The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-02-03
FIRED BY A LITTLE GIRL.
THE FATAL BLAZE AT THE HOS
PITAL EXPLAINED.

Physicians Decide That She is Suffer-
ing from Pyromania and She is Not
Arrested-A New Attempt to Burn
the Building Made Every Time She
Found Matches.
New YORK, Feb. 2.-The incendiary who
set fire to the Hospital for Ruptured and
Crippled Children, at Forty-second street
and Lexington avenue, last Sunday night,
has at last been discovered in the person of
pretty, mild hammered little girl of II
years named May Wilson. She has been in
the hospital nearly three years suffering
from WY neck. She was about to be
sent home as cured when her terrible CRIME
was discovered.
IT COST A LIFE.
The fire of last Sunday night was the
only one which made any Roadway. But in
that fire an ill-fated domestic, Mary Don
nelly, lost her life. just before the big fire
I'd panic of Sunday night a futile attempt
was made to fire the big hospital On Tues
day morning two equally futile attempts
were made by placing boxes of matches on
the register. Fire Marshal Sheldon went to
the hospital yesterday to investigate Sun
day nights fire, and while he was so en-
gagged another box of matches was placed
upon the register.
THE FIRST CLEw.
The possible ignition OF matches on the
register had been discussed at the doctors
table Tuesday morning prior to the practi-
cal test of the scheme by the incendiary,
and on inquiring the names of those present
during the discussion of the matter, Fire
Marshal Sheldon fixed his suspicious upon
the little Wilson girl, who was at the table.
Il N-1 IL
last night she was noticed creeping stealthily
about the hospital. This was somewhat
suspicious, but nothing convincing occurred
until this afternoon.
AN ALARM.
At time the Fire Marshal was pur-
suing his Investigations at the hospital,
when the fire alarm In the building sounded.
Rushing upstairs, he found the linen drawer
in the dining-rOom ablaze. The scenes of
Sunday nights panic were re-enaCted in a
minor degree. Many OF the children ran
to the st eet others were carried out, and
great excitement prevailed. But before the
tiaemen arrived the blaze had been
quenched
CoRNERING THE CULPRIT.
The servant girl who discovered the fire
saw little May Wilson steal away from the
room as she went in, and when her story
was told, it became apparent that the Fire
MarShalS at first incredible suspicion was
but too well founded Summoning the
child before him, the official charged her
with the crime. She denied it and persisted
in her denial, but when the officer dilated
upon the terrible punishment in store for
the inCendiaries whose foul work caused
/ another PERSONS death, she broke down and
| confessed
DONE WITHOUT A MOTIVE.
ha oil, rt,.o 10 l., Ill 81
| attempts to fire the building, why she did
not know The big fire she had started
! with some matches which she had found in
| the doctors room. She next tried the ex-
| pertinent of placing matches on the smok-
| ing register This afternoons blaze she
| kindled with more matches which she hap
| pened to find. After the confession had been
| taken down DIR. Gibney, one of the hospital
| physicians, examined the girl and became
| convinced that she was suffering from pyro-
| mania. and was not responsible for her re-
/ markable actions. At his suggestion the
| girl was not placed under arrest but was
detained in the personal care of one of the
| doctors
| BROWNS VALLEY VISITED BY FIRE.
! MINNEAPOLIs, MINI, Feb. "A special
to the journal from Browns valley, Mimi
| the town that was blockaded by the blizzard
says that fire there early this morning
caused a loss of $4,000, which is only par
italy covered by insurance. The block con
tanning Barret Bros hardware store was
burned.