. to the other working
few shifts and then leaving, a7d II
most instances under the influence Of
liquor. He returned to Tombstone
few days since and was given
chance to 20 to work, but failed TO
show ND when ne was requested z
do so. During thu past two days h
was under the influence of liquor ant
last night is said to have gone int
tne Turf saloon and asked the bar
tender for drinks which were refused
him and on account of this refusal !
Is alleged that he attempted to &c
even by setting fire to the buildings
This attempt at arson last nigl
recalled to mind of the old resident
the experience that happened severa
years ago when for number o
veeks there was hardly night tina
there was not from three TO five IRE
started in various parts OF the town
but in all these instances the hre
rere sarted in uninhabited buildings
This work was done by Jack DUNLAP
hattar known as Three F1ngere
Jack" who was afterward Kilieu =
JEFF Milton in the hoid-up Oh u
''Burro" train at Fairbank.