Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-02
FIRE IN FEED STORE
Hoffman Establishment Scene
of Another Blaze.
SUSPICIONOF INCENDIARISM
Three Previous Visitations in the
Same Locality.
THEFT AND ARSON REPORTED
Thief Steals 5000 and Sets Fire to
Valise From Which Money
Was Extracted.

Fire broke out early this morning in
shed at the feed establishment of William
J. Hoffman. 2013 eth street. and the repe-
tition of such occurrences there has
caused the police and fire department to
believe that an ncendiary has been at
work. Three other fires occurred upon or
near the Hoffman premises during the
past year. the third one about ten days
ago. following the disastrous blaze which
occurred in Eisingers lumber yard. The
fourth visitation was between = and 3
o'clock this morning. as stated. 1t started
in exactly the same place that the fire
started about ten days ago. The f1remen
quickly reached the premises and soon
had the flames under control.
The shed in which the fire started is
only few inches from the fence which
incloses the grounds of the National Base
Ball Park. and the belief of the officials
of the police and fire departments is that
the fire was started for the purpose OF
burning the property of the ball associa-
ton. Capt. Doyle of the eighth precinct
police station and Fire Marshal Nicholson
made an investigation OF the conditions
in the locality. and it was found. as
stated. that the fire had started about the
middle of the hay shed. in the spot where
the flames developed upon the last occa-
sion. The blaze scorched the fence In
closing the park and burned away the
fresh paint The total damage is esti-
mated to be about 800.
When the fire occurred in the hay shed
ten days ago. 1t is stated Capt. Doyle
lad a policeman stationed in the Vic1n-
ity because it was thought the fire at
E.isingers lumber yard had been started
nv q no1icpnan
a short distance away when he discovered
the fire. He saw no suspicious person IN
that vicinity. however. nor did the sub
sequent investigation result in an arrest.
1t is the intention of the police to make
special efforts to guard and protect prop
erty on that square in the future.
Arson and Robbery.
The charge was made this morning that
a blaze i'm the house of John w. Lohr. 226
I'd street northwest, was the result of the
work Of an individual who had committed
a theft. Gus Hebcher, roomer reporting
that he was robbed of $500. His money
was taken from a suit case in the front
room on the second floor, he stated, and
the suit case was ablaZe when the fire at
tracted the attention Of Hebcher. 1t was
due to his prompt action that only a
small amount of damage resulted Sew
eral companies of the fire department and
the police reserves from the sixth precinct
responded when an alarm was sounded,
but the fire was about extinguished when
the f1remen reached the house. Precinct
Detective Armstrong responded with the
policemen and made an investigation.
Hebcher, who is stonecutter, came
here from New York city several weeks
ago and went to work in a yard in South
Washington. Later he worked on the new
municipal building. He left his room this
morning about 7 o'clock and went to the
place where he had been employed ia
hand In his resignation and get his tools
He thought he would take holiday and
see something of the sights about the city.
Returning to- his room shortly before ?
o'clock Hebcher was surprised to see his
suit case burning. Grabbing the suit case
he ran to the lower floor. calling for help
Mrs. Lohr and others in the house formed
bucket brigade and succeeded in pre-
venting the spreading of the flames.
Stewart Henkle. twenty-four years OF
age. who occupied the room with Hebcher
was arrested later in the day by De-
tective Armstrong and locked up at the
sixth precinct station pending an investi-
CATION. Henkle. it is stated. formerly
lived in Chicago. He was found coming
from the Union station, and when
searched the police found he had bu,
about so i'm his pockets. He denied that
he knew anything about the fire or the
loss of the money.