New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-11
Public Fire Adjuster Falls Into
Net Set for InCendiarieS
After Confession of
Samuel Gold.
$4,000 BAIL DEMANDED
Prosecutor Fears That Prisoner
Would Be Spirited Away to
Prevent Disclosures-Hears
Of Hold Ups by Men Who
Make Settlements.


surance company and the first victim Of
the hunt for incendiaries which was
started by the District Attorney after
the confession Of Samuel Gold few
days ago, was held for examination In
$4,000 bail yesterday in the Harlem
court by Magistrate Murphy. Grutz.
who lives at No. 60 East 102d street, Is
public fire adjustcr. Other arrests
arc expected.
Grutz. who appeared in court In cx-
pensive clothing topped off by a big
fur coat, had 5000 in cash ready to
deposit as bail with the City Chamber
lain, but was unable to get the Slo.-
600 demanded by Royal II. Weller, the
Assistant District Attorney, and went
to Jail.
Mr.. Weller, who with Fire Marshal
John +. Prial, has been making quiet
investigation into incendiary fires in
New York since the conviction OF lsidor
Stein. known as "Izzy the Painter Is
confident that extraordinary efforts will
be made TO obtain bail for Grutz In or
dor 70 preyent disclosures by him.
Knows Of larson Trust
Already Mr.. Weller has evidence OF
the existence Of an larson trust-an
association OF fire makers whose organ
ization is not so close as that OF
building and loan society, but is never
theless strong enough 10 make great
nrodts for its members and guarantee
both members and customers practical
immunity from prosecution.
Members OF the trust are 10 DC
found generally In one Of two saloons
on the cast side OF Harlem. The pro-
! prictor OF one OF these saloons has
been examined by Mr.. Weller. II mas
not been decided whether the proprie-
for of the second will be asked to give
what information he can, with the
probability OF obtaining virtual immu-
| nitv or whether the evidence against
him will be taken before the grand
jury.
The investigation has shown that
fire with attendant alibis for members
| Of the family in whose apartment IL
takes place can be bought from the
trust" for So and 10 per cent of the
insurance recovered. Such fires have
been found 10 be most numerous in the
thickly populated East Side tenement
houses. In practically every case 1t Is
found that the scanty furniture has
bcen insured for more than double its
real value: in some cases furniture
worth 500 at the most has been in
| sured for $1,000. Generally the insur-
ance companies do not consider such a
claim large enough to fight.
The fire makers and the dishonest
| public fire adjusters, Mr.. Weller says,
| work hand in hand. The two saloons on
Harlem's cast side are frequented by
| both, and the price paid by the GUS
toner Is shared on 90 per cent basis
between the fire maker and the fire
| adjuster. The relationship between
the two is brought out in that part Of
| Colds confession which accuses Grutz.
Admits Two lneendiary Fires.
Cold has already pleaded guilty to
arson in bnying fire at his home, No.
IS West 11Sth street, on June 90, 1912.
| In accusing Grutz he admits another
| fire Of incendiary origin on December
| I, 1910, when he lived at No. 514 East
| 13Sth street. That fire, as in the later
one. "Izzy" Stein, who was sentenced
to from twelve to twenty-four years
for arson, is accused Of kindling.
Gold says. however, it was Grutz who
called I'm 'Izzy the Painter" and made
the arrangements for the fire. Grutz
told him, Gold says, he "had a pulP'
with the adjusters of the German
American Insurance Company, and *
"Izzy" got the job of making a fire in
Colds place there would be money in 1t
for every one. /Grutz urged him not to
be afraid. according to Gold, but to
leave it all to "Izzy." Both Gold and
his wife we're directed to go to the
butchers so they might have stanch
alibi.
| After the fire, which is said 10 have
done damage to the amount Of about
SIS, Grutz is alleged to have taken an
inventory in his capacity as public fire
adjuster and to have put in a claim for
5000. The claim was finally settled for
s525, OF which Gold says he got lit
tie more than half, while. he asserts,
the rest went to Grutz and "Izzy."
Mr. Weller says he already has proof
that "Izzy" set many fires for which,
he alleges, Grutz collected the insur-
ance.
People who have engaged public fire
adiusters ON 10 per cent basis to set
| tle their losses are making complaint to
the District Attorney that when the
settlement is effected they find the
adiuster demands % per cent and
threatens TO report the fire as sus-
picious II his demands are not granted.
All such complainants are sent to Mr..
| Weller.
pony glass. Of ANGosTURA BIT
TIERS before retiring for insomnia.-Advt