The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1913-03-08
ARSON TRUST IS
The LATEST FIND
HideOuS Form Of Crime In New
York City.
FIREBUGS WORK FOR S. FEE

acy ny Whicn insurance AdJuster, IN
League With Ineendiaries, Robs Com
panies Of Great Sums on False
CIainns--Lives Sacrificed.
"A firebug can be bought for a i've
dollar bill and 10 per cent of the In
surance collected 10 set fire TO furni-
ture. with no regard for human life
whatever" was one OF the allegations
in statement issued at the district at
torney's Office. in New York city.
short time ago. following the arrest OF
an insurance agent, who was araigned
In the Harlem court on charge OF ar
son In the second degree and locked up
In default OF $4,000 bail.
The arrest was one OF the develop
ments or the confession OF Samuel
Gold, who pleaded guilty TO arson be
fore Judge Grain In the court OF gen.
eral sessions After his plea Gold made
statement TO Assistant District At
torney Weller, in which Il is stated he
laid bare the most astounding revela.
lions with reference TO crooked insur-
ance brokers and adjusters."
Evidence reached the district attor
ney's office that lives have been lost
through the operations OF the gang Of
flrebugs besides the money losses Of
insurance companies In the last two or
three years.
Inexperience OF the fatal velocity
with which excelsior and kerosene can
work destruction has entrapped the in
cendiaries several times. In these in
stances the ones TO suffer have been the
youngest In large families OF children.
The flames burst out with too sudden
strength. and I'm the scramble some one
occasionally was left behind
Agent Helps Plotters.
The charge 10 which Gold pleaded
guilty was that of hiring one lsldor
Stein, better known as "Izzy the Paint
err" TO set fire 10 his furniture in an
apartment upon which Gold had $1,000
insurance. Stein was tried last month
and convicted and IS at present I'm
Sing Sing prison, serving a sentence
OF from twelve 10 twenty four years
II was learned also that on Dec. ].
1910, Gold Ind another fire In which
his insured furniture was slightly
burned. At that time Gold lived al
57I East One Hundred and Thirty
eighth street in the Bronx.
From tho investigation OF the office
OF District Attorney Whitman II M.
pears that an agent posing as a life rs
well as fire insurance broker has
4 figured IN the adjustment OF many iiie
losses. 1t is stated that he was able
60 20 to one or two fire insurance com.
! panles with which he transacted most
/ OF his business and after fling SEIZED
ule for total loss. say. OF $1,000 for
damages To furniture 10y fire would of
j fer and was able 10 effect n settle
ment on 80 or 60 per cent basis In
these eases II Is charged, the compa-
MES representative would make an ex-
/ animation ana ascertain that the fire
was OF a suspicious origin. report the
/ matter 10 Fire Marshal John +. Prial,
4 take less than the schedule called for,
would be quick 10 procure settle.
ment and take mp and cancel the pol
ley OF insurance and call II good set.
/ Element.
| Human life was held cheap. The
fires are most numerous In the thickly
congestcd tenement houses on the east
side. where there are six 60 eight fam
| lilies living on one floor. IL is not In
tended that the incendlary should do
! anybody else the favor of starting q
fire except to make fire of the furni
ture OF the man who employs him.
District Attorneys Statement
The formal report Is as follows:
Investigations by the fire marshari
4 Office show that n great many or these
fires are confined 60 the rooms OF one
apartment; that 500 worth OF damage
10 furniture, clothing aud bedding Is
sweled into $500 or a $1,000 claim
/ The Insurance companies DO not con
slider that this claim Is large enough e
light through the courts, either TO take
the matter up with the authorities OF
10 contest the claim In the civil courts
Not lnfreQuently Is life lost, but the
tirebug nevor thinks OF others. lie
touches match 10 a clothes closet al
cd with rags and old clothing saturated
with benzine or gasoline. opens ono OF
the windows slightly from the top
slips ont OF the apartment quietly anc
quickly and then crosses over TO the
other side OF the street. lights olga
rette and waits 10 see the horses or this
Ore department come racing down the
street"
W0lll q FLY ACROSS THE ALPS