The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-06-04
Eugene Brennard, Patient at Pen
meyer Sanitarium, Arrested
on Charge Of Arson
SETS FIRE IN RACINE PLANT
Man is Bailed Out By Physicians AT the
Salitarium and Returned TO the
Institution Pending the
fs Arrival of Relatives 31g Il


Charged with an attempt at arson,
Eugene Brennard, IS years old, son Of
a wealthy banker of Austin, Texas and
La patient at the Pennoyere Sanitarium
was captured and locked up in Jail at
Racine. 1t was after 5 O'Clock last
Saturday when small pile Of hay and
rubbish in the Driver Manufacturing
Co. lumber yards in Racine, east of the
Offices, was discovered to be in flames.
An alarm was sounded and the fire de-
partment responded While fremen
were engaged subduing. the fire young
man was noticed industriously assisting
by beating the fire with club, but said
nothing. In less than five minutes after
/ the fremen got back to their houses,
Ianother alarm was sent in and this time
la box used for packing glass in, was
found to be on fire, leaning up against
THE Driver Manufacturing Co. offices.
The same young man was there trying
to assist putting out the blaze. Several
people had seen this fellow touch a
match to the hay in the box.
Officer Christensen was on the
ground early; he took the stranger into
custody and imagine his establishment
when it was found the man was a mute.
He was taken to the police office,
large crowd following behind. Here he
wrote on a piece of paper, that his
name was Eugene Brennard, his home,
Austin, Texas, that his father was a
banker and he had been at the Pennoyer
ISanitarium receiving treatment for
nervous trouble Further writing re-
Fvealed that his father was a banker and
a very prominent man in the state of
Texas. The poor fellow was very high
lily excited and it looked as if he would
tumble over from sheer excitement. He
| wanted to get away very badly.
In writing he admitted that he set
both the hay and the box OH fire, but he
had no good reason for so doing, except
that he wanted to see a fire. He was
taken over to the jail and locked up.
Later DR.. Pennoyer Of the Sanitarium
went to Racine and wanted to take the
patient back to the institution, claiming
80 .
that he was irresponsible for his acts.
but Chief Of Police Baker said it would
mot be policy to let the man go until it
was fully established that he was not
responsible and District Attorney
Thompson was of the same opinion as
the chief of police and wants the sani-
tarium people to prove their contention.
ut is understood that the father of the
mute will be notified and no doubt will
come to Racine as soon as possible. At
taches Of the sanitarilm, when notified
OF the arrest of Brennard, said they
never knew him to do anything out of
the way before.
Brennard was taken before Court
Commissioner Wentworth yesterday and
his case was adjourned to- June 10,
bonds being fixed at $500. DIR. PEN
meyer of the sanitarium furnished the
bond and an attendant came up and
brought the man back to that institu-
ton. 1t is said that drink brought him
ito his present nervous condition. That
an effort viii be made to show that the
man was irresponsible when he set the
fires, there appears to be no doubt,