The New York herald., 1922-05-22
.ATTELL'S BOOT SHOP
SOAKED IN GASOLINE;
POLICE QUESTION HIM
Former Pugilist Blames
Enemies for Suspicious
Circumstance.
ONLY MATCH NEEDED
Fire Plot Revealed When
Inflammable Fluid Leaks
Into Cabaret.
QUESTION PARTNER TOO
Fire Marshal Brophy Will
Take Up Examination Of
Boxer To-day.
QUESTION PARTNER TOO

Abe Attell and e. NJ. Tausend, who
are business associates in the Ming
Toy Bootery at 1856 Broadway, will
be quizzed to-day by Fire Marshal
Thomas Brophy about their shop
which was found gasoline soaked
early yesterday by two watchmen and
a patrolman.
After being awakened by the police
in the Oregon apartment at Fifty
fourth street and Seventh avenue, At
tell, former featherweight boxing
champion, and who figured in the al
legged fixing Of the 1919 world series
baseball championship, was questioned
for two hours by detectives at the
Forty-seventh street station, and de-
MED all knowledge OF the attempted
arson. A denial was made also by
Tausend, who voluntarily went to the
police station.
Attell said he believed the attempted
arson was the work of an old enemy. He
declared he would do everything in his
power to run down the culprits. Ac-
cording to the police Tausend said he
did not know of any enemies, but that
Attell might have some.
II believe this thing was done by some
enemy to make 1t look as II was pre-
pairing to burn the place." said AtteIl
Il don't think whoever soaked the place
with gasoline really intended to set II
on fire.
Escape wonld BE Easy.
II figure whoever put the papers and
gasoline around must have entered
through trap door leading to the Club
Maurice in the basement to the store
and escaped through the front door
which was easy enough. 1t would be
hard 10 open the front door from the
outside but would be easy enough to get
out that way
AS matter Of fact there "a no rea-
son why should set fire to the store.
We are making money and the business
is in good financial condition. There
are more than $2,so0 In outstanding
obligations. and there is stock worth
$4,000 on hand, not to mention the
value OF the business itself. We carry
$4,000 insurance"
The shoe shop is situated I'm the
Broadway Central Building. over the
Cafe Maurice. and adjoins the building
which houses the dancing palace Rose
land.
About 3 o'clock yesterday morning
Carbino Caseris OF 24s West 146th
street, a watchman employed by the
Cafa Mourica 1iecoyo~oI ~.~~,f~- 1t
ping through the ceiling of the cabare,
to the floor of the cafe. About the same
time John Ryan of 100 West Fifty-third
street, q watchman In the Broadway
Central Building. noticed the steel trellis
door leading from the bootery into the
corridor Of the office building was open
The inside wooden door was locked, bu;
Ryan detected the odor OF gasoline.
Tracing Gasoline's Source.
Cascrls told Ryan OF his discovery and
they began a search for its source. After
ripping away draperies Of bunting they
discovered trapdoor about IA inches
by IS inches which led TO the small
back office OF the shoe shop. Gasoline
was tricking through the edges OF the
door. which Is underneath n sink.
Ryan went to Broadway and called
Patrolman Winship OF the West Forty
seventh street station. BY the use of a
ladder the three men crawled through
the trapdoor and Immediately became
nauscated from the strong odor of gaso-
line, which was discovered In puddles on
the floor.
The back window was thrown open to
let In fresh air. 1t was then found that
the entire interior OF the store was
soaked In gasoline. Sunday mornings s
newspapers were strewn on the floor
and also were saturated. A five gal
Ion can OF gasoline was discovered
wrapped In a newspaper
The shoe boxes on the shelves had
not been overlooked by the person or
persons who used the gasoline. There
was hardly a dry shoe found In the
tiers OF boxes. It being evident that the
gasoline had been poured from the
center of the tops OF each OF the shelves
and ran down into the stock, which
retails to women at from 1895 to s22
a pair.
The rugs in front of the shop, which
is In plain view OF usually crowded
Broadway, were soaked with gasoline.
After q quick examination Patrolman
Winship notified the Fire Marshal's Of
fice and detectives were summoned from
the West Forty-seventh street station.
Assistant Fire Marshal willis soon ar
rived. as did Detectives James F'itzpat-
rick and Stephen Love. According 70
the police the store had not been broken
into by the Jimmy method. as the doors
we're found closed and properly locked.
The place keeps open until or 2 o'clock
on Sunday morning. according to Ryan,
the watchman.
There can be no doubt that an at
tempt at arson was made here" saio
Chief Brophy. There must have been
at least ten gallons of gasoline used In
the place. Atteil and Tausend viii be
questioned by me at my office to-
morrow. The gasoline can and newr-
papers may furnish clue to the cul-
prit or cuiprits"
Atlantic City by Royal Biue Tine Motors.
Delightful Tour from Hotel McAlpin Daily,
q 10 hnet "a x,,ofcr Ytf,~trstct