Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-30
DETECTED IN TIME
Incendiary Attempt in Rear of
Policeman Garrison's Home.
PLANS CAREFULLY MADE
Oil Poured Over the Door of an Out
building.
INCIPIENT FLAMES PUT OUT
Similar Effort Made Several Years
Ago-Police Of Sixth Precinct
Investigating the Affair.

After pouring three bottles of kerosene
oil over the rear door of shed in the
rear of the home of Policeman Garrison
of the first precinct. 400 I street north
west early this morning, an incendiary
piled a quantity of dried grass against
the door and then placed q lighted candle
in the grass.
In an instant the door was ablaze. The
flames. however, were discovered by Mrs.
Rosaline Garrison, wife of Policeman
Garrison. and were extinguished by her
brother, William /. Thompson. The po-
lice Of the sixth precinct were notified
and they are making an investigation of
the attempted arson.
A half an inch of candle, with part
of the door burned, was found, while
portions of the shed were still saturated
with the oil. Three bottles, which had
contained the oil, were also discovered ly-
ing broken on the ground. One Of the bot
ties had previously contained gin, while
another had at one time contained whis-
ky. Both bore the labels of local saloons
The other bottle was broken into small
pieces and the label was torn so that II
could not be identified.
Wneh MI. nonpsOn reached the SneC
he found that the flames were burning
the door. He Immediately stamped out
the lighted candle and then notified w. L.
Bowles. a brother Of j. j. Bowles, milk
dealer, whose stable contained eighteen
horses and a large quantity of feed, of
the fire. The stable is within three feet
OF the place where the fire started.
No Motive for the Act known.
1t is not known whether some epe whom
Policeman Garrison had arrested attempt
ed to get revenge by setting fire to his
home, or whether an attempt was made
to set fire to the shed in an effort to burn
the stable .as the latter was SO close that
had the flames gained Roadway they
would soon have spread to the stable. :.
Considerable dried grass was in the
alley, which is but three feet wide and
extends in the rear OF houses 469, 4e7 and
4e5 street on the south side. while
the stable occupies the north side. Sew
eral windows. which are about three feet
from the ground. face on the alley The
shutters In the windows were open and
had strong wind been blowing at the
time the flames would have undoubtedly
reached the straw in the stalls.
Mrs. Harrison said she knew of no rea-
son why any one would attempt to set
fire to her homie. She said she had never
had trouble with any one while Mr..
at 400 X street northwest. said that he
knew Of no reason why any one would
attempt to set fire to the stable. Mrs.
Garrison stated that several years before
she moved into the house an attempt had
been made to set fire to the same shed,
and Mr.. Garrison also told Of this at
tempt.
Mrs Garrison's Narrative.
Mrs Garrison said that her husband
had left home shortly before IL o'clock
last night to report at the first precinct
police station. Shortly after he left the
house she and her brother, William
Thompson. retired to their rooms
"a few minutes later" she said, my
brother left his room and went down
stairs and put out the sas light in the
hallway. He returned to his room and
went to bed. was awakened about 80
tening for some time heard nothing more
and went again to sleep.
After about fifteen or twenty minutes
1 was again awakened" Mrs. Garrison
said, land detected the odor Of kero-
sene. Upon looking out of my bedroom
window, which is On the first floor in the
rear, I saw a pickering light Remember.
ing that an attempt had been made sew
eral years ago to set fire to the place.
went to my brothers. room end told him
some one must be attempting to set fire
to the shed. He said must Be mistaken,
but when assured him that smelled
the oil and saw a light in the rear al
ley he partly dressed and went down
stairs to make an investigation.
LAS we got out to the rear gate" she
said. I'VE found the door of the sheo
ablaze. A piece Of lighted candle about
one inch long had been placed In the dry
grass. which had ignited the oil on the
door and also the grass. Two bottles
were on the ground, while the third was
lying on the window sill of the stable d.
rectly in the rear of the shed.
my brother stamped out the lighted
candle and then extinguished the blaze
on the door. / said he ought to notify
Mr.. Bowles and he went around and told
Mr. William Bowles, who came around
later"
Police Investigate.
Mrs Garrison said she then went out
to look for policeman. and found Po-
liceman Tribby Of the sixth precinct at
7th street and Massachusetts avenue.