Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-02-21
.FIREBUG CONFESSES.
Ella Harvey, Inmate Of the
industrial School,
Admits Having Set the Fire Of Feb. 2,
in School No. /.
She Escapes from the School and Is at Large
Warrant issued.

Hallowell, Me-, Feb. 20.-(SpeciaD.-
Ella Harvey, IA years old, who escaped
from the Maine Industrial School for
Girls, Friday night, is wanted in this
city on a most serious charge. 1t
seems that Miss Harvey had been
closely watched and had been confined
to her room for several days prior to
the time of her escape, owing to the
fact that she had confessed setting fire
to School No. /. which was damaged
to the extent of $1,000 or $4,000, few
weeks ago.
Since the fire many of the girls. in
Guiding Miss Harvey, have been quar-
tered at School No. =. On last Friday
evening at about $50 o'clock, while the
matrons and the wards We're at the
evening meal. Miss Harvey forced the
door of her room open and went into
the corridor. There bel nobody
about at this timel she Went to the
main entrance and noiselessly made
her escape. AS soon as she was miss
ed Miss Staples informed the Halo
well police and also sent telegram 20
the city marshal of Portland, it being
thought that the girl would, if posi-
BILE. make her way to her former home.
She was located in Portland, Satur-
day afternoon, and, Monday morning.
Miss Helen NJ. Staples, superintendent
of the school. went to Portland armed
with the requisite warrant for the girls
arrest. Miss Staples returned to this
city on the III p. NJ. train and en-
| bo journal laarpa6 tho foIlnwip "
regarding he case:
| Indirectly she stated that, early Mon
| day morning, warrant was issued by
Judge Stafford of the Hallowell munich
| pal court. for the arrest of Ella Har-
| vey on the charge of arson. Continu-
| ing she said: Il went to Portland on
the 1906 train and Immediately to the
| city marshars office where I learned
| from Deputy Marshal Pickett that the
girl was thought to be with relatives at
| Cape Elizabeth. and could be found
| without great trouble
| The girl was committed to the
| school, three months ago, it being
shown to the municipal authorities of
| Portland that the girl was of vicious
habits and quite unmanagable. l left
| the warrant with the Portland police
| with the assurance that proper steps
| would be taken for the arrest of the
young girl. If arrested. City Marshal
| Church will be notified. and will I'M
doubleday go to Portland to bring her
to this city for trial.
| 1t seems that Miss Harvey has been
carefully watched by the officers of the
school since her incarceration, months
ago. On Monday evening Jan. "a. ac-
companied by a young friend, Miss
Harvey made good her escape from
School No. / and started for Gardiner.
They were found, Tuesday morning, by
officer Walton and returned to the
| school,
On Feb. 2, a fire which originated in the
attic of School No. l, Quilted the two up
per stories of that building and resulted
| in damage of about $1,000. The cause OF
the fire was a mystery There was posi-
| lively no evidence tending to show that
| the fire was of incendiary origin. and no
important information was secured at the
| fire inquest that served to enlighten the
subject The municipal authorities closed
| their investigation, leaving the matter as
much of a mystery as when the case was
opened.
The matron of School No. l could offer
no solution. One particularly untrust-
worthy girl, presumably Miss Harvey,
| was known to have been at work in the
wash room at the time of the fire and hao
not been absent from the room for even
| i moment This seemed to indicate con-
rlusively that the most suspicious cnar-
acter in this school was not implicated
| in the affair.
Some days later the peculiar demeanor
Of a little girl by the name of Mcdonald
| was noticed by Matron Brown. who found
| that When incidents regarding the lire
| were mentioned. the girl grew very pale
and appeared frightened. At one time,
the girl was asked if she set the fire.
whereupon she answered: mo, l did not
Miss Browns suspicion was aroused and
she resolved upon clever piece of de-
| tective work. She called the girl to her
room and said: Now, Sadie, tell me all
about it," She pressed the matron's hand,
hesitated, and finally confessed her COM
n,icitv in the act of setting fire to fhe
building, and said that she had been
urged to set fire to bedtick, by Ella
Harvey.
Mics Harvey was called and confessed
having saturated feather bed in the
attic with Kerosene and told Sadie Nc
Donald to light it. Miss Mcdonald Is L
wears of age, and not particularly bright
in fact is considered irresponsible for acts
of unseeming nature. Miss Harvey Is
narticularly bright girl for one OF her
Years and has adapted herself well to her
work and studies. She said that her only
reason for setting the fire was the thought
| hat in the attending confusion and ex-
citement. she might be able to eiude the
oe,cials and escape. All un'rustworthy
| girls were watched. however, and there
was no opportunity for anyone to escape
s,or her confession, Miss Harvey was
confined to her room and was allowed to
leave only under guard. on last Friday
a,an;ns. She planned well her escape and
e ',s,,;mr her door open took possession of
pa..ain articles of clothing in the corridor
ond adjacent rooms. and left by way of
4ha 'front.' door, as has been previously
s' ara,r,nr 10 Farmingdale, she called at
as,aence of w. s. Grant.
inc CONTINUED on page 81