The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1909-01-07
CLOSE ON TRAIL
I Of F|REBUC WHO
! USED BENZ|NE
Torn Paper Furnishes Clue
That May Solve Mystery
' of Broadway Blaze,
CASE TAKEN TO JEROME
Consultation at DiStrict-Attor-
ney's Office Follows Deputy
FChief Guerin'S Discoveries.

sThres torn pieces Of pare are the
principal evidence which the Dis.
thct.Attorney, the police and the Fire
department expect to use in finding
The nre.bug who attempted TO burn
Own the business and manufa cturiny
Suilding al No, 31I Broadway early to.
Day,
yDeputy Chief GuerIn, OF the Fire De-
Sartment. was tho first to recognize
TIE detective possibilities Of the first
W Of tom paper which was found.
He followed the clue with almost dra.
patio keenness worthy of the French
descent which his name implies The
investigation of the attempt at arson
was made by Deputy Chief Guerin, Po-
hce Captain Cottrell and Fire Marshal
Grof.
These three were assisted by the
members OF the six firms who occu.
pied the six different floors OF the
building These six men were walked
up at their home soon after mdnich,
By Capt. Cottrell's detectives and were
asked to come down to help him.
Asked About an Enemy
THE detectives said that one Of the
many things the Captain wanted TO
know was whether any of them had
an enemy who would do such das.
tardly deed. Some Of them bounded
out OF bed at the news and started at
once and Willingly. But at least one
II the rudely awakened business men
vas so sleepy and irritable when
detective tried to arouse him that the
detective thought it hest to wait for
MIN to dress and to accompany him
down to Broadway-for fear he might
fall asleep on the way.
IT'S awful early for him TO be out
alone," said the detective.
The six concerns which occupied tho
building were; Bsrron's cafe, on the
ground floor; Albert Houtman, hosiery,
second floor; G. Cohen & Co. dealers
In alcohol and Kerosene, third floor;
White, Perkins G Co, notions. fourth
loor; NJ Price, shirts, nfth Noor. and
the Mul,igraph Letter Company, sixth
floor.
4 Torn Paper Clue.
Deputy Chief Guerin made an investi.
CATION while Capt Cottrcll was waiting
for his visitors. on the nth floor he
found his torn paper clue. It was an
Irregular strip with a hole in the mid.
die. The hole had evidently been made
. that the strip could be spiked on a
candle which was fixed In the neck Of
demiiohn half full Of bcnzine. II was
apparent that the 1rebug had hoped
that the burning candle would set fire
to the paper, which would drop into
trails of benaine soaked cotton waste
and paper that led up and down th.
stairs Of the building aud that lie also
hoped tie heat of tho burning cotton
would cause the demijuhn Of benztne to
explode and feed the flames.
Guerin removed the piece or psner
and found that before the iirobng had
fashioned a strip which would IN the
candle satisfactorily he had made three
attempts, thus causing tho folds and
he irregular shape ~ tie strip. He
ph, tho strip in his vest porkc, and
went housing around tho floors OF tho
establishments in the building. Under
. desk in the hftl! floor lie found Two
moro strips OF paper which made nh,
prettiest kind OF puzzle picture. He
also found wire for the little round
peces which lifted the space in which
the candle was to he flted
/ FounA Neck Of oemijonn.
fhis interested him so much that
with Capt cotlrcl hc made further
researches ou the mn floor In ,l.
back of tho lort hc found a buckle,
Which Smclcd Of beuzmr. s. also ro7-
tsircd some chips Of brown glass. I'll,
demijohn was Of brown glay, and the
neck had been broken Of. The broken
neck was found near tho Jurko,. There
Was also large 70 Of Wrapping p,por
IN the loft from which TIE paper used
ID the fire trap had been torn There
was also found a quantity NJ cotton
Of the same sort as that with which
tie hIe trails had bccn laid.
NJ. Price, tho shirt manufacturer. vino
occupied the NTH 0oor told cap. Tor.
tell and Deput, CHIEF Guern end Fire
Marshal pe Gron ,Na. re was the las,