Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-02-04
Band Of 0ti9 Firehugs Brought to Justice

dark and stormy nights he left his
home, with flaming torches, and sold
his manhood and soul for few paltry
dollars, to be gained when the robbed
insurance companies paid the policies
on the buildings consumed.
At present Page is Willing away. his
time with a secret service guard con-
stantly watching him, for members OF
the conspiracy have vowed to take his
life for the disclosures he made.
Fire Marshall Takes a Hand.
The first visit to West Unity of Walter
Payne, who was, during the investiga-
ton, assistant fire marshal, will never
be forgotten by him. 1t was by the
slightest chance that he ran into q
shred of evidence which. followed up
from a hundred different directions
finally brought the hoped-for results.
Clyde Persing, of West Unity, was in
debted to Toledo firm in a rather large
amount. and, neglecting payment, he
was drawn upon. HectOred by the &C.
ton in presenting draft to him for pay
ment, .Persing lost his temper, and
threw care to the winds At that time
he conducted small restaurant in a
building owned by Mrs. Winifred
Adolph. The night after the draft came
to him the restaurant burned. That was
in July of 1902. So bold was the action
of the man that it could not fail to
arouse the suspicion of Mr.. Payne. and,
r,i+ Fox Jox l. ,sr;+ Il will loo
He had not been there more than a few
minutes before his presence was tipped
off to the leaders of the gang. Homer
Morrison was there at the time, and his
trusty lieutenants made him aware OF
the fact that the fire marshal was in the
village. Payne desired to talk with
Frederick Miller, the only banker of the
town, and who was the agent for nearly
all the insurance companies which had
policies placed in the vicinity The mar
shall went to the bank, and, to his sur
prise, the braZen scouts actually fol-
lowed him, in their attempt to learn the
exact nature of his business. Even Nor
rison, fearless because he thought his
dignity in the community protected him
from suspicion, listened with eagerness
to what the marshal said, and then en-
trusted the work of shadowing Payne to
less distinguished men in the profess
sion.
The officer finally succeeded in evad-
ing the fellows on his trail, and held
long conference with Miller, and other
prominent men, who he had learned
had suffered because of their honesty in
refusing to participate in the depreda-
,tions From citizens of this class. he
learned much, and his suspicious that
the restaurant fire was of an incendiary
nature were strengthened.
But, to his great surprise, he was un-
able to get one of the men assembled
there, to mention the name of a single
person who might, possibly, be con-
nected. They actually feared the con-
sequences that would come. when it was
discovered that they gave information.
Appeal to their manliness was unavail-
ing They were thoroughly cowed by
the threats. They feared their lives
would be the forfeit for divulging any
of their secrets Payne pointed out the
seriousness of the crime of arson and
showed them the criminal statutes, pro-
viding imprisonment for 20 years, Of
convicted frebugs, but they still refused
to talk, bat related events of the past,
and described how the sang had sue
ceeded even at elections. to poll votes
enough to land candidates who would
not prosecute them.
Policy Of the Citizens.
Such was Payne's first visit to the
actual scene of operations. He left, dis
gusted with the men who posed as rep
resentative citizens of the community
But his subsequent visits changed his
mind. He understood, after learning all
about the manner Of men who were do
ing the dastardly work, why it was pol
icy for law-abiding citizenA to keep their
mouths closed, when the law offered
them so little protection.
That was the proposition to be worked
out, and the necessity of keen detective
work was at once apparent.
With a problem OF this magnitude,
expenditure of much money is neces-
sary, and when Payne reported his find
ings and suspicious to the state depart
ment in Columbus it was at once de-
cided that funds should be provided. II.
H. Holenbeck was detailed to assist in
the work, and, from Toledo, and Bryan.
the work was carried on. not for days, or
weeks, or months. but for years.
Jack Page Confesses.
Luck favored the officers Unfor-
tunate Jack Page-his declining years
rendering him unfit for active service
was in the way of the younger members
of the gang. They resolved to put him out
of the way. Murder was out of the
question, SO he was hired to burn a barn
in Michigan, and Morrison, still possess
ing the sagacity of his younger years, so
arranged things that the officers from
Michigan had an easy task to track
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