New-York tribune., 1910-01-17
FROZE OUT TENANTS
,J1NITOR WOULDN'TGO
Took Police ReinfOrcements to
Wm the Siege.

Tenants of the four apartment houses
No 54S to 554 West 163d street were
forced TO eat their dinners in fur coats
yesterday and then so out of doors to get
warm because janitor who refused TO be
discharged let the fires 20 out. The OBJ
stinate fellow also turned the water into
the steam pipes, and the food forced
its way to the radiators and out through
the escape valves it trickled down through
the ceilings causing damage that the agent
of the buildings estimated last night at
several thousand dollars.
Trouble had been brewing for some time
between Everett NJ. Seixas. of No. 2n West
125th street. the agent, and Joseph Hogan,
a negro, the janitor. On Friday II came
10 head, with the result that Hogan was
informed that his services would not be
required after yesterday. Seixas said he
would have discharged Hogan on the spot.
but he wanted to be liberal and give the
janitor time enough to pack up his house
hold goods.
Instead of getting ready to move, Hogan
made all preparations to stay. He ar
ranged barricade, behind which he could
fee in the event of an attack on his own
apartment In the basement of the building
at No. 54S. Then he began to devise ways
and means to bring about the discontinue
OF the agent who had dared to question
his inaiienable right to remain on the job
as long as he desired.
AS the time approached for his successor
TO appear Hogan began to carry out the
schemes that had been forming in his mind
for two days. The fires were out long be-
fore the new ianitor arrived. and the water
was surginS through the pipes like a tor
rent. Tenants were complaining emphat-
i,.aI IIty hui 70 au
A new man was coming and perhaps he
might give them some relief, said Hogan.
that is, il he succeeded in obtaining posses
sion of the JOB. the janitor added.
Last night the man that Seixas had en-
gagged appeared and announced that he was
ready to go to work. Hogan informed the
newcomer that he had been misinformed.
and that there was no vacancy on the staff
of the four apartment houses in question.
AS the latter had possession the other man
reported back to the agent that he had not
Teen able TO take charge of his new place.
Both then went to the houses, but as Ho-
gan seemed to be too strongly intrenched
they retreated in good order to the West
152d street station for reinforcements.
Lieutenant Hughes gave them two re
cruits in the persons of Detectives Hutchin-
son and Finneran, and the quartet went TO
the scene or action Not a plt alarmed oS
the sight of badges and the threat OF the
law, the janitor held his ground. Fearing
that an attack in force might prove disas
tIous. the besiegers held council of war
ard decided to use strategy. Hutchinson
was chosen to make attack on the rear
of the enemy's position, while the other
three men deployed in front and held the
attention of the besiegcd,
Hutchinson obtained entrance TO an area
way in the rear of the buildings, crawlcd
through window and while Hogan was
defying the trio who had remained in the
street Hutchinson pounced upon him and
placed him under arrest He was locked
up on a charge of malicious mischief.
His successor started in at a pace that
aroused the admiration of the frostbitten
tenants and made them all agree that he
would turn out to be a jewel. as ianitors so.
if he kept up the pace that he started.
Meanwhile a profitable job awaits interior
decorators in four apartment houses run
ming from No. SIS 10 No. 554 West 163d
street.