Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1913-01-22
WALHALLA, 8. c.:
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1913.
INVESTIGATING CARSON TRUST"
Remarkable Story Of Conditions in
Chicago-One Indictment.

Chicago, Jan. 15.-With the in
dictmcnt to-day Of Joseph Clarke, for
an alleged attempt to bribe an as
sistant States attorney not to prose-
cute an arson case as a text, A. A.
Bach, chief deputy state fire mar
shal, told a remarkable story Of or
gani2ed incendiGrism. Ten per cent
of Chicago's ires are incendiary,
Chicago, known as insurance ad-
juSters, who often get to fires before
firemen. They sleep with their
clothes on, have automobiles in read
mess and receiving tips that a fire is
about to be started are on their way
almost before an alarm comes in.
The adjusters do not actually
start fires themselves; they employ
men to do that-men who actually
solicit the business. The adjusters
make their money by adjusting the
losses. They offer bribes to detec-
tives frequently, but never when
there is a witness present, thus leav-
ing it one mans word against ano-
ther.
"Often we are informed days in
advance OF when fires are to be start
ed. In that way we are able to pre-
vent many blazes. In many instances
we have had detectives watching
buildings that have been marked for
the torch. We have had tips that
have led us to buildings with the
Easements filled with excelsior, the
floor saturated with oil and the stock
packed in combustible material All
that we could do was to notify the
insurance company and have the in
surance cancelled. In such cases the
fires were not started.
1T is possible for any one to get
building fired in Chicago. Charges
vary according to the magnitude Of
the fire. For large fires the charge
is l per cent. and even at THAT price
the fire bug makes money. | don't
know Of a single conviction for arson
in Chicago in the last eighteen
MONTHS"
Clarke was released tonight on
$4,000 bond signed by his wife
States Attorney Hoyne tonight said
the inquiry gradually is widening and
now involves officials Of insurance
companies, independent fire adjust
ers and adjusters employed by insur-
ance companies. He refused to make
public any names Of those said to be
in the ''ring."
Head y. Y. carson Trust" Confcsscs.
New York, Jan. 16.-"lzzy," the
painter, head of the New York under
worlds arson trust" came from
Sing Sing prison to-day to confess to
putting the torch to 200 houses
within the past few months. He un-
bosomcd himself to District Attorney
whitman and two stenographers.
The confession is said to bristle
with the names of "Izzy's" lieuten-
ants. Some are said to be notorious
characters Of the tenderloin and the
worked with the trust" and divided
the spoils, others adjusters Of the Dig
fire insurance companies.
'lssy, the painter" was convicted
OF arson recently under the name Of
lsadore Stein and sentenced to serve
not less than twelve years in prison.
Ssnce then he has been indicted
again for arson. While on his way
to plead to the last indictment he
concluded to turn States witness and
throw himself on the district attor-
ney's mercy.
Mr.. Whitman was amazed at the
enormous extent Of the trusts opera
tons. He now believes that more
than 1000 fires kindled in New York
within the past few years can be
ira ted to tho gang.