The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-07-24
Fires HOUSE AS
FAMILY SLEEPS
Henry Kulesh Sought Terrible Re-
venge Because Former Friend
Failed To Repay Loan.

Coming as a climax to months OF
worry over real and fancied wrongs,
and over gossip OF neighbors which
. he had taken deeply 10 heart. the
.heft OF Henry kulesns suitcase FROM
he Detroit Union depot drove Kulesh
20 desperation. and caused him TO walk
K rom Detroit 10 Port Huron. and
\ hence 20 John Karpenski's farm in
Austin township, Sanilac county.
where ne set fire TO karpenskis farm
house. al III o'clock last Friday night.
karpenski, his wife and little girl
were asleep in the house at the time.
kulesn did not give them thought
\ when he applied the match, and watch
cd the burning house from some near
by woods. He was OF the impression
y that they probably got out all right.
Then he fed. and for week has been
stealing through deep woods and wide
fields. far from human habitation. 4
hunted man, and with the added tor
lures OF an accusing conscience.
Thursday night he stumbled into
the central police station in Detroit
end begged Lieut. WalPole TO lock him
up. He made brief confession Of
his crime, but, Friday morning he told
one OF the most remarkable stories
OF vengefulness that has ever been
brought to the notice OF the local
police.
Kulesh, who worked on a beet farm
I'm Huron county for five years, ever
since his arrival from Poland. met
John Karpenski on the farm, last
summer. They became fast friends.
and, finally, Karpenski borrowed SIS
from Kulesh, with which to build IN
addition to his own farmhouse in Aus
tin township. Sanilac county. He as
sured kulesh that the money would
be just as safe as in q bank, and that
kulesh could get sums of money
whenever he needed them. He also
invited Kulesh to come and make his
home at the Sanilac county farm dur
ing the winter months, where he
could earn little money and save
expenses.
Last February. Kulesh says, he de-
cided that he was not being treated
right at the Karpenski farm. so he de-
cided TO leave He asked Karpelski
for his SIS. and was given so with
the promise of receiving more later
Oh.
But Kulesh. in his new boarding
place. was soon scoffed at by his eigh-
bors, he says, for being put ont Cf
Karpenski's home, as mo good fe,-
low
When he told the gossips THAI Kar-
penski owed him money, and shouldn't
say such things about him. they laugh
ed at him. he says. ana told hin that
Karpenski had said that their account
was all square, and that as SOP. ~ he
had paid kulesh back. he had put him
ont of his home
Kulesh. enraged. wenr to Narpen5Si
with the stories, but was told that thty
were false. and that lie would get has
money later. He wanted to go OFT
west for his health. and again asked
Karpensk for money Karpenski said
he would try to get some for him.
Kulesh came TO Detroit to look fer
work. but he fell i'll. He decided the
climate was not good Tor him. and
that he must go west. While In the
Union depot. waiting for train to
Chicago. someone stole his sritcast'
containing all his possessions.
1T made me mad, and desperate"
says Kulesh. "All OF that other trUu-
BILE rushed into my head, and ctartud
out TO walk to Port Huron. | walked
all the way. and in Port Huron bought
some kerosene oil. Ii was IL o'clock
Friday night. when | got to Karpen-
skis farm. took ladder. AID Climb
ed to an open second floor window.
Looking through window. | could see
+ Karpenski and his wife and little girl
sleeping, on the lower floor. | poured
kerosene all over the second floor,
lighted Ii. and then ran 10 the weeas.
The sheriff OF Sanilac county arriv-
+ ed In Detroit, Friday morning and will
take Kulesh back with him. He says
that Karpenski heard Kulesh climb on
shed roof. and as Kulesh fed from
the house, called after him. calling
him by name. but that Kulesh did rot
pay any attention to him. None OF the
family was injured.