Burned Brother’s Store For $50

David Hirschman confesses to police authorities that he set fire to the shoe store of his brother in order to “collect $7,000 insurance on the stock” for $50.

Acting on the confession of David Hirschman, twenty years of age, who declared to the police authorities that he had set fire to the shoe store of his brother, Benjamin Hirschman, on Atlantic Avenue, Atlantic City, N. J., several weeks ago, to allow the latter to collect $7,000 insurance on the stock, Magistrate Grove held the two brothers for the grand jury. David Hirschman was held without bail on the charge of arson, while his brother was given the opportunity to enter $5,000 bail on the charge of aiding and abetting the crime. Young Hirschman confessed that he received $50 from his brother for setting fire to the place while the latter was away.

“Burned Brother’s Store For $50,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed March 21, 2025, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/1886.