davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-05

premises. and had her plans succeeded
several lives would have been lost.
sleeping In the apartment below the
Ackerly woman was family with
little children who were awakened by
hot water dripping down upon them from
the fiat above. On Investigation a fire
was found blazing in the Ackerly wom-
ans apartments. the heat having melted
the water pipes water from which had
dripped down through the ceilings. Had
It not been for this fortunate accident
other tenants In the house might have
been burned to death.
The occupant Of the apartment In
which the fire occurred was absent. She
had taken her three children and gone to
Port Jefferson. Long Island. Incendiaries
Invariably absent themselves and are
thus abba to provide an alibi when the
proper time comes. She was traced by
clew found In letter.
After the Fire Department had sue
ceeded In putting out the fire remarka-
BILE state Of affairs was disclosed. Sever
al time plants were found In sideboards
cupboards and closetA OIL soaked papers
and kindling wood. with candles burning
on top Of them, .wsts found. Under BED
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-05

k9ceDd1dry Fire io Living roe9
AboDe MoUlnS Picture Cbouo> No
4o9- 470 EW i5.Ct Oil T11eo-
Bzadde,- ID Doorway Burr
Szod de.. 90 Noor.O5O Blood,
Xysd, Eoe5 co0fo,ni7g 3
Cotton e/FfoJe1e OIL
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-05
NCFNDIARISM LUIS NSURANCE-A CETRCF4QUQCK SCHEME
Insurance and Incendiarsm Go Hand in Hand, Says Fns
Commissioner johnson, Whose Manpulations Revealed
the Alarming Laxiy Of Insurance Companies in
Regard to Inspection and Corresponding
Activity Among Gentlemen Of the Torch.

wa, a wooden box with complete, plant
of papers wood and a candle, the wnoie
being soaked in oil.
The fire had made good start anu
would have entirely destroyed the place
had 1t not been for the melting OIL the
water pipes.
A WOODEN LEG INSURED.
Tho Assistant Fire Marsnai OF
Brooklyn, Thomas P. Brophy, present
incumbent Of the office, was assigned 10
the case, AMI In the course OF investiga-
ton came upon a number OF circum-
stances which convinced him that the
absent woman had caused the fire. In
the first place she had had a previous
fire when living in Hoyt street. and on
that occasion had accused a certain man
of burning her out The man had been
arrested, but there was not SUFFICIENT
evidence to hold him. The Fire Marshai
had entertained suspicious any way that
the accused man was not the person
actually guilty.
"A few days prior to the last hre tne
Ackerly woman had turned out OF heF
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-05

that one wonders at the cold bloo6so
calculation necessary to perpetrate them.
Such a crime Is arson In the first degreo.
for which crime you were indicted, and
for which you have been convicted in
lesser degree after a careful trial-ths
first woman found guilty Of this crime
here In twenty years.
81 am convinced that you were ~
sponsible for the previous fire in your
former home, and when you found you
were not suspected Of that crime you
planned this affair and at the same TIM
increased the insurance on your property.
You are a menace to this city of homes.
and send you to Auburn Prison for
term of not less than fourteen years."
Another instance Is related as follows:
zone OF the most dastardly events n
the entire history Of incendiarism was the
attempt to burn seven decrepit horses h
stable in the rear Of No. 1863 Johnson
avenue. Brooklyn. on the night Of Auguse
band Of firebugs captured. The leader q
this band was Morris Greenberg, anas
The Torch aged sixty-five years.
CRUELTY OF THE CRIME.
These fiends pursued an atrocious fosD
Of fire insurance swindle. II was thelP
plan to insure good horses and then Sub.
stitute for them broken down hacks.
which thoy burned in order to collect -
surance.
Fortunately for the poor horses IN u
case, word had reached Fire Marshal
Brophy Of Brooklyn that an attemDt
would be made to set Are to the stable On
a certain night. As they arranged Their
plans, the Fire Marshal in turn perfected
his.
For several days prior TO the proposal
attempt the man owning the horses. IL
firebugs and other persons connected WITH
the affair were assiduously shadowsa.
The owner OF the horses, one LOU
Evans, or 'Evansky.' Of No. 2ls Vafse
street. in tho Williamsburg district -
been attending auction sales In East New
York and elsewhere. buying up numosss
OF decrepit and useless horses, some Of
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-05

which were lame and absolutely uniteeel
for work. to be substituted for the gees'
horses In his stable.
ION the horses installed BY Evans ~
No 500 johnson avenue-a deserted ~
ton OF the Borough of Brooklyn-he %
tained no less than 81. 400 worth OF inses
ance In tho Northern Assurance Compesyi
Of London. The agent who obtained thel
policies for Evans. Jacob Zamzok. OF NJ.
50 woodbine street. Brooklyn. stated Nh
der oath that he had not inspected shs,
horses at all before applying for the "
surance.
Nevertheless. the company had issuea
81. 400 worth OF insurance on horses when
were subsequently sold by Evans's wife'
at least six OF them. for the sum OF -.
or "A IS each Had the plugs been burnea
up, claims for the seven horses wou'e
have been made against the insurancs
company for $500 each. and receipted pus
would doubtless have been produceos
showing the values Of the better horss
for which they had been substituted.
Tho principal firebugs In this ansH
were Morris Greenberg. aged sixty-nvs'
Of No. sB Blake avenue. Brownsville: ~
son. David Greenberg. aged twenty-thrss'l
Of the same address; Louis Evans. OF
'Evansky, truckman. Of the address o.
ready mentioned. and Hyman WasssF-
man, a contractor. OF No 4A Blake aw
nue. The Greenbergs. Evans and We
serman admitted their guilt. the lsss
named turning states evidence and MAJ
Ing sensational disclosures"
BAD BUSINESS AND sUsPIcIoNes
The following interesting account tell1
Of the way In which the department ~
learned Of tho "nre-making' business:
'The attention Of the Fire DepartmseS
was frst drawn to the making Of hrss -
. business by an insurance broker -
Manhattan. who made 4 statement to
department chief to the effect that -
had been driven out Of business in ceft
tain section Of the city owing to -
prevalence Of 'suspicious' fires. HIS CO..
panies were refusing to issue policies
that section.
IN that particular neaeAsss
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-05

hodeDDon9erJ
ofNre -9uS
Paok.'
Cd0t Powder
Bor7b Eo.sDa
IN Tins HouJe
IN SrooWyD
Euery Gas
Ter ~ POono
WlaJ T4t1e&
w
EScelSIor til
Nofkte0
OooHed
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-05

Five Commissioner Johnson has submit
ted 10 Mayor GaynOr a report entitled
"Incendiarism In Greater New York.
Among the startling statements contained
in this handsomely printed book illus
trated with numerous photographs. are
the following
THE crime of arson is rampant in our
city.
1T is responsible for one-fourth OF our
fire losses. involving an annual destruc-
ton OF not less than 100000 worth OF
property. This is more than slO.S0o day.
Despite all efforts of conscientious pub
lie officials, the strenuous activities OF our
fire marshals and the detection and pros
ecution of numerous incendiaries. sus-
picious fires-par;icularly among certain
well defined trades-are on the increase
Without exaggeration our ci.y is race
to face with a grave public danger,
The statement that one fire In every
four is "set" means several incendiary
fires every day in New York. 1t sounds
incredible. 1t Is calculated to shock the
Mayor to learn that there are so many
more heads in town than he perhaps had
first imagined that are filled with vice
and crime.
WHERE FIRE 10 A CRIME.
In Berlin every fire is crime. That
In the law. And, II Is asked, why notG
Run down the truth about any fire, and
some one person will be found whose neg
ligence or guilt was the cause OF It.
Somebody stored dangerous quantities
OF inflammable or explosive goods on the
premises, or he built frame structure
next to a sweatshop. He took chances
with human lives-because It was cheap.
In Berlin 1t is not cheap. The police
investigate every fire, says one authority
and the responsible person pays the cost
of putting out that fire, and damages be-
sides. Note the result. In Chicago, the
American city Of equal size. the annual
Are loss is Sc, 0O0, 900; In Berlin, $4,000.
Commissioner Johnson says that In Eu-
rope incendiarism does not exist, because
insurance policies cannot be obtained
without previous inspection OF property
and close inquiry into the character OF
all applicants. He adds:
Every one In America can get nre
insurance policy for the mere asking. The
New York Fire Department has obtained
sl27.5OO worth OF fire insurance, in the
form of l35 different policies. on property
worth only So Sc.
Dividing this amount. Commissioners
Johnson says the following values were
insured:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-05
THE FIRE SYNDICATE.

."rhis is because trade slackens down
in these months" he adds, "and some or
the business men who deal in furs can
Judge whether OF not they have a chance
OF turning the corner with their stock.
IF not. they may-and often do-call
in the good offices Of the FIRE syndicate
or some che else 10 help them out with
FIRE: or else they take a chance ana
attempt to make the fire themselves
'Inexperience sometimes lands them IN
the tolls Of the fire marshal. The expert
operator is usually too clever TO be
caught. except through some unforeseen
accident"
II reports OF low finances were supplied
at specific times 10 the Fire Department
ia all the above trades. Commissioner
Johnson has little doubt II would be pos
sihle to designate beforehand the very
firms in whose premises fires would most
likely occur.
1 Also. he thinks Insurance companies
should take measures TO make II difficult
1 for all who have had previous suspicious
| fires to obtain insurance. But. as long as
| it Is openly stated by the companies that
1915 per cent OF incurred losses are
among assured who have had previous
fires" the condition, he says, seems IT.
remediable, so far as the insurance COM
panies themselves are concerned.
Commissioner johnson refers to the ar
son trust" as follows:
During the five years ending with De-
cember, 1911. in Greater New York 4Ss per-
sons were arrested for the crime Of arson.
OF that number, AZ have been convicted
Magistrates have discharged. grand juries
have failed to indict, or juries have ac-
quilted 25i persons charged with arson
Persons of unsound mind and pyroma-
MACS are not here included.
DIFFICULTIES OF CONVICTION.
Judging from the small number Of con-
| victions and the large percentage OF per-
sons against whom the charge OF arson
! was brought. but not proven. the difficul-
ties Of conviction In such cases may be
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-05

surrniscd Only an intimate personal &C
ouaintance with arson cases and the al
most superhuman efforts required TO OBJ
tain convictions In such cases will give
the figures here mentioned proper signih-
canoe.
Cease after case is brought in our
courts. and even where evidence seems
overwhelmingly convincing juries either
fail TO convict. grand juries fail TO indict.
or magistrates or judges discharge. In
several cases where trials have taken
place juIies have found parties not
guilty" In the face Of evidence on which
an unbiased person OF sound Judgment
could not fail 10 bring in a conviction.
"But such IL the nature OF arson. And
convictions ia these cases seem growing
even more difficult every day; yet not al
together from the failure OF legal process.
1.-THE up-to-date frebug is an entirely
different personality from his fellow
craftsman Of even ten years back. Where
the early frebug worked with Kerosene.
benzine, turpentine. or other common ma
terials, the modern expert employs highly
volatile substances Of unusual compost
ton, and evlnces great skill and knowl-
edge In the handling OF chemicals and ex-
ploslves. time fuses and other devices.
Complete and rapid destruction OF prop
erty Is brought about in a manner making
IL almost impossible OF detection. By these
methods evidence OF incendiarlsm is
wholly destroyed.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-05
pxopet.ty UIoxtb $5.4< ZLbzcb LtoJuYooce~
co,oedn1eS Gslled $50 500 I'oxtb o + L0Jut1nces,
go 1} 5stTSS saS 2s fSg f5Es, 155 4eEeoT
fo1JcJeJ

in incend'arism. Mary an Innocent look
ing curtain and gas Jet blaze. kerosene
or benzine fare-up or clothes closet fire
Is the sklfIlly executed work OF tho
woman incendlary.
In the frebug profession men by no
means exercise a monopoly. Some OF the
most adrolt fire operatives are women
Strangely enough. in tho congested dis
tricts OF the city. among portions OF the
population addicted to the habit of hav-
Ing fires, elderly women and mothers Of
families do not hesitate to make fires"
whenever suitable opportunity arises.
Cases have como to the attention of Fire
Marshal Prial where grandmothers In
certain families have applied the torch
Of arson: particularly In those most
difficult of incendiary cases-clothes clos
ct fires.
THE FEMALE FiREBUo.
A woman Nrebug case which attracted
much attention q few years ago was the
Annie Ackerly affair In Brooklyn. The
ore occurred at No. liz WyckoR street
on December 10, 1907.
1T was an apartment house Other
ssmi,iss bsstdss this woman sooupisd the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-05
SKILL OF INCENDlARlEs.

at is not proposed in this report 10 pro-
vide a manual Of irebug methods so that
persons 20 inclined may learn how TO
operate or what 10 avoid Suffice II TO
say that the present-day operations OF IN
cendiaries are. as a'rule. 80 skilfully per-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-05
A LONG SENTENCE.

once within tho Jurisdiction Of the
courts she was Immediately arrested and
accused Of the crime OF setting fire to her
place in the night time, when other per-
sons were asleep on the premises-'arson
in the first degree
After lengthy trial before Judge Nor
man s. Dixie Annie Ackerly was convict
cd of arson In the second degree and
sentenced to q fourteen-year term In
prison. which she ID now serving.
"She had q policy Of 5000 on her place
at the time. and would have collected It
had not the dripping water awakened tho
family living below her.
THE fact that she had obtained money
from q previous fire had not deferred In
surance companies from granting her fur
Their protection
Judge Dixie. In pronouncing sentence
on this woman. delivered the following
scsthing comment;
"'Thers are certain crimes that are %
revolving In their disregard 81 human ufs
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-05
Burning Up Things in New York City Has Proved q
Highly Lucrative Diversion for the Firebug Concern
ing Whose Organized Operations Suspicion Was
First Aroused by the Bad Business Of an
Insurance Broker in Certain District

AT times, the only available method OF
averting impending financial ruin.
Many fires investigated by our fire
ulars6als are the direct result Of finan-
c,al conditions. An opportune fire. bring
Ing ready cash. appeals with peculiar
force TO a merchant embarrassed for
funds. who considers that the most prof
table method of disposing of obsolete
stock is 20 sell II 10 an insurance COM
pany.
Fire making has become almost fine
art. So carefully are most OF these fires
planned. so ably are they executed. so
complete is the destruction OF all evil
dence of incendarsm. that detection ami
conviction of the crime are extremely
difficult.
THE PERCENTAGE OF ARSON.
Definite data on which to base scien-
tific estimates of exact percentages or
incendiary fires are almost wholly lacking,
and reports as TO percentage totals LOT
this class of fires vary among diherent
authorities r. II. Ross, metropolitan
branch manager Of three important hrc
insurance companies, estimates incen-
diary fires as accounting for FUZZY ~ per
cent of the total number.
THE Fire Marshal Of Brooklyn. Thomas
p. Brophy, who has devoted much time
and energy to the investigation Of incen-
diarism, and who has many convictions
OF 'firebugs' to his credit. gives his opin-
ion that arson causes 30 per cent OF the
total fire loss In this city, while the New
York Fire Marshal. John P. Prial an
equally assiduous departmental heao.
places the figure at Is per cent.
Until additional facts and tabulated
statistics extending over a period of years
have been obtained. 1t is considered best
to accept the estimate Of % per cent as
tentative figure. which. IL anything errs
on the side of conservatism.
"A condition which permits the delio-
crate destruction Of 100000 worth OF
property q year, which imperils human
life and is such a danger to the COM
munity we'll deserves close scrutiny AT
the hands not only Of municipal officials
who have the welfare Of the city at heart,
but of the general public, whose interests
are so vitality affected"
An examination OF the 1854 fires IN
greater New York during 1911 reveals the
fact, says Commissioner Johnson, that
many individual firms in various trades
have the fire habit"
Among these he mentions certain nrms
in the shirtwaist industry. cloak ana
women's suit business. the fur Industry
and the hat and cap industry.
In the fur trade, he says, most hrcs
occ,,r in tho snring OF the year.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-05
A LUCRATIVE TRADE.

New York lire maTshals estimate the
FIRE loss for the year ended Decemoei'
1911, at sl2, 47o. SOC, but insurance authori-
ties bring this total up to about sl6'V'ao.e;
the difference in the estimates being due
10 the fact that insurance companies ad-
.1usted many losses which were not, until
recently, reported TO the Fire Department.
Accepting insurance figures as basis
of calculation, New York is being deliber-
ately burned up at the rate Of more than
$40, 800 a day. And this serious and grow
ing loss is not due to accidental and UNI
avoidable causes. 1t Is caused BY In
cendiaries.
Tho murderous trade of fire making
appears to be one Of the most lucrative
and least risky occupations pursued by
certain classes of our population. Nor are
these persons confined to what may be de-
scribed as the criminal element. Fire
making opportunists are found in almost
every grade Of life, from the tenement
dveller on the East Side TO the whole
sale merchant in the downtown business
district.
Among these people a fire is looked
upon as q blessing by no means in dis
slise- 1t 10 frequently the readiest way
to realize quick return on a slow moving
stock Of overinsured goods, and is also.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-05

formed that Il is only by the merest ac- {.
failure Of n well laid plan
that FIRE marshsls are able 20 bring any
OF these people TO Justice.
THE stamping out % incendiarism by
catching frebugs in the act Is almost I'M
possible OF attainment lnccssant Visi-
lance on the part OF present FIRE marshals
has already acted rs decided deterrent
in these cases: but where incendiarisn
for gain Is In the minds and systems. the
very blood OF the people. as II seems to
be to-day-where individuals and business
firms look 20 fires I'm order 10 win easy
money from Insurance companles-there
Ia no way OF putting an end 10 the evil
but by stopping the issuance OF Insurance
policies under the present system"
Among IA great number OF arson cases
told by Mr.. Johnson In detail the follow
ing Is selected:
Female frebugs play an important part
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-05

apartments. without any apparent reason.
an old soldier. telling him she could no
longer permit him to stay with her. He
was a man with a wooden leg. In Mrs.
Ackerly's previous fire she had put IN
claim against the insurance company for
one wooden leg-value $780, the property
Of the old veteran, but. curiously enough.
he had never been deprived Of his arti-
fetal limb.
"Shs had removed from her apartments
a few days before the fire large number
OF her belongings.
"The absence Of tho woman In Port
jefferson lent certain difficulties to the
case. In the first place. being outside the
jurisdiction OF the Brooklyn courts. pro-
ceedings could not be brought against her
without overcoming legal technicalties.
THE Assistant Fire Marshal managed
to locate the Ackerly woman at her
mothers place In Port Jefferson. BY In
timating to her that her old enemy had
again burned her out. and telling her the
place was completely Quilted. he induced
her to return with him to Brooklyn.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-05

\ remarkable fact which Commissioner
Johnson states was disclosed by the Fire
Department investigation, is that many
trades in New York profit by incendiarism.
The fire insurance companies should. he
says, stop the indiscriminate granting OF
policies, and thus cut off the main motive
for 81 so3. IL is his belief that this is the
only l..l..od Of removing serious public
danger, ior. besides involving the enor-
nous loss Of property, the crime of arson
In this city IS. he says. responsible for a
number Of deaths and for endangerins
thousands OF lives The report continues:
The Coconino sun., 1913-06-27
Larsen-Treat Wedding

At high noon on Wednesday a
very pretty wedding was SOLEMN
lied at the home of Mr.. and Mrs.
Charles Cooley at Holbrook, when
Miss Augusta Treat of Flagstaff
became the bride of Mr.. Wallace
Larson of Holbrook, Mr.. Alof
Larson father of the groom affici-
ating.
The ceremony was performed
in the presence OF the immediate
relatives and few friends Of the
contracting parties, among whom
were the father and sister
of the bride, and the parents of
the groom.
The groom wore the conven-
tional black. The bride was
charmingly gowned in white
French serge, trimmed with point
lace, a trailing boquet OF ferns and
white carnations completing the
costume.
Immediately following the con-
CALCULATIONS rendered the happy
pair a daily luncheon was served,
the table being decorated with
bridal wreath and sweet peas.
The bride is the talented daugh-
ter of Mayor Treat of this city.
The groom is one of Holbrook' S
prosperous young business men,
being the managing agent of the
Northwestern Mutual Lite In
surance company.
A host of friends throughout
the intermountain region extend
congratulations and best wishes
| to the popular young couple.
The Coconino sun., 1913-06-27
Resolution of Respect

WHEREAS, we have witnessed
with profound sorrow the death OF
our friend and brother Fred Lew
ellen,
Be it resolved, that as our ex-
preston OF our sorrow that the
charter of the lodge be draped for
a period OF thirty days and that a
copy of this be spread on the
minutes of the lodge,
Be it further resolved that the
coincidence of our brotherhood be
extended to the family of our
deceased brother,
May he who is the author oil
Friendship Love and Truth ever
guide and keep them. .
w. n. PUCKETT,
J. NJ. WILSON,
...'.. FRANK SPEARS,
The Coconino sun., 1913-06-27
G. A. r. Responds to Veterans

Through the efforts of Mr.. s. b.
Gilliland about SO was raised
here Monday and sent to swell
the fund being raised In the state
to send veterans, both blue and
grey, back to the reunion of all
participants in the battle oil
Gettysburg.
A bill appropriating $4,000
passed the house at the last ses-
sion of the Legislature, but owing
to the peculiar method of economy
in the senate, failed OF passage
there.
1t was only fitting tribute to
the pitiful hand full of survivors
of that historic struggle, and in,
stead of a popular subscription