New-York tribune., 1911-12-19
THREE TAKEN AFTER FIRE
Marshal Thinks he Has Leader
of Organized InCendiarleS.
NOW SEEKS A WOMAN
Arrests Made, 1t Is Said, as Re-
suit of Plot Which Police
man Nearly Foiled.

4 mysterious woman in blue youthful
and attractive Of face and figure, and
wearing expensive furs. Is wanted by police
and fire authorities. who say she IS the
confederate. or lookout for a gang OF
professional frebugs who have been oper-
ating freely in various parts Of Manhattan
and Brooklyn. starting fires that have re-
suited in great damage in many cases and
endangerng a multitude Of lives IN con-
gested tenement house districts.
She was seen near a four story double
tenement house at No. 725 Cleveland street.
East New York, in which fire was set
Yesterday in a closet on the second floor. as
charged by Fire Marshal Brophy, by two
men. whom he captured after a struggle
in the street as they were about to leave
the building.
She disappeared just before the captures
were made. Firemen who were watching
from Railways and other positions saw the
woman. out feared to attempt her capt
ure thinking this might interfere with
their plan 70 capture the real culprits.
Three men were captured in all by
Brophy and his men. and they win be ar
raigned to-day in the New Jersey avenue
court on charges of arson. They gave their
names as Morris Greenspan. a tailor, Of
No. rs East 18th street; Samuel Brandt,
also a tailor. of No. 50 Norfolk street, and
Bennie Braunstein, OF No. l24 East %
street. all Of Manhattan. All are Russians.
Braunstein is a furrier. and was arrested
at the business place Of his employers,
Sheken & Carmel, No. 81 West Sth street,
by Marshal Brophy and Detectives Nc
Keon and Ryan. They say Braunstein is
the leader OF the gang, and regard his
capture as extremely valuable.
Two firemen disguised as laborinG men,
wearing rough clothes. helped in the
capture OF Greenspan and Brandt.
Two other firemen were close at hand.
disguised as pedlers and pushing street
yenders' carts. 10 enable them 10 approach
the building closely without arousing the
suspicious OF the lookout Under loads
Of vegetables and other merchandise usual
Iv seen on the handcarts OF Ghetto pedlers
they had IRE eXtinguishers and several
lengths Of hose.
Greenspan and Brandt had been in the
house a matter Of twenty minutes or so,
and as they came ont thin curl of smoke
was leaving one Of the windows on the
second floor. iu the apartment OF NJ. and
Mrs. Leon Baar. Tho fire was quickly eN-
tinguished The prisoners We're taken down
10 Fire Headquarters and confessed dc-
rordiug 20 Brophy duplicating Rraunstein.
Brandt confessed. Brophy says that he
had helped start several fires in Manhattan
and BROOKLYN recently. Ho offered 20 help
hiring about the arrest or other members ot
the band i'm order 10 obtain his own release.
,rba arrests were brought about hy IN
formation conveyed 10 tine fire marshal by
Leon Baar. the man in whose apartment
IN. Gre took place Baar said the men
offered 20 obtain insurance on the tuTnish-
fnrs 0f his home in excess OF their NaIue.
He told them TO call again, ana Al once
communicated with the fire marshal WHO
told him % make an appointment WIN '"e
men for last Wednesday night me dP-
poIutment was made. and Auiahd"'
Frsmm. a clerk in the fire marshaFs once
who acts a. Jewish Interpreter, Was OF
hand hidns under bed.
Brophv received the report Of m@ Eou"4
sIeuth. and az once laid his plot. TIE anu
his men watched all Sunday nlsht l"'N
saw tho woman in blue approach the mouse
after davbreak. She walked up aud down
and kept watch in the neighnorno'd Ni'.'
O m. when Mr. and Mrs. Barr an" 'h''
children according TO the alleged agree
ment. appeared from their home ana W'n'
away. The woman In blue walked do""
the street. nodded to two men, VINO "ef'
afterward arrested, and passed along
4 policeman was near at hand. lhF men
saw him and walked on past the house
H. WAS still there when they returned III
teen minutes later, and Brophy fearing 'h,
noliremau.s presence would cause the pi''
70 mlscarry. sent from his place OF hidlne It
in a bauwav across the street a note 70 the
,oIIcsr,ap bv one Of his pedler assistants
rhe noliceman quickly disappeared ron
49,. '' nos, and shortly afterward the men
entered the building.