Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-03-30
SUSPECT ARSON GANG
IS WORKING IN CITY
Expert Detective Investigating
Here Claims He Has Start
ling Evidence.

That there is an organized hand Of
incendiaries operating in ths city, a
hand of men who make arson a spe-
cialty and who have their headQuar-
tens In Philadelphia and have been
coming here 10 perpetrate their crimes.
Ia the information that has come TO
to officials OF the fire department OF
this city from a man whom they cay
they believe knows what he ia talking
about and who has evidence TO support
this theory. II was further stated that
this band has been working here for
sometime past and that during the
last year probably $4,000 was secured
by them.
The men to whom this information
has come as we'll as the expert who Is
understood TO have been making the
investigation that brought this de-
velopment 10 light would not discuss
the subject today. Whether any evil
dence has been secured that would
bring about the conviction OF any OF
these fire bugs could not be learned.
The methods pursued by the gang.
however are said 10 be known to the
officials who have been on their trail
and they are understood to know even
the materials used and plans followed
In some of the fires they are charged
. with starting in Wilmington.
One fire official said today many fire
risks have been overwritten by the
insurance companies and that these
big policies issued have been more OIL
less an invitation to a fire. An officia'
of one of the fire insurance companies
here
thing should be done 10 protect them.
selves from INSCRIPTIONS persons who
might be inclined 10 take advantay,
or them by deliberately setting fir,
10 their properties. lie explained III,
local underwriters have no Organiza
ton OF their own and they Deepen,
upon the national board in New Yorl
Tor any action deemed necessary il
the case of arson or incendiary fire.
hut because of the large number u
nres in this city. the origin OF all q
which have been shrouded in deel
Mystery and never fully explained. h
said something should be done to tr-
10 put stop to any organized or dis
organized attempts at incendiarism.
1t was stated that some fire insur
snce companies in this city are nov
exercising unusual precautions in is
suing policies. Every risk is care
fully scrutinized and the purchase
ot every big policy, especially mus
now be known personally "a the OF
hcials of the company underwritin
the risk. He thought the prevention
OF arson is a municipal Job and h
praised the work being done by Fir
Marshal +. Morton Ainscow and wha
this new city official has accomplishe
since assuming Office. He said h
thought the fire marshal was dom
much eood and il there Is any wa
10 stop any incendiarism that may b
going on here he will surely find
and no doubt make an example of III
person or persons convicted on tht
charge.
II was further discovered tn;
morning that the fire department an
the underwriters have not been i'd
FOR the last two or three months. a.
pecially as regards a number of fire
here that were of suspicious. origi
or which are claimed TO have been III
work Of an incendiary. Investigation
are still going on and will be cor
tinued until these mysteries have bee
cleared up. The firemen. howeve
believe their work would be MAD
much more effective If the insura n,
people would Cooperate with them
the extent of refusing policie. on su.
picious risks.