The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-05-14
Well Known Local Proprie-
tor of a Sign Painting Com
pany in City Jail in Pitiful
Condition.
BELIEVE HE TRIED
TO BURN BUILDING
At the City Jail He Jumped
From Top of a Cell and
Was Rendered Uncon-
scious-He Is Violent.

In George Swain. arrested by the
police Friday evening when he was
taken off eastbounds Pennsylvania
train No. 80, Superintendent Gormon
believes he has a dangerous pyroman
lac. Swain is a sign painter, and well
known. He was arrested and fined in
Indianapolis Friday. Under examina-
ton by Chief Gormon. Swain has
shown unquestionable signs of insani.
ty.
A few nights ago while passing
SWANS paint shop, which is located
in the second and third stories of a
building between Ninth and Tenth
streets, on Main, Patrolmen Little
and Longmen, were alarmed to no
tice smoke pouring from the sign com
pany quarters. Dashing into the shop
they found a fire burning fiercely un.
der quilt that had been placed on
the floor. Under it was lighted gas.
oline torch.
Quick work by the patrolmen who
secured some buckets of water, and
extinguished the blaze, probably pre-
vented one of the worst conflagra.
tions with which the city has ever
been threatened. The shop was filled
with combustibles. such as paints and
oils. The buildings on this square are
branded as fire traps by the police
Left the Building.
Just before the threatened fire, the
patrolmen noticed Mr.. Swain coming
from the paint shop. Swain, who was
nearby when the police rushed into
his shop, followed the. He said in
a peculiar way, according to the po
lice. well, you have a fire." Then
he left.
Yesterday morning when Turnkey
White took some food to Swain, he re
moved the coffe pot to a corner and
started fire under it with some bits
of paper. Matches he had in his pock.
ct were removed and the blazing pa
per extinguished. 1t is feared that
Swain will attempt to burn himself
in case he is able to secure matches
Superintendent Gormon asked
Swain why he attempted to fire the
Jail and his building. He only laugh
ed at the question.
All of Friday afternoon and Friday
night Swain was continually disrobine
and thed redressing himself. Once OF
twice while stark naked he took q
bath, using water in tin cup.
Besides this Swain seemed to i'm
agine the floor of the Jail pool OF
water. Several times he climbed on
top of the line of cells and cried te
two prisoners below to catch him
Once he jumped from the top of the
cells, which are about IL feet high
Although he alighted on the concrete
floor on his feet he was rendered un
conscious for nearly ten minutes. The
noise he made brought Turnkey
White and Sergeant Winters to the
Jail. After some work the man was
brought to consciousness. He com
planned of his feet and was unable tc
wear one of his shoes for some time
Attacked Prisoners.
Swain hurled the drinking and eat
ing utinsils through the windofs, and
attempted to chastize the other pris
oners who were in this section of the
Jail, by striking them with some
boards that had been left in the cells
1t was stated last night that an in
quest will be held on Swain. as soon
as possible. His condition is said te
be rapidly becoming more serious
Accused of being insane, Swain mere
ly remarks, so they have told me-
He seems perfectly satisfied.
When his mail was brought to hin
this morning, he arranged the letters
as though they were playing cards.
Swain was arrested in indianapolis
hcarged with being drunk. He told
Judge Collins, in the Indianapolis po
lice court. that he had $4,000, and
did not care how much he was fined
Yesterday he told Superintendent
Gormon that he was worth $4,000.
The police say that Swain is moi
rich although he has a great deal ol
work. At the Athletic park, accord
ing to Chief Gormon, Swain has a
$500 sign painting contract on which
his men are now working.