The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1895-12-07
a MANIA FOR FIRES.
Remarkable Case Of Alexander z.
Brown, of Towson, Md.


Alexander Fell Brown, aged seventeen
years. of Towson, was arrested on Thursday
and lodged i'll Jail there on six warrants. sworn
ont 10y Detectives John II. kratz aud Albert
Gault, Of Baltimore. charging him with arson
in as many cases.
The properties burned were either in Tow
son or ITS immediate vicinity, and were:
HayStack, owned by Z. Tyson Ware.
Hay barracks and contents. owned by John
r. Corbin.
Stable and horse owned By J. Alexander
ParIett
Stable, owned by Charles T. Treadwel
Stable, owned by Mrs. Ida Y. BooUh.
Grange Hall, slightly damaged.
The arrest of young Brown was a shock to
the residents of Towson, where his family is
highly respected.
The fires had become so numerous that
every property owner i'll the town lived in con-
slant dread Of being the next victim. They
began over two months ago, and the volunteer
lire department turned out in each case to eN-
tingush the flames. 1t soon became evident
TO the fremen that the flames were the work
Of firebug.
The county authorities made careful in
vestgation, but could not find the guilty per-
sons. They then appealed TO the city police
officials for aid, and Detectives Gault and
kratZ were detailed upon the work.
The boy was an enthusiast on the subject
Of fires. Residents of the town say it was a
mania with him, and that on every opportuni-
" he got he would visit the engine house and
study the machinery He attended all meet
ings of the fire company and could be seen at
nearly every fire.
No evidence could be gotten against the last
until the fire in the stable Of Mrs. Ida v.
Booth, on the Joppa road. near TowSon. last
Tuesday night. The flames were seen by Rev.
\. II. Kelley and his daughter, who were
passing along Il road near by. An alarm was
given and the flames were eXtinguiShed. The
detectives then discovered a partly burned
candle which had been put in a lot of straw in
the stable. apparently with a view Of setting 1t
on fire.
Their search through the grocery stores in
Towson revealed the fact, they say, that such
Il candle had been purchased on Monday last
by Young Brown, and that he could not ac-
count for its use. They found the lad at work
in the drug store where he was employed.
He was taken into Il back room and questioned
by the detectives closely.
His answers were Shrewd and clear, but in
some cases conflicting When accused di-
rectly Of setting fire to the Booth barn, the
detectives say he broke down and confessed.
He told them, they state, that he purchased
the candle and set the barn on fire.
Young Brown was taken before State 5
Attorney Frank |. Duncan, where, it is said
by the detectives, he confessed to ali the
other fires. Upon his confession the warrants
in the cases charging him with arson were
sworn out.
The boy told the detectives that he was
fond of fires and loved to see the men fight
ing them. He related, the detectives say,
how he set fire to Mr.. Wares haystack and
Mr. Corbn's barrack with matches and
then watched the flames. He got into the
Treadwell stable from an overhangi;g willow
tree, he stated, and set the stable on fire.
Parlett's stable was fred from within. en-
trance being effected through an open window.
The attempt to burn Grange Hall was the
most ambitious Of all. Brown told the detec-
tives, they state, that he got into the hall
through cellar window and piled "excel-
siorH and paper under the stairway. TO this
fuel Il match was applied. The flames were
discovered in time to save the building.
The boy was committed to jail by Justice
Joseph B. Herbert. of Towson. States At
torney Duncan has fixed his bail at $500 IN
each case
The punishment for the crime of arson is
confinement in the penitentiary for not less
than three years or more than twelve years,
or death. at the discretion Of the court.
The boys father is Ezra +. Brown. an ex-
Union soldier and once foreman in the print
ing Office Of the Maryland Journal. Two of
He is graduate of the Towson school. The
county. and has relatives there.