The Portland daily press., 1897-07-27
WAITE WAS ARRAIGNED.
nearing in Firebug Case Postponed
Until Thursday.

| CHbll luuTSuays
Setting of Four Fires Charged Against
him-Locaj Detectives Have Been On
the Trail-Police as Reticent as Ever.
Alter the usual M onday morning out
put of DRINKS and other offenders, in the
municipal court, yesterday, Wilbur NJ.
waite, the alleged firebug, was brought
IN and given seat in the dock. He was
picture of detection as he sat there,
awaiting the action of his counselssand the
prosecuting officers. His fine complexion
had given way to paleness, and three
days accumulation of beard also de-
traeted from his accustomed appearance
OF tldiness. Confinement within police
station walls does not agree with him.
hev. W. F. Berry, pastor of the Con-
gress ST. Methodist church, who held
lengthy interview with the prisoner on
the night of the arrest, came into court
TO witness proceedings, ana was given
seat within the bar. The.,spectators' seats
were hlled long before the regular docket
was taken up, and the crowd remained as
long as there was anything to see and
hear
County, Attorney Libby and Assistant
Attorney Allan were there as prosecuting
officers. Messrs. Hartford and Heckbert
counsel for the respondent, scanned the
warrant and, after minutes whispered
conversation, requested con tinuanoe of
the hearing till Tuesday. Then followed
some discussion regarding the samount of
bail to be fixed in the case. County At
torney Libby thought $4,000 would be
reasonable amount, but the respondents
counsel believed that $500 would be
su1nclent. The warrant charged setting
fires IN the day time, he said, which
crime is not as great as If it had been
committed in the night and he asked the
court to take into consideration the fact
family dependent upon him.
Judge Robinson fixed the bail at $4,000.
Waite was unable to secure bondsmen.
The warrant, issued by the county at
torney, contains the name of City Mar
shall Sylvester as complainant, and con-
tains four counts, charging the respon-
dent withEsetting incendiary fressin the
Clapp block on Middle street, the Clapp
block at the corner of Congress and Elm
streets, the Harrington block on Congress
street and the Reform club block on
Congress street.
The presence of two young men, strang-
ers in the city, was matter of much in
1
spectators. They're the detectives who
worked UP the firebug CASE was the ex :
PLANTATION given by court room habitue.
But others figured out the strangers as
being visitors from Lynn, who had come
down to give testimony regarding some
accusation against the prisoner while he
was resident az the city .of shoes. One
of these young men was the custodian of
| two large, leather bound volumes, bear
| ing the word Docket" and the theory
that he had something to do with the
municipal court of Lynn was generally
accepted by those who got glinps of his
{ burden.
| The following is the text of the warrant
in full:
| State of Maine, Cumberland SIS. To the
judge Of our municipal court for the city
OF Portland, in the county of Cumber-
land. George W. Sylvester on the oath
day Of July in the year of our Lord, 1897,
in behalf of said state on oath complaints
that Wilbur M. Waite of Portland in said
county, on the 9th day of December, A.
D., 1896, at said Portland with force and
arms feloniously, wilfully and malicious.
ly did set tire to certain building
situated on the norhterly side of Congress
street in said Portland and then and
there the property of one Mary e. J.
Clapp, to wit, a building then and there
used for stores and offices and then and
there called the Clapp block, with intent
thereby then and there feloniously, will
fully and maliciously to burn said build
ing and thereby and by the kindling of
the fire aforesaid said building was then
and there burned; against the peace of
said state and contrary to tho form of the
statute in such ease made and provided
The second count is like the first except
that it leaves out the intent and states
'sand said building thereby then and
there feloniously, wilfully and malicious
ly did burn and consume.' The third
count is like the first except that the
building was situated on the northerly
side of middle street and called the Clapp
block, and the fourth count is like the
second in that the defendant did burn
and consume the building.
The other counts in the complaint are
drawn in like manner as those relating
to the property of Miss Clapp and refer to
the burning of the Congress hall block,
owned by John j., Timothy f., Margaret
E., Ellen, Daniel z. Lnyoh, Catherine T.
Lappin, Nettie j. O'Neil, Micheal j. and
Annie M. Lynch, and to the harrington
block owned by Mary E. W. Harrington.
The warrant is signed by Judge Robin
son ordering the arrest of Waite and is
signed July Gath, 1897.