The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-06-24


Easton, Pa, June 2S.--George Her
bert Stevens, who until a little more
than one year ago was adjunct pro-
fessor of moral philosophy at Lafay-
cite college. is under arrest at Easton
on the technical charge of malicious
mischief Stevens was arrested last
night at Duncannon, Pa, by Detec-
tive Doran. lie was taken TO Harris
burg and brought to this city this
morning. The police charge Stevens
with various acts Of vandalism about
the college including the cutting of
rare and valuable vines, the tarring
of the chapel, the destruction of the
organ, the throwing of hymn books
into a well. etc. When this mischief
was committed it was invariably
charged to the students, but there
was no clue by which the police or
college authorities could fasten the
crime on the boys. Several young men
were arrested, charged with tarring
the chapel but they were all dis
charged.
Last Saturday another attempt at
vandalism was made i'm the college
chapel and as "A result stevens is un-
der arrest. That night the watchman
in the chapel was confronted by a
strange man. a hot scuffle cnsued and
the intruder got away. The watchman
reported to the authorities that in the
fight he struck the intruder on the
head. There is a bruise ON stevens
forehead In the door of the chapel
the key stevens had during the time
he was an instructor at Lafayette
was found. In the chapel was found
basket containing number Of eggs
that long ago had reached a stage
in which they could hatch only trOu-
bic. stevens valise was found i'm
students room i'm one of the halls on
the campus. Stevens denies the charge
made against him.
Just a year ago Stevens gained
some notoriety by his attack on Dr.
Warficld, president of the college.
stevens refused to obey instructions
from the president and was dismissed.
He appealed to the trustees and that
body at their commencement session
sustained the action of the head of the
college. Then Stevens came out with
an attack on the president. but it was
refused by the local papers. Stevens
home is at Montrosc where he owns
farm. He is Princeton graduate.
STEVENS CONFESSES.
Late this afternoon Stevens broke
down and confessed TO everything
charged against him. He also revealed
plans of the future work of destruction
he had laid to burn all the college
buildings except the gymnasium. Stew
ems sole idea, he said. was to aVenge
himself against DR.. Warncld for the
loss of his position. He had determined
to do everything i'm his power to drive
Warfield out of Lafayette and away
from Easton. He said he intended to
burn building after building with the
hope that the president could not 9th
erwise but resign or be forced out of
his chair
The professor declares he brooded so
much over the loss of his position thar
his mind became unbalanced and little
by little he yielded to the awful desire
10 destroy in order to gain revenge.
After he left college he SAYS he went
To his home hut could find no rest He
carefully concocted plans to destroy
Pardec han, the pride Of Lafayette.
Accordingly on the night of December
IL he came to PhillipsburG. Nj, Cacross
the river from Eastor) in disguise and
went to a hotel During the night he
stole unnoticed up to College Hill and
entered tn" Fardoe hall with key he
had not turned over to the faculty
when he left the college. He went tC
the department of biology, over which
Professor Dawson has charge. and
against whom he had an imaginary
grievance and piled rugs mats, car
pets and every portable and innamma-
BILE article he could lay his hands on
bean 'rEfn he
un1er the inh&mmahle collection, turn.
ed on the gas and applied the match.
BITTER AGAINST WAKEFIELD
Stevens then went back to Phillips.
burg and at o'clock in the mornine
took train for New York city. Hg
had ample time to get away from the
burning building as the fire was moi
discovered fer several hours after II
had been started Stevens stood at thc
railroad station and calmly watched
the awful work Of destruction a
NariCus other times later or he return
ed to Easton and on each occasion com
nitled acts OC vandalism. His EeXt in
tended step was /" burn South College
the chapel building in one Of its wings
The other buildings. except the gym
nasum, were to so too. Until hnall,
the whole of the college and its build
ingS would he destroyed Stevens /!
ve"y bitter il his dcnunciations Of Dr
WarGeId and claims that lie was con
frOnted with statements from the pro
fessor Of Lafayette every time he ap
piled for a position since he was com
PEELED to leave Easton. declaring tha
ho (Stevens) was dismissed for insub
ordination. These letters. he saws. in
"dnably operated against him and h.
has not been able 10 secure a situatio'
for a year past stevens was taken L
Jail this evening. Tomorrow Dstric
Attorney FCX will swear out anothe
complaint charging him with arson
There IS hardly a possibility of his he
ing released on hail, His relatives ar
said to he wealthy.