Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-01-24
CIGARE AND
DINE TALES MAKE
HIM A FIRE-BUG
Confesses He Set Match Three
Times to a House in
BeIleyiIle.

III AlllIlQ GNluGIlllN lnlPdilGu ny "a
cessive cigarette smoking and also I'M
due reading of dime novels, Walter
Doyle, 81 years old, of Bell street, in the
Greylock Manor section of Belleville.
today made a confession to the Belle
Vile police that he is the lrebug who
has set fire to a building on Greylock
avenue. that place, three times within
the past two months.
When arrested by Chief Michael
Flynn. of Belleville early today Doyle's
mind was n blank, and he could as
sign absolutely no reason for his queer
actions other than that he had been
drinking beer"
Doyle told Chief Flynn an excep-
t~ionally funny tale.
Unlike other criminals, Doyle, on the
three occasions which he attempted to
destroy the house, which is owned by
Theodore J%eraloman, a prominent Belle
Vile lumber merchant, also made
frantic efforts to assist the firemen to
extinguish the fires.
Notices Policeman of Fire.
One time, after performing the f1end-
ish task, young Doyle notified a Belle
VILE policeman; another time he pulled
the alarm box and helped to pull the
horseles apparatus to the scene, and
during his last experience, which was
Saturday night, Doyle says he remained
standing outside the house n rem
dered assistance to put out the fire.
The Belleville police and firemen and
residents of Greylock Manor have been
aroused to a high pitch. owing to the
fact that the Jeraloman house has
been selected three consecutive times
as an object for incendlarism.
The first mysterious outbreak there
was November "a; the second Decem-
Der %, and the last Saturday night.
Each time, however, the flames were
checked before much damage was done.
When asked in his cell today to ex.
plain his movements Doyle appeared
perfectly rational and conversed intel
lisently.
81 Don't Know Why L Set Fire"
IT don't know why I set fire to Mr..
Jeraloman's house." he said, "but I
EciiiciilpCA lhuh 1 uiA SO 4 AAhStSA
times. l did this after I had been
drinking and was irresponsible"
He then told of how he notified
Chanceman Ernest Kuchle of the first
fire he caused. At this time he also
pulled the box at Kamlah street and
avenue. The following case,
he related, he ran to the headquarters
of the Greylock Hose Company and
LI.-l - .n,,I1 Xhr xrYa erfNa m fhn hi1l .
to the house. Saturday night, he ex-
planned, he remained on the scene n
gave aid TO Rheinhold Geirsch and
Walter Kelly to quench the flames. The
latter time, according to Doyle's own
statement, he entered the cellar of
the house, which is not yet completed,
and secured rubbish with which to
start the fire. In the presence of Chief
Flynn and Patrolman Sullivan early
today ne made the following confess
sion;
Has Signed Confession.
IT, Walter Doyle, living or Bell
street, in the township OF Belleville, in
the county OF Essex, do solemnly swear
that l had set fire to Mr.. Jeraloman's
house. situated on the north side of
Greylock avenue, between Bremond
and Bell streets, on November "a, 1910;
December %, 1910, and also January q,
1911. i
This confession is given on my own
free will.
WAITER DOYLE.
January "a. 1911.
witnesses:
Michael Flynn, chief.
civilian Sullivan. patrolmau,f
The youth lives with his mother, Mrs.
Ella b. Doyle. on Bell street, a stones
throw from the Jeraloman structure. I
He has been there for four years. His
father lives In the South.
Up to September 81 he had been en-
ployed by the Osborne Company. calen-
dar makers, in the Woodside section.
1t vas said today by a Mrs. Conover,
who lives in the same house as Doyle,
that he smoked cigarettes almost in
cessantly and that he was wrapped up
In reading novels.
He will be arraigned before Police
Justice Richard H. Ashworth tonight.
when Mr.. Jeraloman will appear against
him.