The Washington times., 1908-04-02
ROBBED Of $500
AND ROOM FIRED
AS He QUITS JOB
Stonecuttcr Loses Saw
ingS Day He Expected
to Leave Capital.

While Gus Hebcher was at work this
morning. some one entered his room on
the second floor Of the lodging house
at 226 Third street northwest, ripped
open his leather suit case, and stole
$500. The thief then set fire to the
vaIise and a pile Of newspapers in the
hope OF covering up the robbery.
Returning to the boarding house.
Hebcher found his room filled with
smoke. His suit case in a corner of
the room was on fire, and a desk COW
cred with newspapers was also burn
ing. Grabbing the suit case. Hebcher
managed to smother the flames. He
carried 1t down stairs and found that
a slit had been made in the side. and
several pieces Of paper substituted for
the roll Of bills. The money was in
so bills.
Seeing smoke issuing from the win
dOws, a pedestrian sent in an alarm
from box -, and several companies
responded. When the engines stopped
n front OF the house and crowd be-
gan to gather, twelve Indians. who are
stopping at Ben Beveridge's boarding
house, pa Third street, became highly
excited. They were eating breakfast.
s.
place, deserted the table and rushed 10
The street.
Hebcher. who Is a stonecutter bv
trade. came to Washington about six
weeks go from New York and obtained
a room in the Third street house. He
had been working at a stone yard at
South Capitol and X streets, and had
also been employed on the new Munich
pal building
Leaving the house about O'Clock this
morning. he went TO the stone yard and
told his employer that he had decided
10 give up his position and return TO
New York He returned to the board
ing house about 9 o'clock. and was the
first to discover that the place was on
fire.
Robbed Two Weeks Ago.
Hebcher says that he was robbed Of
&.25 about two weeks ago. He left the
money in his trousers pocket when he
retired, and the next morning found
that his clothes had been rihed. John
W. LOhr. the landlord. says that he
warned Hebcher several days ago about
leaving so much money in his room
while he was az work. and advised him
10 deposit it In a bank
Hebcher. who is a young man. is an
expert stonecutter. He says that it has
always been his custom TO keep what
ever money he had in his suit case. The
500 represented his savings.
Detective Armstrong and police Of the
Sixth precinct are investigating the
case The police are satisfied that
Hebcher left the money in his suit
case when ne went out this morning.
and that the fire was started by the
thief, who endeavored to cover his
tracks The damage by the fire was
nominal. but the fremen say that
II is likely that a large portion
OF the building would have been de-
stroyed II the fire gained much more
Roadway before the arrival of the de-
partment.
Room Mate Arrested.
Suspected Of having some knowledge
OF the robbery, and believing that ne
may know who fired the room, Detec-
tive Armstrong arrested Stewart w
Henkle, twenty-four years Of age. an
emplOye Of the Adams Express Com
pany. Henkle denies the allegation but
he viii be held at the Sixth precinct
station until the police have completed
their investigation.
Henkle occupied the room with Heb
cher al the Third street house and the
two men had been living together since
Hebcher came 10 Washington. Heb
cher told the police that when he left
the room at I o'clock this morning Hen
kle was stih in bed, and told him that
he was going 10 spend the day in the
room. Returning 70 the house, Hebcher
found that his room mate had left. The
police found him at work.
When placed under arrCs.. none OF the
money was found In his possession. and
he denies all knowledge of the robbery
Henkle says there was no fire in the
room when he left.
Another Mysterious Fire.
Another mysterious fire occurred early
this morning in the feed store Of VII
liam J. Hoffman. 2ol3 Seventh street
northwest. and the police are satisfied
that the numerous fires in the vicinity
-