Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-01-19
L. R. PLUMBERS ARREST
On a Civil Suit Brought by y. II.
StearnS.

PIummer Confesses that lie Set the Fire
at WOOdsIde Cottages Dee. Is---IIe Has
Been PetItiOned into Insolvency.
The arrest of Luther r. Plummer, his
Judgment in the county Jail at Newfane,
and his confession that he is guilty of the
crime of incendiarism, has startled and
shocked the people of Brattleboro, who
have heretofore accorded him reputation
as young business man of integrity.
The air was full of rumors in regard to
the case last week, but many of them were
| without foundation. The Phoenix was in
possession of all the facts up to Friday
noon, but as no arrest had been made, and
acting upon the request of the lawyers and
those having the investigation in charge,
and wishing to give Mr.. Plummer the ben
eft of all doubts, we refrained from pub
fishing anything relating to the case.
For the information of those outside the
local field it may be well to state that Mr.,
! Plummer began his business career here a
few years ago in the "Iittle 33'' crockery
and novelty store on Elliot street. In 1891
Mr.. Plummer sold the store after leasing
the Woodside cottages at Spofford lake,
! Chesterfield, n. II. Since his engagement
at Woodside Mr.. Plummer has continued
to live here during the winter, finding EN-
|
places. About December Mr.. Plummer
leased the north store in Emerson's block,
and put in a stock of crockery, glass and
| tinware, books and notions.
On the night of Dec Is, about 9:20,
the dining hall at Woodside was burned.
The fire was first seen by people who were
| coming over the hill from Swanzey to
Chesterfield Factory Mr.. Vail, who had
charge of the property, and who lived near
| Woodside, was at Chesterfield Factory at
the time the fire broke out. He was at
once notified, but it was impossible to save
the dining hall, which was burned with all
its contents The wind being in the right
direction the other buildings at Woodside
| did not take fire, but it was only through
good luck that the flames did not reach the
other buildings and destroy property worth
from $4,000 to $4,000, The owner of
Woodside cottages is j. II. Stearns, of the
large rubber manufacturing firm of Parker,
Stearns e Sutton, of Brooklyn, n. Y. Mr..
Stearns is a brother of j. +. Stearns of this
place. While on a visit to the lake in 1890
Mr.. Stearns was so much pleased with
Woodside as a summer resort that he bought
the property, and has since made many
improvements and erected new buildings
there. Since Mr. Stearns's ownership
Woodside has been a favorite rendezvous
for people from Brooklyn, who were induc-
ed to come there in large numbers by Mr..
| Stearns.
Mr.. Stearns's loss by the fire was from
$500 to 5000, or $500 to $1,000 in excess
of the insurance which he carried. Plum
mer owned the silverware, glassware and
linen stored in the building, while the bed
ding belonged to Mr. Stearns. A small
steamer which Plummer bought of Capt.
j. Gray Estey, which was under the dining
hall, was also burned. Plummer estimated
his loss at $1400, and he carried an insur
ance of $3.50 in the Granite State COM
pany. Plummer stated that he thought
the fire was caused by rats working in the
partition with matches. 1t was also said
at Chesterfield that boys skating on the
lake had gone under the building to smoke.
An agent of the Granite State company
went to Woodside with Mr.. Plummer day
or two after the fire occurred and adjusted
the insurance. There was from the first
some suspicion in Chesterfield as to the
origin of the fire.
Mr.. Stearns was i'll in Brooklyn the
week of the fire, but on the following Tues
day he came to Brattleboro with several
friends. He soon heard that Plummer had
hired a team of the Brattleboro Livery
company, the night of the fire, saying that
he was going to West Brattleboro, and was
particular to have no bells on the team.
Stearns's suspicious were aroused and he
consulted lawyers and began an investiga-
ton, engaging Chief Police Mcclure to
assist him.
1t was found that Mr. Plummer did not
go to the home of his parents at West Brat
tleboro as he stated, but that he did 90 to
Chesterfield The sleigh in which Plum
mer went to Chesterfield had runners
nearer together than any other sleigh owned
by the Brattleboro Livery company. The
shoes on the horse were of an unusual pat
tern. The runner tracks and the peculiar
shoe tracks were found leading from the
main road to Woodside, and at places on
the road where Plummer turned out when
he met teams. Stearns and Mcclure are
also possessed of other evidence which they
do not make public. 1t happened curiously
that Mr.. Vail, who had been at Hinsdale
met Plummer near the lake when the lat
ter was coming toward Bratteboro. He
did not recognize him at the time, as Plum
mre was closely wrapped up and made no
answer to Wallis remark about il being hard
to turn out but after the investigation be-
gan Vail easily recognized the livery team
driven by Plummer. Vail drove into Wood
side before going to West Chesterfield Fac
tory. Everything at Woodside appeared
all right when Vail was there but of course
the fire had been started by Plummer.
Plummer refuses to tell how he set the fire,
but from what is known he evidently left a
slow match so that it would burn down to
some inflammable material.
When Mr.. Stearns had gained all the in
formation necessary Plummer was sum-
moned to Waterman, Martin d Hits of
flee and confronted with the evidence
found. At first Plummer made a show of
independence, but when he saw how close
ly the meshes were being drawn about
him he broke down, cried like child, and
confessed that he was guilty. This was
on Saturday, Jan. g. Plummer was given
a chance to settle the case for damages
with Mr.. SteaTns, but he made no effort to
do so. Plummer was at his store until last
Thursday, when he went home i'll. Sher-
? if Starkey took possession of the store
Friday, an attachment of $50 having
J been placed on it by Capt. j. Gray Estey,
who had not been paid for the steamer sold
to Plummer. Since Friday the store has
: been closed.
When Plummer was asked why he set
t the fire he said, 81 don't know" The