The Portland daily press., 1880-05-17
Arson.
BURNING OF OLIVER DOLE'S HOUSE
AT WINDHAM
Edward G. Thompson Admits the Crime.

On Saturday morning, at2 o'clock, Mr.
Irish who resides on the hill at Great Falls.
Windham, discovered, on looking from his
window, the house of Mr.. Oliver Dole, one of
the selectmen OF the town, a short distance off
in flames. He fastened to the spot, and, with
the aid of neighbors, succeeded in awaken
ing the inmates, Mr.. Dole, his three children
and the hired boy. So rapidly had the flames
progressed that two of the children were near
ly smothered when rescued. The house, ell
and barn, which were all connected, were en-
tirely destroyed; also the horse, COW and 1900
weight of hay A few pieces of parlor furni
ture were saved
In the morning examination revealed the
fact that the fire must have been SET There
had been no fire where the flames were dis
covered in the north end of the house, and it
happened that the boy the night previous, had
fed and watered the animals before dark as he
wanted to go away for the evening. Further
investigation revealed the fact that whoever
had set the fire must have used a crutch, for
the tracks were those of lame man with
holes punched in the earth near the tracks at
regular distances. These tracks wer traced
through field for some distance from the
barn.
A neighbor was dispatched to this city for
Marshal Bridges, who left at once for the spot.
He visited several neighbors and relatives of
man named Edward c. Thompson, who was
suspected of being the guilty party, but the
manhad not been seen. Mr.. Elijah Emery,
the grandfather of Thompson, said that the
young man had not been seen since $50 the
evening previous. when he went to the post
Office for the mails. Mr. Bridges left word for
the people to notify him if Thompson put in
an appearance, and came back to the city, in
tending to go to Lewiston today to see if he
could find his man at box factory there where
he had lately been employed.
Yesterday morning the Marshal was notified
that Thompson had returned and was stopping
at his grandfather Emerys. Mr. Bridges went
out and learned that one of the neighbors had
discovered Thompson's tracks, where he had
gone into the woods, and thence to his grand
fathers. Mr.. Bridges went to the house and
confronted Thompson, who, after some con-
versation, was asked by the Marshal if he COM
mitted the crime and answered II did It,"
Mr. Bridges then brought Thompson to this
city and lodged him in the jail.
Last evening reporter for the PRES visited
the jail, and by the courtesy of Sheriff Dresser
had an interview with the prisoner. Thomp-
son is man of about medium size, with dark
hair and moustache, and not disagreeable
expression of countenance. He said he was
the son of the late Levi Thompson of Gorham
uh al.
Stephen Anderson and wife of Windham. He
was very DESTROYS of securing an education as
his infirmity prevented his using his limbs
like other men. After securing a certain
amount of knowledge he desired to get high
school training. Two years ago he taught
school in district No. IS for term. Four
years ago Mrs. Stephen Anderson died and she
left the house and outbuildings that were
burned and five acres of land, equally between
himself and her half sister, Mrs. Oliver Dole
He. Thompson-or Anderson as he is generally
called since he took his adopted parents name
chose guardian-he was then only nineteen
years old-and the guardian tried to get set
Element of the property without avail. The
property was valued at $1,000 and was well in
sured. After Thompson came of age he en-
deavored to get settlement, but all Dole
would do was to provide him with some
clothes, and finally offered him $50. Dole also
maligned him, so he says, telling people that
he was crazy and a know-nothing, and thus
preventing his getting school to teach sec
ond term. Finding his hopes in that direction
crushed he went to Lewiston about IS months
ago and became box trimmer in a box fac
tory, returning to his grandfather Emerys last
Tuesday. He declined to admit that he burn
ed the buildings The suppostion is that his
failure to get his share of the property-pre-
Stunning for the sake of argument that his story
is true-worked him up to such pitch that he
determined to prevent Mr.. Dole's family from
enjoying it and therefore set it on fire. The /.
will also required that Mr.. Stephen Anderson
should have home in it while he lived, but
we believe he died some time ago.
On the other hand, we understand, it it
claimed that Thompson is insane. Whether
or no his story about the settlement of the
property is disputed, we have not bee n able to
ascertain. Mrs. Dole was in the city at the
time OF the fire, stopping with her brother DR..
Dole.
Thompson is very reluctant to talk and has
the reputation of being very logged, obsti-
nate man, but man of truth Getting him
to talk was like drawing cold molasses in win
ter.