Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1910-11-24
FIRE MARSHAL GETS SUSPECT
Party Arrested May Have to Answer
in Another Serious Matter

in Another Serious Matter
Sioux Falls-State Fire Mars al Craft
of Mitchell, in Sioux Falls yesterday,
caused the arrest of Cha les Bagunola,
either an Italian or a Syrian, up a
charge of arson, and the p oof of /
guilt, now in the ross sssion of the
fire marshal, is SO strong that the
convit ton of the accused man is con-
sidercd certain.
And another charge, which might |
be laid at the door of Bagunola is that
of alternating the affections of the
wife of the man for whom he W1rke
and whose buildings he is accused o.
igniting in order to promote his own
suit for the love of the woman In the
case.
Mr.. Craft has been at work on this
case since the 26th of August last and
devious trail, which he had consid-
cradle difficulty in following, fina ly
brought him to Sioux Fails, as the
home of the bait viii fate had WOW
en- into web for BagNnola. End
where, yesterday, he ca ght Bagu :
ola, who had come all the way m
New York to see the woman, W oe
farm home he is suspected of having
wrecked.
Mr.. and Mrs H. NJ. Hanson former
~ lived on farm near Loyalton. Ell.
munds county.
They rented the place and were get
ting on famously. when Bagun la ap-
peared on the scene wa"ting wfrk
He was employed and was teatei
with that hospitality and hoN civ
courtesy, which has given rise to the
frequently used expression t at EN-
ployes are treated like members Of
the family"
Bagunola discovered his infatua-
tion for his employers wife very soon
after he accepted work at tie place
and with the chara"te istic i"pe us
ity of his race, decided that it was
intended in the divine plan that they
should belong to each other.
And State Fire MarsNal Gait as
serts that it was in flu therance of that
plan to have her all his own. that
Bagunola set flre to the ia m build
ings, feeling that if the buildings on
the rented farm were DESTROYED. the
Hanson family would be broken IN
and that he and the woman would find
fewer difficulties in the path, he felt
he could persuade her to tread with
him.
On the night of the 26th of August
last, Mr. and Mrs. Hanson and a. o
Bagunola, attended dance two miles
| from the Hanson farm.
Mr.. and MS Hanson left tfeir
place before Bagunola did, leaving
him to reach the dance later and 1t IS
believed that after they LETT the farm,
he set fire to the structures
At any rate, after the country dance
was over and they rea he'd the rented
farm, the house and barn and shed
were found to be hears of glowing
embers and smoking ashes.
State Fire Marshal Graft was notified
of the fire and began an investigation
Mr.. and Mrs Hanson left Edmunds
county, he to get new start in the
world, and she. ostensibly ~ wat To-
his success.
He went to Hanson county and
found work as a farm hand and Is
there now picking corn.
Mrs. Hanson came to Sioux Falls
and found work in a restaurant.
Bagunola went to Chicago and then
farther east, from which points he
wrote letters to the woman. urging
her to join him in the east, but she
would not go and that was what
brought him back to this state.
Marshall Craft learned of the infat
uation of Bagunlo for the woman ant
felt that earlier or later the mar
would come TO Sioux raii5
He posted sentinels to watch her ant
day before yesterday was advised
while at Mitchell that a man answer
ing the description of the accused. hat
reached this city.
Bagunola early yesterday mornin,
presented himself at the Benton res
taurant on North Phillips avenue
where Mrs. Hanson was employed
They were to hSve gone for ride
but something interfered and an
; later in the day.
In the meantime Mr.. Craft had 1T
rived and located Bagunoia, whose ar
, rest he caused.
Then he went to Mrs Hanson, toll
her what he knew and she agreed t
tell him what she knew OF the allege'
arson.
She was taken In an auto to tn
: home of her parents. who live In tn
west Dart Of the city, there she mad
: a statement, laying the charge of ar
son against Bagunola, admitting he
own connection with the affair and as
sorting that she had been f'ightene
; into her associations with Bagunols
I by fear that he would kill her an
himself, unless she acquiesced In hi
desires
Letters from Bagunole, re eived b
> Mrs. Hanson, were turned over TO tn
state fire marshal Bagunola is IN h
: Minnehaha county jail, awaiting tn
. arrival of Edmunds county official
j and Mrs. Hanson Is at the home
her parents She is the mother
two children.
: ia Nt>.n Naii