Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1893-10-26
Arrest of a Fire Bug.


-eloneeu TO the estate of mis- wife, the late
Mary III. Gorbam, and which were burned
Ia he ground, together with the STOCK,
produce and farming implements, carry III
he morning, Oct. 10Th.
The circumstances which LED 10 MS ar
rest we're as follows: When the peopiS1
from the Center who had been aroused,
reachfa the fre-about a quarter oil an
hour after the alarm was giVen-tncg
found Gorhan, his sister and four or npe
others in front OF the house watching tne
flames but doing nothing 70 save w
produce. and il was after the Center men
arrived that the corn barn was nroAen n
10 and about $50 baskets OF the corn WeIe
taken out. Then, too, the stock was sil III
RE barn. even 10 the colts, which IS an
unusual thing at this time OF year, ana d
very unusual thing for Gorham, VINO, us
said. is in the habit OF leaving his stock
out until much later i'll the fall. An eAain
nation of the house revealed the lact tnat
a quantity of kerosene had been scattereu
about; and on the north side OF the Duiu-
inc window was found open, through
,V6,ch Kerosene had very evidently been
Doured down the side OF tine house; IN lhe
kitchen, there was large puddle oil water
on the floor and Gorham tried 10 explain
this by saving that a tub OF water mao
been left standing in the floor ana some
one rushing through had STUN bied against
the tub, tipped it over, ana hence the Ma
ter; but others thought that an enorl nau
haen made 10 scrub the oil from the floor,
and when the water dried away, 1t could
be plainly seen where kerosene had been
poured across the kitchen in place Two
feet wide. Ii was also ascertained that on
the Tuesday before the ire, Gorham mao
purchased two gallons OF Kerosene, put
only three quarts were found In tne cam
which was in its usual place IN the cellar
I.v.
which the can was seldom moved. Cor
nam claimed to have lost suit OF clothes
and was positive that some one had enter
60 the house during the night,
taken kerosene from the can, split II IN
crossing to the window stolen the clothes,
set ire to the barns and disappeared.
The Robinsons, who live just beyond,
IL ought that about the time the fire broke
out, they saw two men cross the corner
by their house and go toward the center.
No tracks could be found, however, ana
on going up the road, stray horse was
found, which, being possessed OF Tour
legs, might have looked on very DARK
night to an exceedingly excited person
like two men walking Indian nle. Cor,
hams stories and actions having excited
suspicion, two men kept watch oil the
premises every night.
Tuesday morning, Gorham hailed Mr.,
Luke Parish and said that he had found
pair OF suspenders under some trees, near
The brook, where he had been at work and
that be thought the clothes were hidden
about there. too; he also produced pail
which his child had found near the house
and in which there had been kerosene.
The next day, Mr.. Parish found the
clothes hidden in the rocks. Every morn
ing, Gorbam called attention to footprints
leading over the fields and about the
house.
Wednesday night, the Robinsons were
alarmed by hearing some one wandering
around their house and Gorham claimed
that he had chased two men away from
his premises the same night, and gave II
as his opinion that the Robinson house
would be the next to burn. This time
tracks could be seen, but the watchers in
formed Mr.. Parish that they saw Gorham
make these tracks himself.
Word OF what had been discovered was
sent TO Montpelier, and Mr.. Taplin, presi-
dent OF the Vermont Mutual, came down,
but it was decided not to make the arrest
that day.
Wednesday morning, AFRO Adams in
formed Gorham that be was being watch
ed and would soon be arrested. This
seemed to make him very nervous and be
inquired anxiously whether the watchers
had been on duty every night since the
fire and when told that they had bsen, his
Friday, Gorham said that an attempt had
been made 10 set fire to the remaining
barn, which is on the same side of the
road as the house. Investigations were
instituted. and a box filled with straw
was discovered in the barn. A fire had
been started in this box but the straw was
too wet to burn. The watchers did not
see Gorham fix this box and it must have
been done very early in the evening.
States Attorney Stow arrived from Chel-
sea, Friday, and issued a warrant for
the arrest, which was made in the after
noon.
Gorham was brought before b. f. Ad-
ans, justice of the peace, in N.L.Boyden's
office at the Center. and ii was decided to
fix the bail at s2,000. A second hearing
would have been held Saturday morning
and counsel provided for the prisoner, bus
he did not seem TO wish it and requested
to be taken home that night. As mis- sis
ter and child were at the house alone, the
authorities granted his request. and
Messrs. Luke Parish and James Murphy
started with him from the Center. On |
the way Gorham feigned sickness and be- |
came so faint that he fell from the wagon. !
They helped him in again, and he COM
to yell like a Comanche Indian, |
and announced his ability to thrash both |
gentlemen with the greatest ease, and by |
! desperate effort managed to throw him /
self and his companions out of the wag-
on. Mr.. Parish struck on his head and |
shoulders and was quite badly injured but /
to call for assistance, which Mr.. |
Biaisdell, who was in team a little way /
behind them, promptly rendered. When |
Mr.. Parish reached Gorham's, he hand
cuffed the prisoner, who declared in
iragic manner that he would never leave /
.ke house alive; but Saturday morning /
be vas taken very much alive TO Mr.. Par
sh's home at the Center.
While the family were at breakfast in a
Dom adjoining the one occupied by the /
prisoner, Gorham came out and asked for /
! glass of water, which was given him. He
to his room and with the water
swallowed about tablespoonful of Paris
'reen. Not five minutes after taking Il e
lose. he informed Mr.. Parish OF what be
lad done. DIR. Noyes was at once sum-
noned and ordered the whites of two eggs
o be given to the sick man. This meoi-
line was brought in a bowl, and the pris-
lner Knocked the bowl scross the room.
lie was then decorated with hanucuffs and
eg irons and held to the sofa. his nose
vas firmly grasped. his mouth flew open,
nd in this attitude he was mace to swal-
49, A.. /