The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1886-10-06
Harmony Fires.

There Is little to be said about the situ-
alton at Harmony this week. Detectives
True and Simpson, Deputy Sheriff Brown
with J. +. Holman Esq. Of Athens and
County Attorney Bradbury worked sevc-
raj DAYS on the matter aud succeeded in
bringing two fires 80 closely To Alfred
IIurd II boy sixteen years old who lived
with Charles + 1.aughtnn that he acknowl-
edged the firing of Mr.. Laughton's build
ings and those of Mr.. Frost. This boy
seems to be an unfortunate youth. not
remarkable for intelligence. and whose
opportunities have not been the best
His brother was committed 10 the Reform
School for firing a barn GA the town farm
four years ago
lie was suspected early a. there were
tracks In the soft earth near Mr.. FrostS
buildings that fitted his boots to nicely
but he exhibited an innocence that mislcd
the officers at first After his arrest he
stoutly denied the crime for some time
but finally gave in and confessed. He
was taken to Norridgewock Jail by Dcpu-
ty Sheriff B own Of Harmony Friday last.
\ representative OF the REPORTER inter-
viewed Alfred Hurd the hoy ineendary
before he left Harmony for NorIidgcwock.
lie spoke without reserve at times cx-
hibiting amusement at the way he dccciy-
ed Mr. Laughton and others.
He said II had trouble two or three
weeks ago with one Of Mr. Frosts boys,
over something he had belonging to me,
and would not give up. did not make
up my mind to burn the buildings until
Just after dinner on the day OF the fire.
| About 9 O'Clock | went across the field
| and up through Frost's orchard, and set
fire TO the hay at the corner of the barn
| where there were some stones out from
under the sill, and then ran back through
the orchard and across Charles Laugh
tons cornhcld to the house, then start
cd up to the fire and got there before any
one else excepting Mr.. Frost and the wo-
men folks. Mr.. Frost accused me OF
setting the fire but OF course | denied it. "
His excuse for burning Charles Laugh
tons buildings was that he had trouble
with Mrs Laughton weeks previously,
that she had told him to do certain work
|
she attempted to give him logging
which he resisted. He made up his mind
to burn the buildings only about one hour
before doing so.
He further said "when the fire was
seen in John Dorc's buildings, Mr.. Laugh
ton said he would run up across the little
field and see if he could tell where the
fire was. He told me to run round the
buildings and see If every thing was al
right, and then come up in the field. ~
soon as got round the barn | took {
match from my pocket and set fire to The
hay under the corner OF the barn and Their
ran up into the field where Charles was
getting there about the same time he did
Said he worked as hard rs any ore at boil
fires, so that he would not be suspected
Says he knows absolutely nothing abou
any of the other fires.
HARMONY Our correspondent writes
} There have been no fires in thus town dur
ing the past week and it ~ hoped the da,
of incendiarism is past. Anxiety ant
I fear are gradually subsiding. The inhab
itants have ceased watching and gnardin:
their buildings have unpacked thei
household goods, replaced their farmin!
tools and carriages, under cover am
are again attending to their usual aVoca
| tions. Business Is again rcviying ant
, peace is again in Harmony. There ha
r been no arrests since the boy Alfrc
Hurd confessed to setting fire to the tw
buildings Mr. Simpson, the detectiv
is busy examining partic. and witnesses
in his Investigations, but as yet nothin
=, has been elicitcdto criminatc any one, or t
r assign any proof to any clue of the n
= naming fires. He thinks he will be abb
. by the middle OF the week to root OF
7 something tangible. Various rumors ar
:, ahoat concerning the causes of the fires
\ and in some cases innocent parties hav
to bear the suspicion of incs ndiarisn
c A good deal that has occurred in thi
town regarding the fires has been repre-
= scented and exaggerated, and much thu
c one hears abroad or in other towns, mu.
= be taken with good deal of allowance
i not entire discrcdit.