The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-08-15
Fires In Ohio Are Exceeding
ly Numerous
Over 400 Suspicious BlazGS
Occur Annually
Some Convictions Made By
The State Department

A wave of incendiarism is sweep.
ing over Ohio State Fire Marshal
John w. Zuber is unable TO accouna
for this. In many other states the
farebug is rampant now, notably in
Illinois, where gigantic arson con
-spiracy has been unearthed.
In Ohio, according to Marshal zu.
her, incendiarism Is destroying half
q million dollars worth of property
a year. There have been twice as
many incendiary fires during the past
six months of this year as there were
during the same period last year.
The motives which actuate those
responsible for these fires are re-
Venge, pyromania and desire to de-
fraud insurance companies.
There have been many pyromania
fires during the past few months.
The most recent fires of this kind
were those caused in Columbus by
Joseph G.. Hood, Jr., who confessed
TO setting fire to the Vendome hotel
four times within six weeks, and who
was found to be of unsound mind
and committed to the state institu
non for feeble-minded.
William Robinson, OF Toledo, re-
Gently sent to the state hospital at
that city, had mania for starting
fires. He seemed to be normal in all
other respects He burnt up the prop
erty of Mary A. Doyle and was arrest
ed for this. He seemed to be without
any special motive in what he did.
FREQ Myers, of East Palestine, re-
gently committed to the Massillon
state hospital, made a specially of
firing warehouses and fair ground
buildings 1t is thought he was re-
sponsible for most OF the fires occur
ring in the village during the past
year.
Fire Marshal Zuber believes that
Charles Stuebbling of Cincinnati, was
connected with 30 fires that occurred
in breweries and bottling works and
allied establishments in that city dur.
ing the past few months. These fires
would occur early Saturday and Sun
day nights. After these fires were
traced TO Stuebbling, he was adjudged
insane and sent to Longview hos
pital.
Carl Cripps, young clubman of
East Liverpool, confessed to twice
setting fire to the quarters of the
Phoenix club. He Is believed to be
sunering from pyromania, He Is be
ing held for the grand jury
Timothy Scanlon, Youngstown sa'
Ioonist, was acquitted on a charge OF
burning his place of business to de-
fraud the insurer, when damning evi
dence was found duplicating his part
ner. Jerry Damn, who Is a fugitive.
Firebugs do some peculiar things
According TO Marshal Zuber, John
Armentrout of Amity, Madison county
removed the windows, doors, house
hold effects and cistern pump from his
dwelling and secreted them in small
building on his lot, so that they would
not be destroyed in the fire which
wiped out the dwelling. He had $4,000
insurance and the house and contents
we're not worth more than $4O0.
Clarence Withrow, under arrest OF
an arson charge in Hamilton, served
a term In the Indiana penitentiary fol
incendiaryism, Soon after he LANDED
in Hamilton six crooked fires oc
CURED.
]. ID. DeTurk, OF Marion, confessed
TO Marshal Zuber that he set fire L
mis- property, put out the fire anC
then started II again. He had tn,
place overinsured. lie Is being helt
Mrs. lnta Anderson, Wellsville, wa
arrested on charge OF setting FIR,
20 her household goods TO get tn,
insurance Within short time late
her husband was arrested on sim
liar charge. II Is declared he drov
the neighbors away when they cam
10 put out the fire. Husband and wifi
are being held for the grand jury
Red Early OF Mt Gilead. evldentl.
is no respector of municipal temple
OF justice, If there Is any basis TO
the serious charge brought agains
him and on which he was arrested
II is charged that he attempted t,
burn the mayors office OF that village
s.
Mr.. and Mrs Noble Weir went 4
lakeside Ohio Thurgdny nftarnoon n