Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-08
STARTED HAINES' STORE FIRE
BOYS PUNISHMENT Is SPANK
ING BY MOTHER.
Guy Vernon Stole Swimming
Trunks, Hid Until Closing Time.
Lighted Matches in Cellar.

| If there ever was a badly frightened
| the Juvenile Court yesterday afternoon in
the person of Guy Vernon. eight years
old
Guy was charged with stealing a pair of
swimming trunks by Detective Smith of
the fifth precinct. Incidentally he was
| under strong suspicion of being RESPONSE
BILE for the fire in the Haines department
store night before last
BEFORE the boy was sent to his home,
3oi 9th street southeast. under the care
of his mother. to be soundly spanked it
was practically proven he set the estab-
lishment on fire accidentally. through
dropping lighted matches in pile of
rubbish.
Boy Locked in Store.
Detective Smith while passing the
Haines store several hours before the
fire discovered the Vernon child within,
doing his utmost to open the big doors
and gain an exit Smith went to his res
cue and succeeded in getting the boy out
and sent him to his home.
In reply to questions relative to what
he was doing in the store the boy said
he had gone there before the closing hour
to make some purchases for his mother
and was locked in.
My mamma told me to git some things
for her. an l did" explained Guy to the
detective, at the same time pulling pair
of swimming trunks out of his pocket
and exhibiting them to the officer.
No sir. ! didn't steal 'em. l buyed 'em
for Il cents" answered Guy to additional
questions. AN when they locked the
store up 1 gifts lost
Smith recalled the incident when the
fire broke out in the store several hours
afterward The detective suspected that
second interview: with the youngster
might be profitable in solving the mys-
terry of the origin of the blaze. Accord
ingly yesterday morning Guy was sub
jected to cross-examination.
Boy Makes Admissions.
He finally admitted he had stolen the
trunks. In his effort to find a way out
of the store. after he had concealed him
self while the establishment was being
closed for the day. he acknowledged he
had lighted a number Of matches in the
basement in the identical spot where the
firemen say the blaze started.
Smith took the boy to the scene of the
fire, and together the detective and the
child followed. as closely possible, the
latter's wanderings after he was locked
in. Arriving near several coal bins in
the cellar the boy told Smith that was
the place Wnere the matches were llSHteu
and dropped on the floor.
1T was awful dark mister an 1 lighted
two matches to see,' explained the boy
Court Imposes Spanking.
At the conclusion of the trial Judge
DeLacy, frowning severely. turned to the
child.
You're a bad boy. Now. what must
do with you?' ne asked.
"Oh. please don't send me to Jail. l
don't want to go to JAIL" whimpered
Guy, the big tears yelling to his eyes and
coursing down his rosy cheeks. II didn't
mean to start a fire. Please don't send
me to Jail"
Mrs. Vernon said the court to the
mother. take Guy home and spank him
well. Not too severely, but make it such
that he won't forget.
NO. my boy said the court. gently.
to the fearful child you won't go to Jail
this time But don't ever do anything
like this again. Be good boy and you'll
develop into a. good citizen
The sentence of the court was car
ried out last evening before Guy was
put to bed for the night.