The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-04-10

rear of his home He was on the scene
before any one else and acted SUSPICIOUS
". At that time he was not taken into
custody, as there was nothing but clr-
cumstantial evidence against him
Collins on the Scene.
Day after day fires continued to break
out in various places. Collins was seen
each time, apparently enjoying the
spectacle of the firemen working To Keep
the flames from spreading The police
did everything in their power TO eaten
Collins in the act but were unsuccess-
full until Friday, when he was arrested
Mrs. Mary Jones, of 81 Douglas court,
was the first person to identity Collins
as the man who had been seen loanng
in that section Of The city. She said the
first time she saw him he was In the
vicinity of Maury's court soutneaSI
Collins, she said, ran out or an aiey'
coIlided with her. and almost threw her
TO the ground She had a good look at
him. and when she heard the engines
responding to an alarm in the aliey ad-
Joining, she surmised Collins had some
thing to do with it.
On the night of March 2s, a lew MIN
utes after II o'clock, Mrs Jones' sheo
was set on fire. She says she ran OUT
and found Collins standing near the shed
AS soon as she approached ne ned' sne
said. and she reported his actions 10 the
police few hours before he had hred
her shed, Mrs. Jones said, she saw the
"frebug' come from a shed in the rear
of 81 b street northeast She called to
him and he ran.
Mrs. NJ. Lynch, OF II Eighth street
southeast, also identified Collins at the
station house yesterday as the man
she had seen in her yard at the ume
her shed caught fire. She said ne was
in the rear of her residence when the
flames shot up. and as she went TO turn
out some chickens. he told her not TO
trouble herself, as the engines would
soon he there. At that time, she told
Cart DAILY she did not connect his pres
ence with the fire, thinking he was some
one who had been attracted by the olaze-
Uses Peculiar Match.
According to Capt Daily. Collins uses
a peculiar match which was recently in
vented in Sweden. II burns much longer
than the ordinary lucifer or parlor
match. and has a brilliant blush flame
With it a person is able to set fire to
wood without the aid of paper or rub
bish.
Collins will be held at the Ninth pre-
cinct station until tomorrow morning,
when he will be called for trial in
tie Police Court The case is being held
over until then to get all the details OF
the fire, and to collect evidence of Col
Inns mental condition. That he is insane
on the idea of fire is the opinion ad-
yanced by those who know him best
The police, however, are inclined to
believe that Collins deliberately commits.
arson.
Collins, who is thirty-sfx years old, is
Of eccentric character, and is known 10
many persons in the section where he
was raised. Since taking to drink and
excessive cigarette smoking, his friends
say they have noticed that he seemed
to be Of unbalanced mind. He quit
working some time ago and since then
has been Irving with his mother, who Is
almost prostrated at her sons position
Collins is liable to six-year prison
sentence on each count The minimum
sentence is three years. In some COM
munities, where the residential section
is densely populated, it is said that arson
is punishable by death
Not in the history of the city have
so many small blazeS so mystified the
police and firemen. Chief Wagner said
last night the matter had been causing
him sleepleSs nights, as he did not know
at what time a serious fire might sweep
either section of the city.
May Stop the BIazes-
II am glad they have caught Collins,
and hope he will get the full penalty of
the law in case he can present no e1-
tenuating circumstances ] have every
reason to believe the incendiary blazes
will cease, now that Collins is arrested"
Chief Wagner added
It is certain Collins has no accomplices.
as he confesses to having been responsible
for seventeen of the eighteen fires report
ed recently Maj. Sylvester was equally
glad that Collins is the man they have
been seeking.
I'VE have had him under surveillance
for some time" Maj Sylvester said. "I
believe the fires will end to a great ex-
tent. unless some one else catches the
disease and initiates Collins
The only other fire occurring in these
sections that looks like Collins work
vas at 10 D street southeast He denies
having started that blaze, and the police
are inclined to give him the benefit OF