The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-12-10
THREE SUSPECTS
ARE DETAINED
BY THE POLICE

The police throughout the city are maxi
Ing strenuous efforts to locate the fire.
bug who is believed TO be responsible for
the humorous recent fires.
After the three fires Of apparent incen-
diary origin In Capt Murray's district on
Saturday night that officer has been
especially active and vigilant: and he
now has two suspects in detention.
The police OF the other districts are
keeping a sharp watch over lumber yards
and unoccuped dwellings; and II s the
general belief that IL there is a firebug at
large his future efforts must be un-
usually stealthy or he will find himself
In the meshes of the police
John Flemming was arrested at 12:1u
this morning. while piling barrel slaves
and other rubbish against one side OF
."e John Il. White coal pocket on South
Water street.
While F1emmins was thus engaged he
was being watched by Pstrolman e. j.
Mcdonnell OF the Central station
The office. believed that Flemming i'm
tended 20 set fire 10 the coal pocket,
md II was his intention 10 catch the
man IN the act,
While he was watching a pedest trian
who knew Patrolman Mcdonnell passed
and called, Hello. Ned" F1emming
made an attempt 10 get away when he
discovered mat he was being watched;
but Mcdonnell was too. quick for him.
When asked 10 explain F1omming said
tStt he was gathering the wood and
rubbish To take TO his lodgings. 2if South
Main street. TO mako himself warm He
was taken 20 the station. where he was
bcohed on a charge of drunkenness. He
s. 55 years OF age and claims TO be en-
plJyed as a metal polsher In a local
jevelry pant.
Patrick Duffy, 4s years of age, has been
identified by George L. Staples. a motor
n.
man Who interfered with Staples when he
was running TO the Bristol station TO tele-
phone an alarm for the fire in Hovey's
lumber yard.
Another man arrested by the police is
Eugene Warren, - years OF age who was
suspected OF being responsible for the
lumber yard fires In September OF 1aOi
was confined in the hospital for the insane
at Cranston several years and since his
liberation recently came TO this city and
has been making his home in East Provi-
dence.
Both Duffy and Warren admitted to the
police that they were I'm the vicinity of
the Hovey lumber yard on Saturday night
Duffy has been working for a farmer
named Wall In Rehoboth for the past 10
years. He says he came To Providence last
Wednesday and has been staying at the
What Cheer lodging house on South Main
streetSaturday night,he said. he was in a
bnil'VHi htdt Nilt f1diunlOle DOCK. and OH
leaving stepped into the Hovey lumber
yard for a purpose he explained
ON leaving. he says he was accosted
by woman who said she saw smoke
coming from one OF the lumber sheds. lie
admits having seen George T. STAPLES.
the motorman, and that he seized him
by the shoulders and held him back while
Staples was on his way TO the Bristol sta
ton TO telephone 10 the fire station His
only explanation is that Il WAS what any
mar under the influence OF liquor might
have done.
He says he knows nothing OF how the
fire started and was not i'm the vicinity
o. Whaley's stable. or that OF r W. Cole
e. company. where two OF the other fires
were started, but went direct from the
Hovey lumber yard to his lodgings.
Owing TO the mental condition OF Eu.
gene Warren. little importance can be at
taChed TO what he says. His most dam
aging statement Is that he passed Hoveys
lumber yard Just before the fire on his
way ia East Providence.
Patrolman !. Feeley OF the Central sta.
tion discovered an attempt at incendiar-
ism yesterday morning at the building 50
&C. 73 South Main street. occupied by the
Putnam Foundry and Machine company
In the rear there are two doors. the out
or one OF iron and the inner one OF wood.
Someone had opened the outer door and
stuffed paper between tho two doors The
wooden door was charred and backened,
but this was the only damage.