The Portland daily press., 1897-03-29
CANDLES AND KEROSENE.
Two Brockton Men Arrested on a Serious
Charge.

Two Brockton Men Arrested on a Serious
Charge.
Brockton, Mass, March 81. The arrest
of Thomas J. Murphy and Edward Fin
ley In New York for arson, and the news
that they were held awaiting extradit-
ion papers, created great sensation In
this city this afternoon. Neither menu
Der of the firm has been seen in this city
since last Monday evening. The police
subsequently learned they lsft this city
on the 10. 40 train for Boston Monday
evening. with ono of their employees
banned Clifford. Last Thursday they
were seen in Weymouth by factory in
spector of the district police, who imme-
diately telephoned the Brockton police,
but though the chase was hot, the police
failed to capture them. City Marshal
Packard subsequently learned of their in
tended destination and captured them In
New York this morning.
The attempt to fire the factory was
designated by Chief Marston for the fire
department as ga very dirty and very
clever job Said he: "Thers may have
been other fires where arrangements have
been as thoroughly made as In this In
stance, but If so the evidence was de-
stroyei by the fire. do not recall any
instance where ths skeleton of the plot
was SO perfectly revealed, nor do records
serve to place a Suspicious case of this
character where the fire was goirg on
two or three floors at once
Candles were placed in excelsior satu-
rated with Kerosene and wood alcohol
was freely sprinklad about the building,
windows were left open to make good
draught. To make the destruction OF
the plant complete success, zone wire Of
the automatic sprinkler and alarm was
cut. with view to destroying it's etflci-
aney, but the sprinkler worked, the still
alarm rang in, and the building and
contents were saved with llttle.damage.
The enormity of the crime ia made ap-
parent when the facts are considered.
The building is three-stoIy wooden
structure. situated in q nest of wooden
buildings; adjoining 1t is the Puritan
Rubber Company, and also in close
PROXIMITY ia the Geo. Snow shoe factory.
This plant. wooden structure with
stock, is probably worth some $500, 600.
The large wooden shoe factory occupied
by Hurley Bros, is in close proximity
and If the fIebugs' work had been sue
cessful over million dollars worth of
property would have been jeopardized.
Tho fro chn a
night, some hours probably after the
candles had been lighted. Various cir
cumstances came TO light Immediately
which laid the firm under suspicion. A
conservative estimate of the value of
the machinery and stock places it Mt
$4,000, while insurance to the amount of
SIS, 900. placed with local agents, has al
ready been discovered. That the firm
was hard pressed for money is now we'll
known. Yesterday and today Deputy
Sheriff Wheeler served three repleyin
writs on stock in the factory. The po-
lice claim they are in possession of evil
dence which will make the acquittal of
the alleged firebugs difficult matter.
The past regulations of the young men
have been GOOD. Charles S. Findley,
the brother of the junior member Of the
firm, who gave the information to the
police which has led to their arrest, is
we'll known, and the president of the
Bryan silver club of this city, doing a
fine grocery business both in this city
and in Worcester. Mass. He stated this
afternoon be had only done his duty
and would do all in his power to prove
his brother s innocence. Chief Packard
is not expected from New York with
the prisoners till Tuesday.
Another Case of Candles and Kerosene.
Nashua, N. H., March GA daring
attempt to destroy a double tenement
house owned by the heirs of Jeremiah
Foley was discovered here this morn
ing in time to prevent serious damage
to the building. When the dremen, who
had been called to the scene, arrived,
they found that piles of shayings, soaked
with Kerosene, had been placed in differ
emit rooms and small candles had been
lighted above each with the evident in
tention that when they burned low the
shevings should become ignited and
set firs to the house. Lack of draueht,
however, caused the dense smoke to rise,
and the blaze was discovered. The house
was unoccupied and the perpetrators of
tho act are not known. The police are
guarding the premises and searching for
clues.
FAMINE PREVAILS IN CUBA.