The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-04-12
Two Barns Burned to the
Ground and Residence Al
most Demolished, Sunday
Morning Near Chester.
FEEBlE-MiNOED LAD
is UNDER SUSPICION
Was Left at Home by Parents
And on Their Return He
Was Missing-The Resi-
dence Was RanSacked.

legged incendiary origin yesterday
morning destroyed barns on the farms
of Wilson Kendall and Henry Cook.
west of Chester and scorched the resi-
dence of the Kendalls and other build
ings on the premises. The Kendall
family was not AT home at the time
and upon returning found their house
had been completely ransacked. Sus-
picion points to Verling Kendall.
feeble-minded son of Mr.. Kendall as
having been the probable cause of tho
fire. He could not be found while the
structures were in flames and was not
located until last night, when he re-
turned home voluntarily. The Ken
dalls are 10th to talk of the probable
relation of their son to the fire.
Kendall Barn First.
The barn on the Kendall farm was
the first TO be enwrapped in flames.
At about 10 o'clock Lon Eubanks. who
chanced to be passing discovered the
conflagration and aroused the neigh.
borhood. Persons flocked from Ches-
ter. but efforts to fight the flames
proved futile. A strong wind was rag
4 lhe anu Tie iidAucS WSIC COtubAuMtNdA-
ed to the Cook barn. directly across
the road from the Kendall premises.
This structure soon was ablaze and
entirely consumed. The live stock
was removed. The tongues Of flame
| famed by the wind licked the Ken
dali house and other buildings and the
small crowd had to put uD . noble
struggle to prevent these buildings
from being damaged seriously.
| A New Structure.
| The Kendall barn was q new struc-
| ture and quite valuable. It burned
clear to the foundation. COW, two
calves and several pigs lost their lives
In the flames The farming imple-
ments. grain. hay and other contents
were a complete loss. II Is estimated
that Mr.. Kendall's damages are more
| than $4,000 without any insurance.
| The barn was smoldering in the en-
| bers late last night
| As soon as the flames we're COM
municated to the Cook barn. the spec
tators went to work with a will All
the live stock was removes but the
grain. hay and farming implements
could not be saved. The barn was not
as large an the other building, but
burned rapidly and soon fell into
pile of flaming timbers. The loss will
approximate $500 with 500 insurance.
| The Kendall family was at church
at Chester when the fire broke out.
They were notified and hastened
home bat were poweriess to do any
thing. They Joined In preventing the
spread Of the flames to their resi-
dence. Quantities Of water were car
ried and whenever the flying embers
fell on the roof they were extinguish-
ed Immediately The neat from the
barn was SO intense as to scorch the
paint on the sides of the house and
make the danger very imminent.
House Was Rsnsacked.
| While the flames Of the barn were
devouring 1t. the Kendalls discovered
their house had undergone a complete
overhauling by some one. Drawers
had been pulled from pieces OF furni-
ture and their contents scattered
about the floors Trunks In which the
family kept certain articles had been
burst open with q hatchet. which was
found in one of the rooms. The work
of demolition had extended over both
floors Several articles OF value had
been taken.
| Search for verling Kendall. who
had been left at home was made and
he could not be found. II was feared
he might have been in the barn and
lost his life. The anxiety Of the Rem
dalls was increased as time passed
and the young man was not located.
The ruins of the barn were 50 hot
they could not be searched. Doubt
was not dispelled until verling's re-
turn late at night. The young mans
mental condition is such that outside
Of the family practically no faith is
put in his explanation of his absence
The neighborhood believes he was un-
der a spell and while in that condi-
tion ransacked the house and fired
the barn. then fled into the woods.
His mentality returning he went hack
home after darkness. The Kendall
family il well known and many
friends sympathize with them at their
1 dfsa sfnP