The daily gazette., 1882-06-08
A FEMALE FIRE FIEND.
coLoRED GIRLS MYSTERIOUS
ACTIONS.
SHE ATTEMPTS TO BURN A HOUSE
Coal OIL Poured ON the Outkitchon of d
Ninth Street dwelling and "a Persistent
Attempt Made 10 Ignite 1.-THE Woman
Arrested and Makes Confessions.


About 1918 last night Samuel Pyle, a
young man living at No. 900 West Ninth
street, noticed some one acting In a myster-
ious manner in the yard Of of james Todd,
No. 907. THE person was striking matches
against the side of the frame kitchen and
dropping them against. the nbnildihg. He
Immediately notified tie Todd family that
somebody was In the yard trying to steal
Something, and with his brother Robert ran
around the side of the house.
Behind the kitchen he saw figure of some
one, who started Tor tho back gate. One of
the young men blocked the exit Of the flee
ing stranger, who proved to be woman,
with clothes prop. She managed TO escape
and dashed down a steep bank at the rear of
the garden and plunged into puddle or
pond Of water caused by the filling in of
Adams street. There she was captured and
taken to the police station ty the Pyles.
Officers O'Neill and Bcrnhardt searched
the neighborhood for any accomplces the
girl may have had but were unsuccessful
in their efforts. They, however, found a
light straw hat belonging to the girl and an
old tomato can containing some coal oil
standing outside the back gate. A bundle
containing dress in the pocket of which
was watch was also found on hcr person
The bundle was wet having !ailen in the
water into which she ran when caught. Her
clothes were also sprinkled with oil and her
clothing spatterad with water and mud
A visit to the Todd residence this morning
showed the attempt 10 fire the out-litchen
had been deliberate aud persistent one,
and evidently only failed because of the
thick coating of paint on the building. On
the door leading into the yard at the side,
oil had been poured about half way up, and
had run under the door and saturated the
rag carpet inside. At the rear of the build
ing oil had also been poured in two or three
places where the weather boarding had been
on fire and was slightly charred.
The girl, Fannie smith, Mrs. Todd said
had lived with her some Two months ago for
about four weeks but had been discharged, :,
owing to the mysterious disappearance OF
some money and jeweiry, although she was
not openly accused of the theit and there
had been no harsh words between mistress
and servant. Yesterday, however, Mrs.
Todd visited a Mrs. TOppin, With whom
Fannie had engaged, anu told that lady her
suspicious concerning the girl and advising
her to keep sharp watch on her actions.
Fannie, SHE said, knew Of her call upon Mrs.
Toppin.
Fannie, who is neat-looliiug colored
wopAn about Is years old, was interviewed
at the City Hall this morning and told O
strange and apparently ghttorward story
She said that last evening she was hailed al
Ninth and Shipiey strecl5, at ~ O'Clock, as
naar as she could reIherahsf, by three meh
who called her by name. They salt
| they had important business to attend
10 at Ninth and jackson a street
and wanted her to go along. Sh'
agreed, and they proceeded out Ninth street
until they arrived at Todd's home. Their,
one Of the men, a short one, went in the
side gate and left her with the other two
outside. In a short time the men came GU
Of the yard, and the three told her TO tax,
the matches they produced and go into thu
yard to the back Kitchen. Then she was Il
strike the matches and throw then
against the wet places she would
lind on the boards She demonstrated
and said she wouldn't have come had sht
known their business. They insisted upoI
her doing as she was bid, and said thel
| would kill her II she refused. She went int,
the yard, struck one or two matches, le
them burn awhile and then dropped tnen
against the kitchen door, where she saw
wet place made by some OIL Aftel
| lighting the matches she returned to tn,
front gate to go out. There the men Were
sanding inside the gate, which they hat
locked. When asked il she had set nre Il
tie building she said She had not and wantet
took hold OF her armand pushed her back
She did not scream or make, any noise, Il,
SHE was afraid.
She returned again to the yard and begal
striking more matches. The men thei
went around to the back of the, house b,
the way of Ninth street and opened the bacl
gate. She continued to strike masehe,
until the two Pyles ran around wnen sin
fled, and was caught as described above.
The girl told her story without any ap
parent effort but said she did not know thu
men by name but would know them agaii
if she saw them. She appeared very intelli
gent and conversed well, but gave no expla
nation whatever why she was wanderin;
around the streets at that time of nigh
alone. She added, however, to her state
ment given voluntarily that the party--hei
self and tho three men-walked slowly irol
Ninth and Shipley to Todd's house; that sh
was not struck by them; and that she di,
not know of Mrs. Todd's visit to Mrs
foppin.
Nothing whatever has been found of til
three mysterious colored men who presSe
the girl into their service, and their existenc
Is undoubtedly myth.