Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-07-01
FIRE FIENDS FOUND.
Young Godfrey Informs the Officers Of
His Fathers YllIainy.
The Old Nan Ordered the Boy to
Commit Arson in the Formers Alb
sence

Special to the hennebee Journal
/ H,LLow ELL, June so.
/ Early last Sunday morniag tire broke
out in a tenement building owned by the
estate of the late wm. Wilson on Winthrop
street in Hallowell. The builiing was occu.
/ pied a, boarding house BY Geo Godfrey
who had been there little over wear. and
sho had an Insurance upon his furniture,
I beiiing, etc, 10 the amount of $500 in
/ Maeombers agency.
Ii seems that few months ago Godfrey
! lost his wife, whom, report says, vss very
hue woman. and during her lifetime the
family succeeded in getting along well in the
boarding business, blI since Mrs. Godfrey 5
deA Ath the busiaess has run down and Cod
frey has disposed of some OF the personal
effects and recently has been trying 10 sell
out the property, offering il for $500 and
less, but not succeeding in finding pur-
chaser he conceived the idea of making a
sale 10 the insurance company. 1t seems he
went 10 several parties and tried 10 hire them
10 set IRE 10 the premises. but falling 10 md
anyone who would entertain hi. nefsrious
scheme, he pitched upon his spp, young
man of Il years of age, who up 10 this time
has borne good reputation, and after talk
ing the matter over with him ordered him 10
set Dire 10 the premises last Saturday night
after the arrival of the II O'Clock Pullman
train
Young Godfrey, not daring to 20 against
his fathers wishes. made the necessary ar
rangements and about oclOck Sund )
morning poured kerosene oil into a closet
near the the chimney, and set ire 10 the de
bris therein, the senior Godfrey having gone
out of town the noon previous 10 order 10 be
able 10 prove an alibi if any body suspected
the cause of the fire. Mr.. Mscomber was
requested by the company carrying the in
surance to Just the loss and went there
Thursday evening and consulted with De
tectiye Ira NJ. True in regard 10 the matter.
1t was soon found that there were ugly ru-
mors ahoat in regard to the matter, and after
close examination into the case il was de
cided to ge, out a warrant for Godfrey and
his son. and Marshall Maddox. and Detec-
tive True proceeded in the night TO Litch-
field the home of the father of the senior
Godfrey, and arrested them both for the
burning of their dwelling house in the night
time
At first the Young man stoutly denied all
knowledge of the affair. but on being con-
fronted with the evidence against him made
clean breast of the whole matter, and
stated that he did the job at the instigstion
of his father, whose object Was to obtain the
insurance. They were both brought before
Judge Spear, and were bound over without
bail TO await the action of the Grand Jury.
It seems almost beyond reason that mau
in hi. right mind should commit crime of
this magnitude for the small pittance that he
would have received even if the scheme had
worked all right, as the crime is no less a
one than arson, there being at the time three
persons asleep in the upper part OF the house,
which under the statutes of this State is
punishable by Imprisonment for life,
Much credit is due Detective True for the
prompt and energetic manner in which he
followed up the case, and brought the guilty
parties TO justice.