The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-12-15
Philip HsItchman Confessed 10
Applying Match it AttIsbsrs.
MRS. GILES IS ExoNERATED.
Dramatic Scene In AttIshoro Court Room
When Or. SoIumun's HostiN Told His
Story Yesterday.

y
There wore dramatic scenes in the At
tleboro court room yesterday when Mrs
Margaret Giles was being tried on tn.
serious charge OF srson. when PhillI
Heitohmsn. formerly a hostler for DR.
Solomon, made a statement in which M
assumed the responsibility for the two
recent incendisry fires. one at DR.. Solo
mons sanitarium, and the other ut th<
stable on his place and completely estab-
lished Mrs. Giies Innocence.
The evidence was being presented
against Mr.. Giles In connection with the
fire on the night OF Nov. g. and Deputy
John II. Nerney stated 10 tlne court thaa
the recent fire wished to make a state
ment.
On being assured that II concerned thu
case the court allowed the statement
which the prisoner said vas OF his own
free act
This woman. Mrs. Giee. is innocent
OF the charge against her" said tho young
man. plainly and distinctly, and In tones
that GOULD be heard I'm the far corners of
How do you know she is innocentg'
asked the court
II know she Is. said the young man
II did IL. but l didn't know what was
doing when / aid st."
Have you anything more 10 say7' In
quired the judge.
''Yes. sir, have wasn't aware OF
what was doing when ] set the fire.
said Heitchmsn.
You refer to the fire Of Nov. 70, do
your asked the court.
Yes. SIR. I went to bed at $40 o'clock
that night and had no recollection OF going
10 the can for oil and throwing II about. Z"
Did Mrs. Giles know OF your actf'
inquired the judge.
NO she did not. She never said a
word 10 me about the solomons. but she
said to me that she'd like to get away"
What was you motive in setting this
fire."
II had none"
did Mrs. Giles have any knowledge
OF the fire before it was set?'
No, she had no knowladge OF g. We
talked about IL after Not before
A little later Deputy Sheriff Nerney an
nounced that Heitchman desired TO make
further statement, and the young man
said he set the barn on fire. Il had Ats
and did many things" and he said he
was guilty OF the charge hanging over
him, that o. setting fire 20 the barn.
ADJUDGED PROBABLY GUILTY.
Judge Byram said ne would not ac-
cept the plea or guilty, but would ad-
Judge the defendant probably guilty. He
bound him over to the grand jury under
5000 bonds Hetchmsn could not furnish
ball and was taken to Taunton Jail by
officer Wilbur.
The testimony in the case will he pre-
sented before the grand jury, when a bill
containing two counts may be returned
In Heitchman's story TO Deputy Sheriff
Nerney he told how on the night Of the
attempt to burn the hospital he went TO
the basement and filled large bottle with
oil. He said he used cupful for his
stove and the rest he sprnkled about the
cellar He left the place by the door that
was always used.
This fire last night. then. asked Mr..
Nerney was for two purposes then. 10
give the officers the idea the real cr1m.
nal was still At large and that Mrs. GILES
was moi concerned
That's just IL" the prisoner stated.
IL e. known that the young man has
a police record IN Rhode Island and con-
nectlcut From this city. where his par
ents ana several sisters live he was scnt
to Sockanosset school and remained there
10 months the police of Station say.
Then he hired out As an errand boy in a
Connccticut hotel, ana ono day he was
teut 10 the bank with $40 He entered the
go on the pass book and kept tho coin.
For that he spent Two ears in en- insti-