The herald., 1893-05-26
-HE is SAID TO Be A FIRE BUG
Lpmuel veilex, Il Is Year-0ld
Boy, Charged With Arson
The Clever Work Done by Young
Detective From Oregon.
An Amateur vidocq Who Ferreted
Out the Mystery of the Burning of
the School House at La
Canada Last March.

Lemuel Veilex, boy Is years old, was
before Justice Bartholomew yesterday
upon the charge of arson, and was held
answer.e
On the night of March 10th last the
school house at La @ ada was burned.
The fire was evidently OF incendiafy
origin, and there was vigorous attempt
to locate the perpetrator.
After considerable inquiry, however,
the people OF the neig ighborhood gave up
tla settled down to the cultivation OF
their fruit ranches.
A few days ago young man, who had
been quietly living out in the valley for
several weeks. working for Mr. Lanter-
man, developed into full fedged detee-
tive, and swore to a complaint charging
young Veilex. son of a equitable ranch
er in the vicinity, with having set the
school use on fire for the purpose OF
avoiding going to school.
| fhe bo, was arrested, and the event
caused considerable of sensation In the
peaceful La Can ida valley. He was
brought to the city and the examina-
| tion into the charge oceu oied the entire
afternoon before Justice Bartholomew.
The testimony elic ted quite strange
story, and proved very strong against
the boy, quite nice.looking little fell
low, who appeared to observe the pro-
ceedings with GOODNESS beyond his
years.
The detective, who is only 10 years
old, went by the name of Tjny Port in
the valley, but gave his res, name as 0.
II. Clement, and his home as Salem,
Ore, where he said his father is vice.
president of bank.
His work supplied the entire basis of
the case, and resulted in confessions by
the boy that he set the school house on
fre--confessions which were not at first
believed, until the young detective, with
a brightness which seemed remarkable
in such boyish fellow, formed a com
plete net work about the defendant.
He saw the notice of the FIRE Los
Angeles paper a short time after it oc-
Cured, and when he had been in the
city only few days He went out to
La On ida to see il there was any re-
ward offered, and finding there WAS, So
cured place on Mr.. lantern ans ranch.
He formed the acquaintance OF the bovs
in the neighbornood, and iDgratiated
himself into their confidence. He
worked patiently along gathering little
points, and the defendant became very
confidential with him He and another
boy had long talks with him, and the
young detective, regaied them with
stories OF robberles he had committed,
until the boy told him all about how he
had fired the school house.
He stole some coal oil out OF the school
house at recess time, and went back at
night to commit his incendiarism, but
thinking he heard some one coming, fsn
away. He went back the next night,
poured the oil on the back steps OF the
school house, set it on fire and scurried
for home. There he tried to read, waited
for the school house to burn, which il
finally did, and was among those who
ran to the fire ana wondered vino could
have done it,
All these things young Clement pa
tiently verified. He pretended to be in
plan with the boy to run away from
home and commit crimes In order TO
be provided, he induced Veilex TO bring
him all the ke.s he could obtain 80
they could go through trunks. Among
the keys he obtained one in this manner
to the back door of the school house,
which had been stolen by the boy.
Finally be told Mr.. Lsnterman what
he had ascertained. and plan was ar
ranged by which D. J Green and Jesse
Knight, twJ ranchers, could hear Veiex
confess. The plan worked to a charm,
and while secreted behind hedge they
head the boy go over all the circum-
stances of his crime.
The witnesses Tor the prosecution cor
roborated Clements statements. He
was put through severe ecross-examina-
ton by Will d. Gould, who appeared for
the defense, but turned the tables on
him in quiet way that wss amusing.
Mr.. Gould asked him minutely about
his lse and how he happened to go to
La Csfiads. He replied that he had
been directed to Mr. Gould's ranch by
of Mr. Lanterman the latter told bim he
could fed better places than that, and
did not give Mr.. Gould very good repu-
tation.
The attorney did not relish the re.
marks of the witness, and asked him il
he had not the day before told Mr. Veilex
hat he ought not to put in any defenee,
and that he ought not to employ Mr.
Gould to defend his son.
oung Clement gave quiet sort oi
laugh, and said that he did have a con
versation with Mr.. Velex on Sunday, in
which he gavea message which gentle
man had sent by him, that If ne en-.
pIoyed Mr.. Gould to defend his son, the
attorney would get hold of all his prop
ertv before the case was ended
This was another broadside, and Mr.
Gould became very earnest in his en-
deavors to find out who the gentleman
vac who sent the message, but the wit
ness declined 70 say, and the court would
not order him to tell.
After the presentation OF the testi.
lnony of the prosecution the defense
would not put in any evidence, and Jus
ice Bartho omew held the boy to an
swer, fixing his bond at $3.50
The boy has expressed desire to &c
to the Whittier school and as he is toe
Young to be sent to the penitentiary hs
viii, if convicted, eerve the remainder
Of his boyhooj days in that institution
Specie Exports
NJ "A lwx.rl - I'LL