Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-31
FIRED -FOUR HOUSES
IN A SINGLE NIGHT
Two Brooklyn Boys, Under Sc.
we're Cross Questioning, Con-
feSS Series of Crimes.

NEW YORK, July 30.-That they set
fire to four houses in one night for
purposes OF robbery, conspired to stab
a lad and engaged together in other
criminal exploits, was the confession
made yesterday by two Brooklyn boys
to Fourth Deputy Police Commissioner
Reynolds and Fire Marshal Brophy, after
they had been put through a third de-
gree in the formers Office. Following
the confession the boys, escorted by their
two inquisitors and by detectives. went
to the scene of one of the fires, next door
to the home of one of the self-confessed
incendiaries. and described how they set
the place on fire with small bombs and
looted it during the excitement caused by
the blaze.
The boys are Michael Cardo, seven
teen years old, and John Boris, sixteen
According to Boris, Cardo was the mas
ter mind sin their joint exploits. Fire
Marshal Brophy believes that the two
may be responsible for several fires OF in
cendiary origin which have occurred re-
Gently i'll Williamsburg.
Boys Make a Clean Breast.
Detectives Mcdonald and Barry arrest
ed Boris Tuesday. He was charged with
breaking into a store at No. 1I4 Union
street and stealing cash and clothes to
the value of ST.
Boris told the police that he and Cardo
had committed the robbery. After pawn
ing what they stole. he said they spent
the proceeds practising at Coney Island
shooting gallery. intending to use the
experience gained in possible future con-
flicts with the police.
The two detectives went to Cardo's
49, H1n,r .-y,tr, nd
and took him and Boris to Deputy Com
missioner Reynolds office. Under severe
cross-questioninG. both boys soon made
a clean breast of their doings.
According to their story, the detectives
said. they had been working together
criminaliy for several years, but their
greatest activity has been within the last
fortnight At 10 O'Clock the night OF
July II. they confessed. they set fire to
the cellar of tenement house at NO.
9G North list street. next door to Cardo $
home From there they took about $50
worth of plumber.
Fired Four Houses.
Between pm. of July 81 and the
next morning they set fire to four houses
Nos. go Kent avenue, 14s Metropolitan
avenue, IS Grand street and "a North
Sd street At the last there were several
narrow escapes, and $1,000 worth Of
damage was caused. but the two in
cendiares did not get much. At the
Kent avenue blaze they said they OBJ
tanned 500 worth of clothing and other
articles.
What would you have done if you
had burned your parents, brothers and
sisters when you set the fire next door
to your home?' Deputy Commissioner
Reynolds asked Cardo.
II suppose I'd gone crazy the boy
answered. composedly. He then said that
he had STAYED away from home for some
time. as "a number of lickings were COM
ing to him. and that he had TO obtain
money somehow.
He said that he set the fires with
small bombs, similar to those he hadseen
made in Williamsburg fireworks fac
tory. They were made of phosphorus
and carSoIic acid, he said. and could
easily be dropped almost without noise
into cellars.
Boys Death Planned.
Boris said that once he was induced
by Carlo to lure a boy against whom
he had a grudge to the Kent avenue
bridge over Newtown creek. There. Boris
said, Cardo meant to stab the boy. Ac-
cording to Boris. he sought the boy. could
not find him and reported to that effect
to Cardo. Cardo, Boris said. then
threatened to kill him and threw him into
NeWtown creek. from which he had great
difficulty i'll getting ashore. Boris told his
queStionerS that Cardo had robbed and
biackjacked frequently.
From the scene of the fire next door to
Cardo's home the boys were taken to the
latter place There Cardo's father be-
came enraged and made a rush at his
son.
I'D like to kill YOU he exclaimed
How did | ever rear such boy?''
Both boys were placed in the Raymond
ct jni1