Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-29
ADMITS CHARGE OF ARSON
Isaac s. Kent Sets Fire to His Store in North.
east Washington.
Thirty Gallons of Oil Used and DAM
age Amounts to but $50
Kent's Motive.

Isaac s. Kent colored, twenty-seyen
years old. a former resident of Maryland
was arraigned in the Police Court this
morning on charge of arson, and he
pleaded guilty. The case was sent to the
grand jury, and bond was fixed in the sum
of $1,000
Kent was arrested last night by Detec-
tives Peck and Miller, on suspicion that he
had set fire to his own store at No II 4th
street northeast, about 3 o'clock yesterday
morning. When first arrested Kent denied
the charge but soon afterward he made a
full confession, and signed a paper reciting
what he had DONE
ABOUT three years ago the prisoner came
70 THIS city from near Arundel-on- the Bay.
and opened small store in the house
"here the fire occurred. His stock con-
sisted of groceries and notions. and he sue
ceeded in building up good trade During
recent ha,ea months however, his customers
nave not been so numerous, and he con-
Guided he would give up business and re-
turn to his Maryland home The furniture
IN ms mouse was insured for $780, and there
was Pollcy for 500 on the stock in his
store. With the destruction of his property
ana the collection of the insurance money
isaac thought he could return to Arundel
ana reloin his wife, with cash to spare
Gave Away the Plan.
Wednesday night, it is said he informed
friends that he would retire from business
IN the near future, and to one Of them he
conf1ded his scheme for raising the money.
Kerosene oil was poured about the prem
lses and the match applied. Two persons
We're sleeping on the second floor of the
mousse but Isaac did not stop to consider
now he was endangering their lives Soon
after the blaze started he became frighten-
ed and gave the alarm. Then he worked
hard to subdue the flames
1t was after he had called on Agent r r
Sullivan of the Northwestern Insurance.
COMPANY, at 1902 street, and reported
the fre that the police We're asked to make
an investigation. Detectives were assigned
70 the case at Z O'Clock and two hours later
Kent was behind the bars He used thirty
sailons OF oil, and not more than $50 dam
age was done.
The Confession.
The statement signed by the prisoner
reads as follows:
1 thought of burning my house about ten
days ago, and told my sister Kate about it.
Business was very dull. 1 could not see
how 1 could make out, so 1 tried to burn
the house to get the insurance money and
go to Annapolis. 1 went to bed about II 40
O'Clock, but did not go to sleep. Waited
until ) am. l got up, dressed and went
downstairs; put rubbers over my shoes:
dipped the coal oil out of the tank at foot
OF stairs with the Navigation measure. fill
ed an empty fifty-pound lard can three
| times; scattered the oil all over the store
and the tables and floor of the middle
room; took piece of paper and set fire to
the store about five feet from the flour
bags.
Then 1 went upstairs and called nv
brother and Mrs. Eglin in the front room,
and told them the house was burning and
to hurry out. Then l went out and hol-
Tered Fire" The house was filled with
smoke and burning. 1 ran to 4th and East
Capitol streets, where L found an officer;
told him my store was on fire. He went
to turn in the alarm. 1 went back to the
store and put out the fire in the dining
room. The fire department came and did
not have to turn the hose on.
1 sat up all the rest of the night thinking
over what l had done. About $50 O'Clock
| went to see the landlord, Mr.. Frank
Tuber; told him my store was set on fire.
l went from there to the insurance office
on F street and told them about it. The
gentleman said he would come over and in
vesugate.
Today when the prisoner appeared in
court there was no friend present to look
after his interests. His wife had probably
not heard of his misfortune. Kent was I'M
able to give the bond required and was
committed to jail