Los Angeles herald., 1907-08-04
SAYS WOMAN
IS LNCENDLARY
HOUSE is BLOWN UP; TWO ARE
ARRESTED
POLICE ASSERT MRS. w. MORLEY
HAS CONFESSED
William Foster, Burned and Cut, Fights
PatroIman-Wanted Insurance
on the Furniture Is
Theory

Confessions that she and william Fos-
ter plotted to burn the house in which she
lived in order to obtain the $3.50 insurance
on the contents are said by detectives to
have been made by Mrs. William Morley
to Capt. Paul Flammer soon after her
arrest on suspicion yesterday afternoon.
When questioned Foster refused to sub
stantiate this confession, but is said to
have admitted being at the house at the
time of the explosion.
The house occupied by Mrs. Morley at
245 woodward avenue was destroyed by
fire about 2 o'clock yesterday morning.
Neighbors were startled by an explosion
which shook houses for blocks around.
They found the Morley home in flames.
Mrs Morley, walking excitedly back
and forth, was fully dressed. When ques-
toned she claimed she had risen from bed
to make a cup of tea and that the gasoline
stove had exploded.
Several of the neighbors claimed to
have seen man running from the scene
while on their way to the house, but Mrs.
Morley denied that any person had been
in the house with her.
She appeared greatly excited, and
shortly before the fire department arrived
left the place.
Injured Man Found
Several hours later Patrolman Cum
mings met a man at Pico and Hartford
streets. He was terribly burned, while
his face and hands were cut as II from
flying glass.
The man gave his name as William
Foster and said he had been burned by
the explosion of a lamp in which he had
poured gasoline. He denied knowing Mrs.
Morley and said he had never heard of
the woman.
Cummings then informed the man that
he had best go to the receiving hospital
for treatment, but Foster refused. His
actions were so suspicious that Cummings
decided to send him to the city Jail build
ing for investigation. 1t was necessary
for Cummings to beat him into submis-
sion.
At the receiving hospital Foster ad-
mitted knowing Mrs. Morley. He said
his right name was Dan Sanderson and
that he boarded at her home. He stated
that he was in the house at the time of
the explosion and that 1t was caused by
Mrs. Morley filling the lamps with gaso-
line by mistake.
Detectives were then detailed to find
Mrs. Morley. Patrolman Beaumont To-
Gated her and took her to the station.
Talked of Insurance
When confronted by detectives the
woman is said to have confessed that she
and Foster discussed burning the mousse
at numerous times.
July 80 Foster was at my house and
we talked of burning the place and get
ting the insurance money" said Mrs.
Morley to the detectives, 'and also spoke
of dividing it, each taking half.
Last night he came to the house and
about midnight told me had better get
outside or 1 would be blown up. L ran to
the street, and a little later the explosion
occurred. The next saw of Foster was
when he crawled out from the debris and
ran across lots toward town."
According to the police the furniture in
the house was worth about $125. Mrs
Morley rented the place two weeks ago.
Her husband is mining engineer and is
in Mexico.
1t is claimed by the police that gasoline
was poured over the rooms in the house
and that a match was then lighted and
set to it, and that the fumes of the oil
had filled the room at the time the
match was lighted, causing the explosion.
Mrs Morley and Foster are both held
at the city Jail, but the cases against them
will be handled by Sheriff Hammel. as the
house which burned occupied site just
outside the city limits.