The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-29
ARE CHARGED WITH
 BEING FIRE BUGS Two East Birmingham Ne
 groes Arrested ONE HAD CAN OF OIL Police Caught Louis Brooks Coming From Under House Which They
 Say He Had Just Set
 on Fire
ONE HAD CAN OF OIL

The police believe they caught one of the East Birmingham firebugs when Officers Tyler and Hudnall arrested Louis Brooks, colored, as he ran out from under a negro house at the corner of Fifty-frst street and Seventh avenue ye sterday morning at o'clock. He had a can of oil in his hand when they caught him, and when the officers looked under the house they discovered that the floor was blazing. It was some time before the alarm could be turned in owing to the fact that they could not find a telephone. and before the department appeared the house was practically destroyed. It was oc- cupied by colored people. relatives of Brooks.
 W. M. Muslin, another negro, was also arrested last night by officers Taylor and Simmons and confined in the city jail charged with the same offense as is Brooks-arson. It is alleged that Muslin and Brooks were implicated in the recent fire in East Birmingham which destroyed four dwelling houses and negro church. A peculiar thing about the case is that Mustins own house was totally destroyed in that fire.
 The police at Woodlawn worked for two after the fire of July 2S that white people were implicated in the matter, and have finally pronounced it without foundation. Sergeant Armstrong of the Woodlawn po- lice station said last night: After two days spent in East Birmingham, work ing on the theory that white people were implicated in the fires which were de- stroying the negro homes there. l have given it up. There is nothing in it. As far as l was able to ascertain the best element in that section, both white and black, are on the best of terms. The ne- groes seem to be hard working and indus trlous and deserve crfiit for the fact that they have bought their homes"
 The police now have three men in jail charged with arson in connection with the fires in East Birmingham during the last month-Tom Letcher, white; w. M. Muslin and Louis Brooks. negroes. It is the belief of the police department that the fires in that section will stop, as they think that the firebugs are all in jail.
 As yet no motive has been discovered for the incendiary fires, and those who are in jail will make no statements
 After the handcuffs were placed on Brooks mob of negroes rushed at him and attempted to take him from the of hcers. Several shots were fired, and for time 1t seemed to both Tyler and Hud- nall that their prisoner would he shot. Some of the white citizens in East Bir- minsham, aroused by the fire and the shooting, appeared on the scene. Despite the threats end the shots fired at them and Brooks. both Tyler and Hudnall stood their ground. Six of the white men were deputzed by the officers, and with their assistance Brooks was brought to jail. Officers Tyler and Hudnal said last night: We wish to express our thanks for the assistance of those men. Without them it is very likely that one of us or the prisoner would have been shot"
 One of tho men who were deputized by the officers and who would not give his name, said: Both the men who were with me last night and myself wish to say that Officers Tyler and Hudnall showed great courage and fidelity to their duty in standing their ground when that mob was shooting into their very faces. 1t takes a brave man to stand thing like that, and they never fllnched."