Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-24
INCENDIARIES FIRE HOUSE
Third Attempt Within a Year to Burn the
Home of Patrick Lynch,
oIL-SoAKED RAGS HUNG ON THE DOORS
Evident Intent Not Only q Burn the
House, but to Cut on the Escape
of All the Inmates Third
Attempt In Yenr.

The third incendlary attempt within
twelve months to burn the house Of Pat
rick Lynch, at 1912 Sixth avenue, was made
at 4 o'clock yesterday morning. On each
Of the three occasions that the fire depart
ment has been called to the house, evidence
has been secured showing that the fire
was incendiary and that 1t had been started
from the outside Of the residence. Two OF
the former attempts were Investigated by
the grand jury, but not sufficient evidence
could be secured to warrant the return OF
an Indictment.
When the fire department reached the
house yesterday morning flames were dis
covered bursting from three sepatats
points. One, OF the outside doors was founi
drenched with kerosene oil, while on two
OF the other doors old clothing soaked with
the same infiammable substance had been
hung and fired. The clothing on the two
F, doors had been fred first and it is sup
posed that the ~rapidity with which 1t blazed
prevented the incendiaries from setting fire
to the door over the cellar, which had been
soaked with the oil.
Evidence secured by Chief Templeton of
the fire department indicates that the in
cendiaries used five gallons of oil in their
attempt to burn the house.
hthN
On the back porch was found a hve-gal-
lon oil can almost empty and with the cork
missing, and q granite teapot which showed
that it had contained oil. A partially
burned macintosh coat and other portions
Of burned clothing including a woman's
skirt, were found on the doors and taken
possession Of by Chief Templeton. Evil
dence had been secured showing where the
AN nAnNaNntn0 tha oil uync ntVRnhoand ma
with this and other clues the police and
Chief Templeton expect to be able to run
Town the guilty persons.
The manner in which the fire was set
this time leads to the belief that the
incendiaries not only intended to burn the
dwelling, but to cremate the occupants, as
the way in which every door was saturated
with kerosene indicated that they Intended
to cut of all avenues Of escape.
Lynch and his family have for more than
a year past had trouble with their neigh
bors and 1t is believed that the several
attempts to burn their home has been the
result OF a desire on the part Of their
neighbors to drive them out of the neigh
borhood Lynch is foreman of the Union
Pacific coal chutes at the transfer depot.
Before coming to Council Bluffs he was a
resident Of South Omaha and was the first
city marshal Of that city after its incorpor-
alton as a town. The family consists of
Lynch, his wife and eight children.
The promptness with which the nre de-
partment responded to the alarm alone pre-
vented the house from being burned to the
ground, as the flames had made such head
way as to compel the family to seek shell
ter, clad only in their night clothes, in
the barn at the rear of the lot. AS 1t was,
the house was badly damaged and the fur
niture and contents suffered considerably
from smoke and water. Part OF the fur
niture was practically destroyed by the
flames.
Lynch, while admitting that he and his
family have had more or less trouble with
| their ~neighbors, is at a loss to say who
has a grievance against him or his OF such
a nature as would warrant the repeated at
tempts to burn Town his home.
Best Values, lowest prices. Suits 1880
up. New York Tailoring Co., 337 Broadway.