The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-03-02
ARREST OLE RARN RuRNERs.
onfession of One and Contradictory Stories
Annthar

ARREST OF BARN BURNERS.
| Confession of One and Contradictory Stories
! by Another.
1t has been known to the ADVOCATE for some
weeks that detectives were in York county, Pa, and
\ in this county, endeavorins to unrave the mystery
surrounding the numerous fires in these two cOun-
ties The Baltimore papers have had correspond
entS in the neighborhood and the san also employ
ed detective to accompany its correspondent
| From the sun of Thursday take the following
the letter being dated Hanover Pa, February %;
Miss Rosie Weaver. the adopted daughter OF Mrs
Peggy wentz, whose barn near Iineboro, Carroll
county, Md, was destroyed over month ago, was
arrested today charged with the burning, and is al
| legged to have confessed it to VIM. Stackhouse.
Pinkerton detective who for weeks has been engag-
ed nj ht and day in pursuing the burners She was
brought to Hanover tonight, and with Mr. Stack
house was met at The railroad station by Mr.. Jesse
VENT president OF the Mannheim Insurance Com
pany which has lost about $4,000 by these ncendi-
aries, and which employed Plnkerlon men to run
the burners down. To Mr.. weutz Miss Weaver is
also alleged 10 have confessed her crime.
What induced you to do it,
Il don't know. | have nothing against Mrs.
Wentz"
Miss Weaver is spending the night in Mr.. VENTS
house She walked by his side all the way to his
residence distance of mile from the station, with
bowed head scarcely ut;erng word She will be
taken to York by Detective stackhouse tomorrow,
and will there be formally placed under arrest.
Today she broke down utterly and cried like
child. She Is reported to have said that she made
four attempts to burn the barn, and succeeded IN
the fifth With each attempt the mystery deepened'
and when temporary shed erected TO protect the
cattle caught -e the mystery OF the motive against
Mrs. wentz was absolutely impenetraele The nFe
was explained on the superstition that phosphorus
fuse stored among some hay in Lewis Bachman's
barn caught fire after the hay was haaled to Ms
Vents place to iced her stock. Mr>. Wcntz herself
did not once suspect Miss Weaver and was utterly
as,ounded by her alleged confession. She has treat
ed the girl kindly.
Miss Weaver IS only sixteen years old, has pretty
oval face and neat trim fgure- Her harris auburn
and pair OF bright blue eyes siisen in her caeeT
rul face This afternoon She wore dark dress and
shawl, and becoming hat
Detective Sackh0usc says that her ease Is one OF
the saddost afIairs with which he has ever dealt
The idea has been advanced that She is insane,
Barn burning is a serious offcuse in Peunsyl vsnia
aud in Maryland it i punishable by death Il Is not
known that Miss Weaver had anything to do with
the burning Of other barns in the ucigbborhOod,
but it can hardly be supposed that che bad and
their destruction remains as great mystery asever
More developments are promised in the next few
days.
Miss Weaver was taken - York Thursday;
warrant was Issued charging her with the crime
aud she was committed 10 jail Tor lhe action Of the
grand jury, which meets on April IS. next
To the reporter She said s:e bad made three AZ
teInp,s to burn Ms. wentEs barn. bu; not sue
cesSul until tie as time She says she did not send
a notice to her. but did 20 Mr Bachmau, neghbor.
saying that his and Newcomers barn would be
uurft~hafla
by not mora than ten year Imprisonment
Important developments arc hooked FOG tn few
days as {, is believed there nrc several aecompcss.
rHE HEIR cAsE
Levi Herr was arrested this morning charged with
arinz his fathers barn pear NoSherrxstowa. on
Tuesday Of Lass week alter sending himself n0;iee
on sunday 60 remove stsck implements and gain
fem the building. The Gre a, the time vas attrib
uted to the tara burner The evidence npon which
be was arrested Is circamsnufial. The arrest was
made by Constable smith, aided ~ Chisf u Police
Ezrcr Of Hanover and Detective Seibold 81 Bait
more. UPON g UarrSzt is.ue1 By squire Austin
Bgaiy. Of NcsheTTystown. in coaa wage tsv HshiF'
Adams county. Herr waived heaTinS and W&a
released on sseo bail furnished BY his satheT for
the action % the Quarter SESSIONS Coufs Of Adams
Coaugy
Nr john Herr BIS s5n Levi Herr. and sae istsers
son. naere boy told Chief EgSeE how sho warziHz
notiee uas found and all 81 Is said, diiereni
accounts Mr. JOha Herr All that q uas Genud on
top % several bags in TIE fed BOX 81 tbs eatc ca.
trauea Of The barn. The boy sid 5, was dicovetca
suiong aSsae bAes la the fsc4tox Al iha horse cs-
trance which Is In ose end % tie tsro whas Tie
cattle enhance + tn another Ecvt Her gave stu
Aaataer account On The day q the are De sid
be goand The sqse To-Day be sAys bis sos iosHd il
on the Thursday mo=ulnE ARR nc Tuesday en
seibald laid shesr heads tSetlzs 10 SKI sAises 81
Levi Hers resglsaship % So II ii re-nslc,i thsi
ofthe warning noscc They visited hiH a hts asrHa
and were .asa has uelEhp.oF bad sae uogies aud
would surrender Il 30 thea. tAsectvo seises,d
thought osbrruiso and sid he reico cSsili - o.
famed oniy on written order q NJ. hezr. uhtsh
iAat gentleman furnished WIKI Chssf EgErE tar
detective compzrcd thE fenEsznsaip q The tso
notes aaa believing The sac 10 - vgiliea - the
same EaAn. they ztided mis- olhss cvideacv and sr
rested him.
TAey also Looked ses motive ihst vouii iasisss
Mr. Herr % bursl bis fathers barn Thc sAitess ed
and she son Is his oaiy prospective heir 50 as fass
The barn vas cd and dnspiaaisi "a uIoha Hezr
the father. held polly os q 81 In The Memorials
Mgtnai Asa ses scgy X Lancaster Pa on The larna-
Tag Implements aud stock. sAseA Lcsi Herr owned
Was policy q ss-H The oulF loss wzs tbs swo
steers one o. which SEs bgFssed % DEATH and the
other vas 81 usdiy sorehed that g bad to - Killed
70 relieve u af Is EaitrFsnE
The Mennonite spciesf has 4aA1slei De lasssss y
Il stated and a he urtef opposed g. laNaalts g.
well a. other oantcntiuas "a WaA nps FsslnM fAe
raAties 80 % inc coaF-s a. Car a. ihey afr coz
cerncd a. icEst-
NJ Levi Herr made several stzteuleats tiay ii j.
alleged whlcA diacr fFani thts aaiF 90 sAc dAt 81
the fire Thea he aid According ~ hts hrrissrr,
that loud explosion tAo1Sa saulc Csc aat tn1t
q pistol near bim pscesied thc breaking cui II the
are Today he sad &rcurttiik - ne s4fe q ifiss
thai IL Was sm8theFei Fvf1ri Tic express = 4 -.
lief &sscr husihx the warning uqfee that fase hsl
tn stored 10 tie tara ana BE iit not abandon his
searrh for Il eFen aftef sndinE TIE box poatrf Et1
candle and a. 3 matter u ssrt tC uru hf1kr czt ~
different part II tbs barn feuta that sheFe tAc tx
and powder Hefe tquNe
Ifthe charre % burning his tata1eFs hsra sst17li
- proved egainsi Herr and toe mystcy q tAis ufc
thereby cleared ap that 81 tae other Gees - ssnta
ern York county wiIl ssh Be nns-nyoa so IN each
cas the farmers have tSt heavily By the urcs the
insurance. not covering the lossa2 ihc N nttfe
which has actnAted the 0Fncfs ~ that tcaiitf
i siilF si and the absence ~ fires has tor
the minute directed attention from them,