New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-23
o,re in Own Cellar Ready
ior Match When Prowl-
;oe Tabby Scares Him.
DollCEMAN STOPS HIS
DASH FROM HOUSE
,.l, Of Burglar Falling Youth
Finally Admits Setting Fires
10 Pose as Hero.

,,,.;.h. scenes Of terror. which
N'"" vor IN normal minds. gave
,,,.nse pleasure 70 the twisted
IN, man. His obsession was
~S yesterday 20 be the explanation
'''. .s-es Of mysterious fires that
.,,-,sed scores Of Harlem tene-
~. house dvcllers in the last month
~. strange sest for placing many
-. ,ssins, whom he held no
w. sr. N danger Of death amid flames
AVN hands started belonged 10 ha-
pr,,.r. an otherwise apparently
' '',m.l youth. of s46 Columbus Ave
ras ;.,,nsb he was hardened TO scenes
uh;ch most folks shrink in fear
-. the football Of black cat 'ha'
- him into the panic which re-
- ~, 4, the exposure Of his mania
y. had erept early yesterday morn
80 .he basement Of his own home
ct. -. or the TERED floors two dozen
.. , lay sleeping. On the topmOs'
a.. ,urthest from safety his 0w"
. .~.,,, mother and father slept ne
GU, ~. st.irs with kerosene. and
"a. treated IN the came way . pie %
'"s.-usbls rubbish IN q coal bin
-, :. felt for S match. Al TINS
."' zane the fateful football OF
-, rrowlins black cat on some ioose
IDS. The youth fed in terror ano
~. -n,hed TO the street he came face
:, faes with policeman.
Rurglar. He Tells Patroln'an.
a, hr-rlar-ln the house-frightened
.,shs had presence OF mind enough
:. s,sD in explanation Of his sudden
~ from the house; but in MS
,..s,y for FEASIBILITY he Over''eppe'
himself.
4. he told this story Lieutenant
Uu,;sm Joyee, Of the Fire Prevention
pr,.su o. the Fire Department hao
,,,,.n.d along and had listened TO
Viva joyce went with him and founo
...,,.,srat'ons for AT incendiary fire
,.sb..n arranged as Putter described
rs,r Joyce asked him 70 come 10 tns
,.,,et FIRE engine house where fife
y,-,b,l Bropby, Of the Bureau Of Fire
Ir,s..igstion, joined them
pp..sr told his tale again with more
,..,u tbs, made gaping inconsistencies
!, n. ,tory snd increased the sus-
,,ao,. 81 his ipterrogators. Sometimes
!. ,noke o. the man he said he saw IN
u. house IS a burglar, at others ne
called him a frebug. lie also explained
carefully that he was afraid to follow
b.csuse he vas not armed, but went on
n saw how he fearlessly went down
into The cellar 10 see If the burgiaar
had partner, as burglars usua''S
operate in pairs. -,
sWhy weren't you afraid to 60 down
into the basement II you WeIeh
armed" Marshal Brophy asked.
Putter stammered and became con
fused He tried 20 explain, but the
NOR. he explained the worse ne nlaue
n. wreck OF his story.
"Oh. III tell you the truth, ne salo
81 love 10 start fires. ! love TO wall
until the flames burst out and tnei
every one Is frightened can't remem'
Der how many ] have set. ! rememo.. pc
the excitement-it gives me pleasure
Didn't you think Of the danger ''
your mother and father when yo1.,
planned this FIRE in your own nome :
he was asked.
q thought Of that. and cut the rope
on the scuttle myself" he said. Il nave
a friend who Is fireman. and he toil
ne that the scuttle is a good way u
escape.
Hero at Fire He Started.
"The fire al 952 Columbus Avenue, OF
January H. was one OF my nres. pu
some kerosene on some straw IN a DIN
Then ! went 20 a saloon and waited;
was going 70 pull the box myself, ou
some one else did IT, heard the hre
men eome-that is the part | like an'
he people shrieking. ! ran out an'
joined the hTemeu and rescued a DaDY'
"Ihs; was q good act. The baby wa
asleep and would have burned to dealt
L II hadn't been for me. Every one II
lie district thought ! was a hero.
carried the baby down in front Of tn
eiosd and handed II 10 it, mother.
Pu,ier told this and other stories o
ts.xplots calmly, in straightforward
way without emotion. He was take'
On tour Of the scenes Of numerou
HARLEM incendiary fires, and this serve
% refresh his memory, and he con
hs;sd bis guilt. Then he was taken 10
preliminary examination 70 IN
Pathological laboratory at Polio
headquarters, and later remanded 10
ne grand jury by Magistrate BarloV
On charge Of arson in the first de
gree Those who saw him were Of tn
opinion he Is mentally defective.
Yea