New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-24
"EN THE PAINTER"
FIREBUG, CONVICTED
Syndicate" Referred To by
JUDGE Swami, May Be Ex-
posed as Result Of Trial.
ALIBlS AS A SIDE LINE
They c with Fires, Officials
Believe, at Total of 60 Per
Cent on the Amount of
Insurance Collected.

The "nrebug syndicate" referred to sew
eral months ago by Judge Swami in Gen.
eral Sessions at the close Of an arson case
tried before him, when he said he believed
there was gang or syndicate in this city
whose members quoted prices ranging
from s25 10 SEQ for setting fire to build
ings of various descriptions, may be ex-
posed by "Izzy" Stein, now in the Tombs'
convicted of arson in the second degree
Stein. whose real name is said TO be
Steinlreutzer and who is known through
out Harlem and the East Side as Icy
the Painter" was found guilty early yes
terday morning by jury IN Judge Null
queens part Of General Sessions after
they had been considering the case all
night.
"Izzy' ives found guilty Of setting fire
TO the fiat of Samuel Gold at No IS East
i1sth street. on June % last. Gold is also
under indictment, although he was work.
ing in q tailor shop IN Brooklyn at the
time. An alibi :or those who wished ther
places burned is said to have been includ-
ed in the contract "Izzy," or members OF
his gang. made with them.
'Izzy" Is twenty-six years old. He has
been In this country ten years. being
Russian Jew by birth. According to the
information I'm the hands of Royal II.
Weller. the Assistant District Attorney
who prosecuted "Izzy," and Deputy Chief
William Guer!n, Of the Fire Department
who arrested him, "Izzy" has not done
stroke OF work at his trade for at least
I'VE years.
Painter Could Buy lnflammables'
Both Mr.. Weller and Chief Guerin be-
neve he described himself as painter
only that he might purchase benzine and
other inAammable liquids without arous-
ing suspicion.
Mr.. Weller and Chief Guerin ascribe
about three hundred incendiary fires
which occurred in Harlem and The Bronx
within the last two and one-haf years
70 the activity OF "Izzy" and his gang 1t
Is said the saloon on upper Second avenue
WHARF "Izzy" and his FRIENDS meet Is
we'll known throughout the city as pIace
TO which 70 60 II men are to be hired
10 set ones house or shop afre. That ousi-
ness was generally brisk they deduced
from the fact that "Lzzy'' and his COM
panions never seemed 10 be short OF
money dllhOu6h hpiAS -
seen 20 do any work.
Although Mr.. Weller was not able to
bring II out al the trial, he is informed
that the profits in the business are ehor-
nous. although the cash payment oe-
handed before the job is undertaken may
be as low as 81. 1t is said that when
customer" appears the first question
asked is as to the amount OF his lnsur-
ance.
Unless his goods are heavily overin-
sured ne is directed to reinsurs them'
Then II is stipulated that 10 per cent OF
the amount recovered from the insurance
company is to be the share OF the incen-
diary Fifty per cent more is said TO be
handed over by 'Izzy'' TO certain public
fire sdjusters who are In 'lzzys s. pay
and who manage the financial part Of
the transaction for him.
Man Who Buys Fire Gets 40 per Cent.
The remaining 40 per cent goes to the
man who has bought" the fire. In order
to insure themselves against broken faith
on the part OF their customer his IRE
insurance policy is locked up In the safe
at the saloon as soon as the bargain Is
sealed, and remains in the hands OF the
gang until the claim is paid.
On June 20 Chief Guerin, who had been
watching "Izzy" for months, followed
him 70 No. 80 East 18th street. Soon
Mrs. Gold came out, carrying her baby,
and IN q few moments "Izzy" unlocked
IN. door of the fat and entered. Within
ten minutes after he emerged and While
Ia was still in the hands Of patrolmen
,hA cry of fire was raised In the house.
II was found that clothes press was
blazing merriIy, and there was strong
smell OF benzine.
The abb presented by Gold and his
wife was found to be exactly similar TO
that presented In other arson cases which
had oorns UP In General Sessions At the
s.xne the IRE broke out Geld was working
4 Brooklyn. His wife, as shown by the
records Of the sydenhsm Hospital, was
at that institution 70 have her baby OK
Gmined.
DE-. A Noah Schiller, who examined the
child. said there was norhinS the matter
with Il. and on two previous occasions
when she brought the baby TO the hos
pital ne had told her the same thing.
Nh. Weller, when 'IszY' 10 arraisned
for sentence next Friday. will tell Judge
Muloueen q previous fire in Gods fiat -
laio Al "Izzy's" door. and IN the last two
wears there have been at least three fires
In fats In which '1Ezy'' was living.