The New York herald., 1922-10-24
RESCUERS AT FIRE
ARE UNDER SCRUTINY
Search for PyrOmaniac in
Z Deaths of Fifteen at Tene-
ment Goes On.
THREE PERSONS HELD
One Prisoner Is 12-Year-
Old BOy-Man Seized for
Observation.
TWO MORE IDENTIFIED
5000 Contributed Toward a
Fund for Relief of Families
Made Homeless.
TWO MORE IDENTIFIED

Fire Marshal Thomas p. Brophy and
the police will continue to-day their
investigation into the origin of the
tenement house fire at Lexington ave-
nue. and 10th street early Sunday in
which fifteen persons lost their lives.
Although circumstances indicate that
It was the work of a dangerous pyro-
maniac still at large, Brophy said
he was not convinced that the blaze
baby carriages which stood on the
ground floor near the stairs. In this
respect the fire is similar to one re-
Gently at 109th street near Columbus
their lives. 1t is believed this is more
than a coincidence. Efforts will be
made to-day to check up on several
men who were conspicuous in the
work of rescue.
One suspect, Alfred F. Molnar 33, of
c07 East Ninety street, was
arrested in Bayonne, N. j.. yesterday
and brought here for questioning.
After an examination by Marshal
Brophy he was sent to the psycopathic
ward at Bellevue Hospital for obser-
walton. He was able to furnish a per-
feet alibi. The marshal said he was
certain that Molnar knew nothing Of
the blaze.
Two More Arrested.
He first attracted attention in front
OF st. Andrews Catholic Church in Bay
onne, where he sat surrounded by sew
cral cracker boxes and with lighted
candle In front of Kim He was locked
up and became violent during the night,
smashing windows and furniture. Mar
shall Brophy and Lieut.. James Conners
lished report that Molnar had confessed
setting the Lexington avenue fire. Mol
mar was brought TO town by Detectives
William Caputo and John Doughcrty Of
the East 104th street station and taken
TO the Municipal Building for examina-
tion.
The police said Molnar had an excel
lent reputation. His wife. Anna, told the
Marshal that her husband left home at
10 o'clock Sunday morning to see
friend who was i'll in Elizabeth. She
was at loss to account. for his pres
sencc in Bayonne.
AIfhnnph M ic oh xrit tt.
Lexington avenue fire. two arrests OF
alleged pyromaniacs were made as
result OF the city wide investigation. At
80 o'clock Sunday night an alarm was
turned In for fire In six story tene-
ment at 2S3 and 2S5 Grand street
Twenty families make their home there.
The blaze started in lumber and paper
In the basement, ate upward through
stores on ~; street level and reached
the second -oor.
Battalion Chief McElliogott reported
that he had found John Harrison, Sc, tho
assistant janitor. behaving oddly In tho
basement. Assistant Fire Marshal Will
lam Copeland ordeyed hts arrest. Harrison
talked ramblingly of a mysterious man
with flashlight in the basement and,
according to Copeland. admitted having
escaped from an insane asylum in Rocli-
ester, Mimi, seven years ago. He went
TO Canada, according to his story. and
came to New York n year ago. He Is
charged with being q suspicious person.
Deaths Total Fifteen.
The other prisoner is Eugene Sneed. a
twelve-year-old negro, of 100 West 142d
street. He was arrested by Detectives
Stanley German and Edward Shields of
the West 135th street station. Accord
ing to the police. Sneed said he liked to
see the fire engines "rol around and
admitted having set fire to the roof Of
the building where he lives three weeks
ago The detectives reported that they
found matches in Sneed's locker at Pub
lie School No. 8, 141st street and Edge
combe avenue. He will be arraigned in
the Children's Court to-day on a charge
of juvenile delinquency.
The death list in the Lexington ave-
nue. fire was increased to fifteen when
Mrs. Rose Inglese. s5 years old. one of
the injured. died ia the Harlem Hos
pitsl from shock. The remainder of the
injured are doing well and are expected
to recover
Tho two bodies remaining In the CITY
inorgue were identified during the day
by Harry $. SuEarman OF 1854 Lexing-
ton avenue as his brother and sister.
Gerald FL. 20 years old. violnist and
Marie. "a a stenographer He said
they came TO New York two and half
years ago from England and that prior
10 that they had lived in Rumania. The
funerals OF the five members OF the
Sugarman family who lost their lives in
the fire will be at 10 o'clock this morn
ing from the undertaking rooms of
Harry Schwartz. 32 Fifth street The
funerals OF Abraham Matilsky and his
wife. Anna, also fire victims. will be
from there at the same time. Mrs. Ma
tilsky was "A Sugarnan before her mar
riase. The others TO be buried are Cath
erine. "a. and Sidney. %.
The funerals Of Samuel Fannie.
Sarah. Beatrice and Nathan Silver will
be this afternoon from a chapel at 10th
street and Lexington avenue.
committee TO solicit relief funds for
those who lost everything In the fire
was rganized yesterday, with Martin
y Kennedy OF 46 Dey street as chair
man. The Yorkville Bank. at Eighty
NTH street and Third avenue. is the
custodian OF the fund. Contributions
VIII be received there and at Mr.. Ken
r"dy's office. Thus far tho Yorkville
Book has given $3.50 Henry Frank.
500 John J. Dietz, H Warren Hub
bard. Judge Francis Y. Mancuso state
Senator A. Cotillo and Louis Adler,
tsc catH. several appeals for assist
ance were received by the committee
during the day.