The San Francisco call., 1908-12-23
OIL CANS MAY GIVE
TRACE OF FIREbUG
Police Seek to Learn Where
Stuff Found in RosenthaI's
Store Was Purchased
lncendiary Attempt Discovered
Sunday Morning Still Baf=
files Investigation

Waterman Jean ]. Gippert's report
and warning last Sunday morning that
crime had been attempted at the store
or Rosentha1s, incorporated Van Ness
avenue and Geary street was not tile
nrst warning that the members of the
nrm had ever received that crime llad
been. attempted on the premises 1t was
learned yesterday that in October re-
port was made TO the concern that the
watchman on guard had discovered that
some one had made an effort to enter
the place. On an investigation made by
members of the firm no evidence of at
tempted crime was found
Sunday a. veritable fire plant was dis
covered when Isadore Reinheimer and
II. Frankel. escorted by Policeman Kel-
~, entered the store in response to a
call sent in by Gippert, the Morse pa
trolman.
PINKERT0NS AID INQUIRY
Pinkerton detectives joined yesterday
with the local police in Investigating
the outrage attempted at the shoe store.
Interest is still centered in the mys-
ter1ous cash drawer found in the alley
way behind the Rosenthafs store. De-
tectives Bell and Murphy proved yester-
terday that it belonged to the deserted
cigar store in Geary street near the
shoe store. A peculiar feature in con-
nection with the cash drawer is that it
was stained with candle drippings of
the same quality as the wax of the can
die set in the fire trap. This is a diff
ferent quality of candle than that which
is kept on hand for emergencies in the
store. The store candle is of the va
riety known as granite" while the
candle in the fire trap was high grade
parafIine.
Fire Marshal Towe yesterday re-
moved the stuff which the incendiary
had piled up in the cloakroom of the
shoe store. The kerosene soaked pa
pers and materials were taken to the
Bush street station. Among the cart
load of dangerous rubbish was found
pair of nippers which might serve as
a clew toward tracing the identity of
the incendiary. These nippers are not
of the sort used in shoe making.
SEEK TO TRACE CANS
The police are working industriously
trying to trace where the cans in which
the kerosene or gasoline used to satur-
ate the fire heap were purchased. To-
day every policeman in the city will be
instructed to visit the stores on his
beat and inquire concerning the cans.
Towe hopes to trace the criminal
through the cans.
The police today will also photo graph
Tie HHSeT p1lnlS on the counter OF the
cigar store from which it was learned
yesterday that the cash drawer was
taken.
NO insurance company carrying poll
cies on Rosenthais store or stock has
yet Cancelled its policy. Frank L. Hun
ter of the Northern Assurance company,
which had a $4,000 policy, said that it
might be Cancelled. as his company was
opposed to carrying frame buildings or
their contents. II. l.. A. Bates OF. the
Shawnee company, carrying $500 poll
icy, also said that it's policy might be
Cancelled.
Fire Marshal Towe said yesterday
that he was still of the opinion that
the firebug entered the store by the
front door and that I. Reinheimer, who
takes the opposite view, will have to
show him that he is wrong.
Il have looked at the matter" said
the fire marshal. "in all its phases, and
am as firmly convinced as ever that
my conclusion is right. I am not ac-
cusing any one, but even If it were my
own mother 1 would arrest the guilty
person when I was satisfied that I was
right. do not desire to do an injustice
to any one, but I have been too long in
this business to be led away from my
duty by sentimental considerations