The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-07-08
USED FIRE
SEA TO SEA
Prisoner Tells Remarkable
Tale Of Exploits as Incendiary
GIVES HIMSELF UP HERE
James Hunter Wright Committed to the
TOmbs in Default Of $4,000 Bail as
Self-confessed Firebug After
Waving Examination.
GIVES HIMSELF UP HERE

New York, July s.--Based on con
fession said to have been made in the
presence of Assistant District Attorney
Turnbull and Fire Marshal David Kelly
James Hunter Wright as his own &C.
cuser was arraigned on a charge Of ar.
son, second degree, before Magistrate
Crane in the Tombs police court yester-
day and waived examination. Wright
was held in $4,000 bail and committed
to the Tombs. The case will probably
be presented to the grand jury. The
maximum penalty for the crime charged
is twenty-five years.
The case surprised the district attor-
ney's Office and the magistrate.
~This IS the most marvellous thing in
my long experience as magistrate,
remarked the court as he signed the
commitment.
Have you anything to sayi' asked
Magistrate Crane.
Not unless it is necessary" replied
the defendant.
Apparently it WIS not necessary.
Wright is only , years old BY his
own alleged admission he has left a
blazing trail, not only here in New York,
but ia Providence, Quebec, and away of
in Spokane. His prediament might also
be termed an awakening.
In the last year Wright's jet black
hair has turned gray His closely crop
aIt lr4
eyeglasses with powerful lenses Wright
wears q natty gray suit, and carried
|nervously conventional soft rat much
affected by Westemers and men in the
South.
WTight's conscience has been a faith
fu monitor, il appears, and finally won
out in a remarkable psychological strng-
gle for the mastery. The influence Of
a religious family had its effect upon
him. Il was not easy for him to forget
the glare and the blaze in the night.
His guilt stood out and threatened his
peace Of mind From a robust man he
was reduced to a spare, shrinking erea-
ture. And two weeks ago he broke down
his reserve and admitted his troubles to
his cousin, Alexander Fisher. There
was long conference, and the two men
sat up late III the night in the house
at 400 West Twenty third street, where
for more than year Wright had maso
bis home with the Fisher family
Il was Ar Fisher who suggested that
Wright take into his confidence 4 certain
Episcopalian pastor whose name neither
Mr.. Fisher nor the district attorney
will make public. II is said that the
clergyman gave Wright consoling advice,
but Mr. Fisher asserted yesterday morn
ing that the preacher did not counsel
the penitent 20 surrender to the authori-
ties There were many talks between
the two cousins, and finally with Light
heart and restful mind Wright came
to the office OF acting District Attorney
Nathan Smyth and repeated his life
story Mr.. Smyth became interested ia
the man more than the tale The man
who accused himself at one of the most
serious crimes on the statute books Of any
state in the union was turned over to
Assistant District Attorney Turnbul,
who also had his misgivings. For the
FIRST time in the history Of The office
such story was heard in the criminal
courts building
But Wright was acting in good faith.
He said he was there to admit his guilt
and pay the debt demanded BY the law
as due to society.
The crime for which Wright is held
for the grand jury concerns fire at
229l Broadway, which occurred on dec.
20, 1905 There was $4,000 loss, and
according 70 the records Of the fire mar.
shsl's Office. there was no suspicion at
tached to the occupants Of the building.
Wright's concern had the second floor,
which is also the top. The concern dealt
in aFt objects and the blaze was dis
covered in the filing cabinet. There was
nothing more heard of the blaze after
the FIRE horses got back to their sta
tons.
1t now turns out that the concern had
not made any money during the holidays
1T had received large credit with an al
yertising concern, which was after its
money. II develops. according to the al
legged story Of Wright, that to close up
shop was the best way out Of the mud
ale, and the quickest medium was fire
Then, according to the remarkable
statement on Gle IN the district attor-
ney's office, Wright and another person
went over to Providence after the books
of accounts had been shipped to The
Rhode Island city. 1t was not long be.
fore the Providence fire department put
out blaze in Wright's shop Only S203
was collected on the insurance. Wright
then, with second person, set up bust
ness in Quebec But the old town was
slow for Wnght's wares in the art line
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