The Wilmington daily Republican., 1895-08-29
FIRED THE BUILDING
Harrison Bradley. colored, Caught
Red Handed.
He Declared to Farm Hands That He
Would Burn Eyery Buiiding on tho Ran
delphi Peters Farm Near Fnrnhurat
aud lie Began by Firing large

A large outbuildlng on the farm Of
Randolph Peters near Farnhurst. tenant
cd by George King, was destroyed by fire
about 80 O'Clock this morning together
with about twenty tons OF hay corn
marker and hay raker. The building ls
son Bradley, b5.year.old oolored man
who shows signs OF insanity and who is
locked up at the station.
| Bradley was seen about the farm last
pight He carried grip and cane and
Presented every indication OF having
travelled during tho day. He was not
given permission TO sleep in any OF the
buildings nor was he ever known TO hn D
! srent the night In any OF thom until this
morning. when he was seen in the pu Id.
ing by two young farm bands while they
were driving the COWS to pasture.
The young men asked the man what his
business was, but he replied with an oath
that the matter was snone OF their affair.
The boys continued on their way and
upon returning to the farm Informed
members Of the King family of the stran.
| gers presence.
Later Bradley went to the house OF one
| OF the colored farm hands and made him.
self acquainted. He appeared dom snted
and upon one occasion declared that he
intanded to fire every building on the
farm. Nothing was thought OF his threat
however. and he waa allowed to leave the
house, going In the direction Of the barns
Half an hour later smoke was seen to
Issue from the building and when Fred
Klenle and George King Jr.. reached the
burning building they saw Bradley leave
1t and run to a nearby viii dmill to get
some water. He returned to the burning
building and mot the,boys face to face but
said nothing. In q lew moments the
building was enwrapped in flames and
there was great danger OF the large barn
Immediately adjoining taking fire.
/ Tlefa tho farm hut thA
farm hands and they ueed water on the
surrounding buildings until all danger
was passed.
While the fire was at its height Bradley
| again returned to the tenant house where
| he met young girl. II
He had box OF matches In his hand
and the girl ordered him out. but before
going he assaulted her. He then ran
down the lane to the road. closely follow.
ed by Geo. King, Jr., and Willis Blackburn
who captured him after hard struggle.
They finally succeeded In holding him
and ropes were securely tied about his
/ hands and feet and In that position he
was taken to the police station, where he
was locked up. awaiting hearing before
Magistrate Kelley this afternoon.
The burned building was a frame struc-
ture. about 40x20 feet In dimension and
valued at 5000. The entire loss will
amount to s4oO. partially covered by In
suranee.
III Tue Htrebt OF Drhuley tno uutuOriion
believe they have man who had planned
60 burn many barns. Tuesday night the
barn on the Ooheltree farm. near Mermaid,
was destroyed and suspicion OF burning
that structure now rests on the prisoner.
Mermaid is on g straight road. almost,
below Farnhurst. and he could have
easily travelled the distance In that time.
The barn on the Bye farm near KEN.
blevilie was also burned aud 1t would
have been possible for the man to have
fired that building also. The suspicion of
guiltis strengthened by the fact that he
carried the grip which contained many
matches and his declaration to burn the
building on the Peters farm. The Is
oner would not talk whom approached by
\ a reporter this morning.
The fire broke out again before 10 O'Clock
Word was dispatched the Liberty Com.
pany and the apparatus of that com pany
went to the scene and extinguished the
Dlaze.