New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-22
"F|REBUCS" FLEE CITY
TO ESCAPE ARREST
Members of larson Trust OF
Upper East Side Desert
Old HauntS.
HOMES FOUND EMPTY
Fire Marshal Says Some Have
Gone to Canada and Others
to MeXico-S35, 900
Bail for Freeman.

Since the confessions of Ivy the
Painter and Samuel Gold and the in
dictments which rapidly followed their
stories. the fire makers Of the arson
trust" who used to gather in certain
saloons on the upper East Side have
disappeared ON their old haunts.
Some of them, of whom Fire Marshal
John y. Prial was suspicious before
"Izzy" told his story. and on whom his
men were keeping tabs. have appar-
entity fled from the city.
The Fire Marshal's men reported
yesterday that since Thursday night
they had been watching the home Of
several of these men. and that not one
of them appeared. Ii was found that
the wife of one of the men had with
drawn on Thursday an account of 5000
which she and her husband had Jointly
in savings bank. According to re-
ports some of the men have gone to
Canada and others TO Mexico. All of
them appeared 10 leave in great haste.
and. in the cases investigated by the
Fire Marshal's men, did not even stop
10 remove their furniture. although in
one case the household goods were sold
for song.
Fire Commissioner Sees Whitman.
Fire Commissioner johnson had
talk with the District Attorney yester-
day. Commissioner Johnson said that
he had list of large number of sus-
picious fires which had recently hap
pened in loft buildings and factories,
and that he intended to turn this over
to the District Attorney.
on all of these fires the Fire Mar
shals men have already made pre-
liminary investigation. and the result
of their inquiries. together with what
Royal II. Weller. the Assistant District
ATTORNEY in charge of the arson trust
investigation. is able TO collect, it is
hoped. will be sufficient 10 warrant the
presentation of several cases to the
grand jury and the indictment OF the
members of the commercial branch Of
llc arson trust
The grand jury will take up three
more cases to-day. following addiuonal
revelations made by ''Izzy the Painter,
and il is thought that either to-day or
tomorrow three more indictments will
Lc flied against members of the tene-
ment house branch of the arson
trust"
The cases TO be presented to-day con-
Germ one alleged fire kinder and two
tenants who are said 10 have bought
fires. Detectives searched the city all
day yesterday with the bench warrants
issued. following the three indictments
found on Monday, but were unable 10
find their men.
Freeman Held in $4,000 Bail.
Jacob Frank, counsel for Henry G.
Freeman. the fire adjuster who is in
dicted for arson, and whom Mr.. Weller
declares to be one of the big four" of
the arson trust" had long talk with
his client in the Tombs YESTERDAY Mr..
Frank said that Freeman was anxious
~ StC bilt biStANt avn NS' NN' S''S'N
his sole purpose was to discuss the
charge made against him. Mr.. Frank
said that he thought that if Mr.. Weller
consented. conference between Free
man and the District Attorney would
take place within a few days.
kreeman's bail was fixed at $4,000
yesterday by Judge Rosalsky, in Gen
eral Sessions.
MIR. Frank said that his client was
most anxious TO deny the assertion that
he was rich Freeman was a poor man,
just struggling into independence, Mr..
Frank said. 1t was true that he owned
an automobile, but it was only 81
200 machine" and was bought as
question Of economy TO chase fires, it
being a maxim Of the adjusting bust
ness that the first adjuster on the scene
gets the settlement of the claim.
Abraham Schlichten, the tenant who
was indicted for arson in the second de-
cree, because he hired "Izzy the
Painter to set fire TO his Hat, in East
2Otst street. pleaded guilty yesterday
before Judge Rosalsky. He will be
called a. a witness against Freeman.