Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1909-12-27
BLACK HAND MAY
LURK BEHIND FIRE
IN ORANGE HOUSE
Threatening Letters Received
Before BIaze-Hint OF Incen-
diarism in Police Report.

As a result of a thorough investiGs-
1ion by Detective John Drabell. the
police and fire authorities of Orange
while inclined to believe that the fire
at ia Henri street last night, which
started in a cellar of the double house
occupied by Thomas J. Moloney and
James Woodruff, was the result of
spontaneous combustion, intend to give
the case 'Hrther attention.
Drabell found today a section Of news
paper thoroughly soaked with kerosene
near the starting place of the blaze, but
the paper was not consumed by the fire.
Woodrufr explained that yesterday he
was cleaning a table with kerosene in
tile cellar and some rags. soaked with
the inhammable kerosene, found in the
basement. had been thrown there by
him. Mr.. Moloney said he distinctly
heard the man enter the house shortly
before the fire wass discovered. but this
statement, the police say, was probably
due to AIRS. Woodruff appearing at the
front door TO close it.
The fire started about 9 o'clock and
did about 500 damage. The suspicious
features and the consequent worry of
the residents was due to the receipt Of
Black Hand letters some time since.
which were at the time regarded as
hoaxes. To satisfy the families, the po-
lice intend Il keep a sharp lookout at
the house in the future.
The fire started on top of a tin trunk
In the cellar. Mrs. Woodruff had post
poned retiring until her husband. who
spent the afternoon with friends at a
club in Main street, returned.
She was treasured when she
heard Mr.. and Mrs. Moloney and their
son, who had spent the evening with
relatives, return home, and started to
put her daughter TO bed when she vas
aroused by the smell of smoke. She
called Mr.. Moloney, who sent in an
alarm. The department responded
quickly and sou stopped the blaze,
which was going f~iercely in the cellar
and had eaten d hole into the kitchen
floor of the Woodruff apartments. Mr..
Woodruff arrived at his house 500
after the excitement began, and the
police, TO reassure the occupants of the
house, made several examinations of
the cellar during the night.
The Black Hand notes sent to the
residents asked that money be put
under the mat in front OF the house.
Mrs. Woodruff said her note had
warned her of a warm time. on
Christmas il $500 was not forthcoming,
but she had burned the note when she
got 1t rs she was thoroughly fright
ened. Mr. Moloney's note was turned
over to the police. 1t requested $500.
Drabell found that a person from
Outside. to have started an incen-
diary blaze, would have had to pass
drought several doors to get inside,
and had a miscreant wished to
cause mischief better opportunity vas
by a box containing packing
material. which would have proved
more in1ammable than the material
that was afire. He and the authorities
are inclined to believe the fire to have
been an accidental affair. A policeman
on the post at the time the family mem
bers returned, saw no one enter the
place. and the police think the fire
for awhile before it started
fame. Mr.. Moloney had examined
the furnace, which is located quite a
distance from where the fire started.
a hot air pipe leading to the Moloney
apartments passes through the wood
work near where the blaze began, but
Detective Drabell was informed this
was not heated. as the vapor had been
cut off at the furnace end to avoid
o~verheating a room.
The house is d two-family affair, in
the residential section, and the odd
combination OF circumstances has
uneasiness.