Waterbury Democrat., 1902-08-01
MIDNIGHT FIRE TENDS
Made an Attempt to Burn
 Three Family Dwelling.

The Incendiarism Seemed to Be Es- pecially Directed Toward the Tenant
 on the Second Floor Kerosene Oil
 and Gunpowder Found on the Prem ises.
 One of the most dastardly attempts at incendiarism which has occurred in this city of late took place about o'clock this morning in the building at l6-1S Lafayette street, which is owned by John Bagley. If the fire had not been discovered when it was the results would probably have been most serious and perhaps several lives might have been lost.
 The building where the fires were, Tor there were three, was occupied by the following families: First floor, John Bagley; second floor, Michael G. McDonough; third floor, Patrick Tuf- ley The persons who started the nres must have had a grudge against McDonough and his wife for the fires and the gunpowder, for gunpowder was used, were so situated as to prevent any escape for the occupants of the second floor
 There were two fires in the front hall and on the stairs leading to the second floor. Holes had been bored l in the second stair from the top and the persons engaged in the despicable act probably intended to place the gunpowder in the holes, but the wood was so hard that 1t was almost inn possible to make the holes deep, so the plan was abandoned. On this stairway one fire was built. shaw ings and kindling wood were placed there and everything around 1t was saturated with oil On the landing at the head of the stairs another fire was built and the place was saturated with oil. Under the mat outside the door leading to the apartments of Me Donough bag of gunpowder was placed. The probable intention was to have the flames from the fire spread to the mat and thus ignite the gun powder. At the same time or short l ly after these fires were lighted an- other fire was started in the coal box lon the rear veranda. Shayings and kindling wood had also been placed there and the place thoroughly satur- ated with kerosene.
 l The fires must have been started about o'clock, for at that time the fires in the front hallway were discov- cred by Mrs John Meehan, who lives at 12 Lafayette street She had aris- en from her bed to nurse sick child She happened to look out of the win dow and saw the fire through a win dow above the stairs. She called her husband and he awakened the neigh bors and they rushed in and extin- guished the flames with buckets of water The fire department was Summoned, but before it arrived the 1 fire was put out The firemen started l to return to the engine houses, but had not gone far when they were sum moned back to the same place by a second alarm Officer Maurice Noonan had in the meantime discovered the fire in the coal bin on the second floor. I This fire was also extinguished with out the aid of the fire department. The bag of gunpowder, which was al- \ most ignited, for the rug which cov- l cred it was scorched, was not discov- l" cred until the first fires were extin- 7| guished It was handed over to Chief
 Snagg by Patrick Hickey of 6 Lafay- ette street.
 The damage was slight, only the stairs and woodwork in the hall being scorched. The cases was reported to the police and Detectives Dodds and I O'Gorman are working on 1t.
 I MT McDonough, who lives on the sec- ond floor and against whom the fire fiends appear to have a grudge, is em- lployed by the New York, New Haven x Hartford railroad company He was not home when the fire occurred. He arrived home this morning at 6 o'clock, having been delayed some
 what last night In Ansonia. He us- ually arrives home between and 8 o'clock in the morning. A Democrat \ reporter had an interview with him at his home this morning. He said: Fl do not suspect any person or persons
 of doing the deed. It seems almost impossible that anybody could do such
 n rash act But as I think of it, there l have been some strange doings about my house lately. About three nights Iago. shortly after arrived home and
 went to bed, heard noise on my back veranda Somebody was at my
 milk pail thought it was a cat, ! but I decided to get up and see, but I before I reached the veranda heard
 one or two persons running down the ,l rear steps. When I reached the ve- randa could see no one. Some milk Twas gone. One or two mornings af-
 rewards my wife found some of the
 milk spilled My wife wouldn't use
 what remained ls she feared poison had been placed ill it. The next day IT ordered the milkmar to bring the milk in bottles hereafter and he start
 ed to do so today. The only trouble 4 we have had was with family on this street. They had it with my sister, in-law and she decided to move away and she did. I have heard since that threats have been made by persons
 that they would drive me away also. I suspect no person for l think 1t
 would be most unjust and hard to sus- meet any person of such a deed with
 out having positive proof"
 In connection with the gunpowder if might be said that man told Pat rick Hickey this morning that he had
 seen a man with q bag of gunpowder
 last night
 I SY,fnninm Subsidies Disnpproved.