New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-03
YOUNG "FIREBUG" And JAIL BRE1KER
CLUB OF BOY INCENDIARIEs IERRoRIZE TOWN
ESCAPE OF TnEIE LEADER.

The village OF Hampstead. L. l. Is in state Of cX-
element over number Of irccndiary fires that have
occurred thcrc during the last two months and the
disc losure that there is nurbcr OF juvenile frebugS
banded together for the purpose Of burning somc
twenty buildings which they have selected. On sat
uIday two Of the leaders arrested and locked
ND I'm jal at the town hall The two leaders ar
rested were william Kane, age fourteen years,
son Of a respectable shoemaker OF the village, and
Ebert Bennett, eleven years old, son OF music
/ teacher. Six months ago William Kanc's vrother
Daniel. fifteen years old organized club. as the
Youngsters called It. Tho nightly rendezvous was
underneath cid skating rink. At one of their
meetings they decided to set fire 10 sixteen buildings
/ in the village at time.
In May the barn Of Peter Gslderslceve near the VII
lage, was set on fife ard burned TO the ground with
the live stock The total loss amounted 10 over
$1,000 The cause Of the fire was unknown. but It
supposed that young Kane knew something about
IT, After this fire the boys planned 10 burn two
buildings each night. Last Wednesday they started
a fire in the school house. but fortunately the flames
did not spread and damage was done. Late on
the same night the barn Of TrCadwcl T. Edert was
discovered fire. and the flames were eXtinguishcd
before the barn totally consumed Last Thurs
day night things to a climax when the old skating
rink was set on fire and burned 10 the ground. Tho
flames spread to the house adjoining, which was also
destroyed. The total loss of this confagraon will
|
These fires caused the people OF Hampstead to be
considerably alarmed, and committee was appointed
to investigate into the extensive inccndlar.sm sus-
liciOn pointed TO Kane as the leader, AID when Ben
nct was arrested he made a clear statement against
Kane, but would not say anything about the other
members of tho club. Kane was arrested, but after
a couple Of hours Imprisonment made his escape.
The investigation 10 take place yesterday, when
Willie Kane was to have examination before JUS
ticc Cloves had he not escaped from the jail Young
Bennett was held as witness against Kane and was
admitted to bail, and his bond fixed at $1,000.
The escape Of Kane from the prison occurred this
way Kane took beach that standing in the cor
yidor ard placing chair IT. stood upon 1t and
sounded the wall Finding that II would take but
little work TO break through, he took q piece Of
broom handle that in the room and cutting II
TO a pcint he dug hole in TIE ceiling large enough
10 admit his body. lie then stopped upon the Sill CT
the door and drew himself up through the hole lic
walked across the top Of the cells Until; he reached the
transom windows which have long cords running To
rope attached TO one Of the windows. he lowered him
.cif 10 the floor. and opening a window he jumped
out When the little fellow jumped from the window
he by officer and at least hall dozen
mcn who started after him. Ic ives sWlit runner
ard OutIan hls puIsucTs. lie led them a chase
through alleys and barns TO the cemetery where he
hid In the long grass. When he found that tho ofi
Ger was after him In the cemetery he climbed over
the fence and that was The last seen OF him.