Arizona republican., 1910-06-24
.COhAORS CAUGHT HIM
While Trying to Set Fire to Building In Rear of the "Fair" Early This Morn ing Sotillo Drops Into Police Net

The firebug who has been terrOriz-
 ing the business district of the city
 for thepast three weeks, during which
 he has made four attempts to set fire
 tObuildings in the rear of business
 houses, was caught in the very act
 early this morning by Captain John
 ConnOrs and Officer SteinbrOok of the
 night police. The man, whose name
 is Manturo SOtillo, was just showing
 board on which he had started q
 bonfire under a door in the rear of
 the Fair when COnnOrs leaped upon
 him. An instant later the building
 would have been in flames. for inside
 the door were piles of excelsior and
 dry goods boxes that would have
 made a terrific fire in few moments
 The man is now in the city prison. and with five witness arrayed against him, who vs'n undoubtedly expedite his swift course to the penitentiary.
 John Miller of the Phoenix Ma chine and Cold SOrage plant on Second street was responsible in a large part for the capture of SOtilIO. From the open doorway of the machine shop a clear view of the aIleyway running east from Second street is obtained. It was in this alley, few feet from the entrance to the street, that SOJillO was seen by Miller, lOitering about In this same place, several weeks ago, a fire was started, but it was eXtin- guished before the buildings in the rear of the Washington street stores caught fire. Another night. shortly after the first attempt, another fire Cf hr- which was put out by employees of the Central garage. A third attempt vsas made in the alley back of the Boston store
 SOtillo seemed determined to burn up the Fair for some reason or other | There can be little doubt that he is the ! same man who started all of the other | fires. With the exception of the fire l near the Boston Store, SOtillo confined | his efforts to. attempting the destruc- tiOn of the Fair.
 Miller saw the Mexican lOafing in | the alley, and, having in mind the | other fires, watched him. Suddenly he | telephOned to the police. Connors was assisting a drunk down the stairs at | the station and sent Steinbrook and | then followed as soon as he slammed | the door on the drunk. Connors drove his wheel east through the alley and SteinbrOOk went west, but the man had completely disappeared
 There was a small fire in the alley. but it had not been thrust through the opening of the double doors The offi- cers returned to the station after ask ing Miller to keep a lookout
 ] return, and when he got a second mes sage from Miller his wheel was handy and he tore down the walks to the al- ley. He descended on Sotiuo so quickly that the man was caught just as he had showed a board with the fire Dn it into the opening. He was lying flat on his stomach and could not get up quickly enough to even get start The evidence against him could hardly be more damaging. Besides the two Bill Stimson and Clifford Smith and John Miller, all of the stOr- lge plant, were witnesses on the spot the men rushing over from the shop
 SOtillo is a man about thirty years )f age. He pretends to slight knowl- edge. of English. He appeared to be slightly intoxicated when arrested put it is difficult to tell whether he vas feigning or not. He was asked in Spanish why he started the fire and 1enied all knowledge of it, though he lnew that those present saw him hrust\ the blazing board through the opening. He appears like a stu Did. low class chOllo. with vicious lines in his face and rather a wild expres- ;iOn in his eye. The arrest of this man before he succeeded in destroying valuable property. as he undoubtedly would have done had he not been ap- Drehended, is one of the most impOr- tant captures made by the police in many years.