The herald., 1894-07-13
AN ALLEGED BRIDGE BURNER
Charles Beecher of San Dimas
Arrested.
Charged With Firing the Railway
Bridge Monday Night,
The Evidence Which the sheriff
Says He Has Obtained
Against the Young
Man.


from San Dimas last evening with Chas.
Beecher, youth who is charged with
having set fire last WEDNESDAY night to
the Santa Fs bridge at that point.
There is nothing. OF course but circum-
stsntial evidence thus far, but a very
strong case seems to have been made
out against the accused.
On Tuesday night. following the fire,
Mr.. Cline and Deputies VIM. Moore snd
J. ]. Carpenter went down to San
Dimas. At that station they were met
by several citizens and proceeded at
once to the burned bridge, which is
about 800 yards east.
The bridge is about 20 feet in length,
and is in reality trestlework. About
20 feet on the west end had been burned,
but had been repaired Tuesday morning
by gang of workmen.
thorough search about the scene OF
the burning revealed the fact that oil
had been poured over the tim bers and
set on fire by means OF brush FIRE
started about the uprights. About mid
way between the station and the bridge
is u hut in which young Bsecher lived.
He was met by the deputies after their
investigation at the bridge. Mr..
Cline asked him if he had seen
any Suspicious characters hanging
about the bridge at day time before the
fire. Beecher appeared to be very
nervous and finally said that he had
seen two tramps in an old mill two
weeks ago, and had overheard a part
OF their conversation, in which they
had declared their intention of burn
ing the bridge. After further question
ing, the deputies proceeded on to the
station.
Mr.. Cline states that some time
after this conversation he saw young
Beecher 60 out OF the house and walk
alone down the railroad track toward
the bridge. He disappeared for few
minutes but soon re-sDpeared and
came back to where Mr.. Cline was
seated at the station. Going up to
the officer Beecher handed him piece
OF yellow wrapping paper, saying, II
found this under the bridge, and l
thought it would only be right to give it
to you."
Mr.. Cline took the paper and read the
following, written in lead pencil, and go
badly as to be almost undecip cipherable:
Notice to all persons who may be at
future bridge burning: The burning of
bridge So was done by strikers in very
small cans. Not end lucky for the men
that put it out. The next persons fool
ing with our affairs will be put out of the
way"
Mr.. Cline asked the boy where he had
gotten the paper, and he replied that he
had taken his horse down to stake out
and found it under the bridge. Beecher
was asked 10 show where, 80 he and the
officers returned to the bridge. Mr..
Cline told him that the paper could not
have been there, as the officers had Just
finished hunting under the bridge.
Beecher replied, "Well, couldn't some.
body have come and put it there after
you left?"
Finally Mr.. Cline told the boy if be
had written the notice to say 90, and they
would not bother any further about it.
Beecher replied that he could write far
better than that on the notice. The Of
icers went with him to the house, where
they found lead pencil and some paper.
similar to that used for the notice, living
on the table. Mr.. Cline told the boy to
write the notice, he debating it. The
officer took the two notices, the original
and the copy, and went back to San
Dimas.
The handwriting ia very similar and
in each instance is very poor, that on
the notice being almost illegble. Mr..
Cline had them compared, and the ex-
perts give as their opinion that thew
had been written by the same person.
On Wednesday Mr.. Cline and his dep
utes worked up more evidence against
Beechsr.
It appears that he has always "had it
in" for the railroad company. 1t 1s
claimed that he formerly used to steal
ties and lumber used in repairing
bridges. The foreman loaded one of the
ties with cartridge. Beechsr, it is
said, got this particular piece of wood
and started fire in the store with it.
The thing exploded and blew off the
ends of several of Beecher's fingers.
Since then he has professed hatred for
the railroad.
The fire at the bridge took place at
about IL 80 Monday night. Beecher
was seen loating about the station until
after 10 O'Clock, thing he has not done
III uV6 years. Il6 btaTt6u tOWhrQ9 nome
ehortly before l. O'clock his house be-
ing the only one near the burned bridge.
When the people were engaged in put.
ting out the fire Beecher refused to as-
sist in any way. Another point which
seems to point to his guilt is that
early Tuesday morning while walE-
ing along the track from the
bridge to his house he suddenly
left the roadbed and went over to a
path and picked up a can. This he
took back to The men working on the
bridge, with the remark that the can
had contained oil. Other points were
gathered against him. When arrested
yesterday he expressed no particular
surprise. except slight nervousness.
Mr.. Cline stated that Beecher boards
with lady named Ecces and takes care
of her prize stock. The boy is about IS
years old, although he claims to be only
16. His parents are in Indiana. He
was locked up last night but could not
quite get through his head how he could
have been arrested without warrant.