Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-10-02
THE FIRE BUG Captured
"Spider" BileS Caught Hiding Under
the BlOndin Block
HE ACKNOWLEDGES HIS GUILT
But Afterwards Tells His Father He Is
Innocent-He Is Taken to the
County Jail

AT last it seems certain that the mis-
creant responsible for the numerous
fires of evident incendiary origin which
have occurred here during the past
year has not only been discovered, but
apprehended and safely lodged in the
county Jail. And strange as it might
seem to persons not acquainted with
the man or familiar with the circum-
stances, the accused is Frank f. Biles,
late assistant chief of the fire depart
ment and one of the most active and
competent firemen in the city. For
sometime past suspicion has rested
upon him, but until yesterday no posi-
tive evidence against him could be OBJ
tanned.
About 1870 "a dense cloud of smoke
was seen issuing from the rear of the
Blondin and Morgan blocks, in the
square bounded by Harris and McKen-
zie avenues and Tenth and Eleventh
streets, which, came so near being
" wiped out by the fire fieId
on the night of the 10th of September.
The fire department responded quickly
to yesterdays alarm and although the
flames had gathered strong headway
the fire was soon under control and
was easily eXtinguished. 1t was so
evidently the work Of an incendiary,
as the previous fires in the same block
undoubtedly were, that many were
talking about the great importance Of
securing the miscreant, when an ex-
cited and eXultant cry attracted atten-
ton to the Famous Shoe Store, around
which a crowd quickly gathered The
cause was soon explained and the ut
most satisfaction was manifest on every
countenance when it was learned that
S. j. Craft, of the firm of OBrien d
Craft, had discovered the fire
bug skulking under the Blondin
block and clearly trying TO escape
detection. He was in his shirt
sleeves, covered with dirt from
crawling around under the building,
and was pale as ghost and trembling
with fear when discovered. Mr.. Graft
said to him, "You set that fire." to
which he replied, "Yes, | did" Mr..
Craft called out, "Here he isl" and in
the presence of l.. w. Nestelle, John
Curry and others Biles said, eyes; Pm
the man, He also made the same ad.
mission to the officers when arrested.
He was taken at once to the city jail,
where HERALD reporter visited him
a short time afterward and gave him
an opportunity to make "A statement,
but he neither affirmed nor denied his
guilt, merely saying, 81 have made all
the statement | want to make until /
see my father.n He was crying bit
terly, and evidently suffering great
mental anguish. Later his father
called to see him, and to him
he repeatedly protested his in
nocence. His father, without
upbraiding him, told him
gravely that the case looked bad
against him and said that If he was
guilty he must not hope to escape pun
ishment. His parents, who are most
excellent people, live on Mill street,
near Seventeenth. Mr.. Biles is car.
penter and has been working at Everett
considerably of late. Another son,
Fred, it will be remembered, is now a
fugitive from home, i'm hiding some
where to avoid arrest for check swind-
ling. Indignation against Frank, of
whose guilt no one seems to entertain
any doubt, is so strong that it was
thought best to take him to Whatcom
last evening and place him i'm the
county Jail. 1t is probable that the
preliminary hearing will be had to-
morrow. In the event of his convic-
ton the reward Of $500 offered by the
city will doubtless be paid to Mr.. Craft.