Evening star., 1909-09-05
on CHARGE OF ARSON
John B. Nieson Taken Into
Custody by Police.
RESULT OF INVESTIGATION
Defendant Suspected Of Having Set
Fire to His Own Property.
MAKES DENIAL OF ACCUSATION
Claims to Have Lost Valuable Furs
and Jewels in Recent
Fire.
RESULT OF INVESTIGATION
MAKES DENIAL OF ACCUSATION

Charged with having set fire TO his ell
fects in his apartment at 931 New York
avenue about ten days ago. John B. Me
son forty years of age, was arrested yes
terday afternoon by Detectives Pratt
and Hewlett and locked up. His arrest
was the outcome of an investigation made
by Fire Marshal Nicholson and the de-
tectives. for the purpose of determining
the value of the property destroyed Me-
SON had his effects insured for $1,000. and
his sworn statement In support OF his
claim, made to the German-American
Fire Insurance Company. placed the value
of his effects at S30S8.40
Shortly after the fire occurred 1nspec-
tor Boardman had Nieson in his office and
put him through long examination. he
was not then under arrest. He stated
that he had lived in this city about six
months. having come here from -oSo LA
mond street, Philadelphia, and that ne
was in the business of advertising and
selling a dental powder. and running
boarding house.
Nieson said he had lived in st. Paul.
Cicago, and other places, and that from
1909 until 1908 he was aboard a tramp
steamer, following up the Russian-Japa-
nese affair. The steamer was supplying
coal.
tor Boardman.
"An old English captain was his re-
sponse. =,
Where did you meet him?"
I'm San Francisco.
Lost His Investment.
Nieson said he was engaged in run
ming coal from Valparaiso to the Golden
sea- He had considerable money invested
In the enterprise. and lost 1t when the
cargo was taken. He said he took the
part of chef on the stearer. Nieson told
the police inspector that he was employed
by the leather firm Of A. =. Eitoh' MO
rocco.
The day the fire occurred, said Nieson,
he received valuable sealskin garments
put them in the house and went TO mar
ket being away from the house when the
Are occurred He said the furs were pur-
chased from the st. Paul Fur Company,
and some diamonds lost in the flre ne
had purchased from dealers in St.sPaul.
Following the interview Inspector Board
man communicated with the st. Paul
police department and had an investlga-
ton made there of the statements N1eson
made to him. response received several
days later gave the information Inat I,ere
is no such firm as the st. Paul Fur Com
pany and the st. Paul police say their IN
formation is that Nieson did not make
purchases from the firms he mentioned.
Alleged Discrepancies.
Chief John j. O'Connor of st. Paul In
formed Inspector Boardman that from
Shapiro Bros. the information was OBJ
tanned that they had never sold goods to
man named Nieson, but that man CIV
ing such a name had written them re-
quest for a letter to the effect that he had
made purchases of them. That was
about two months ago. they stated. and
no attention was paid to the request.
Nieson stated to Inspector Boardman
that while In st. Paul he had lived. he
thought, at 9th and Minnesota streets. but
was unable to recall the name of the party
In whose house he lived. Chief OConnor
gives the information that the only house
at or near the corner OF the streets men
toned has been occupied by colored peo-
pie for the past ten years.
The accused man says he has been all
over the world, and tnat he has sold
tooth powder in various countries, earning
as much as So a day on sales made on the
streets He was married last November,
he stated, and his wife has money. She
has given him sums OF money at various
times, he added.
Police Skeptical.
1t is charged by the detectives that
there were no sealskin coats in the house
of Nieson the day the fire occurred. and
they also doubt his story about the loss of
valuable diamonds. He still maintains
that such property was destroyed, how
ever and considers 1t hardship that he
should have been arrested and deprived of
his liberty, in addition to having been un-
able to collect his insurance money. To-
morrow he will be taken before Judge
Mullowny for preliminary examination.
Mrs. Nieson called at police headquarters
last evening to see her husband and to
make Inquiries about his case. She SUBJ
Gfa tat ad nat art M q a.
lating to her wealth and disposition of a
part OF 1t, and employed Attorney Camp
bell Darlington to look after his inter-
ests An effort will be made to procure