Putnam patriot., 1913-09-12
FACE ARSON CHARGE
Frank E. HOwarth and LindIey Cain
 Arrested on Bench Warrant
Taken to Jail in Default of Sle 1000 Bonds
Accused of Causing Loss of Sl5o,0OO

at-law, and Lindley Cain, 9, Superior Court messenger, were arrested Tues day morning on bench warrant signed by Judge Holcomb of the Su- perior court. The complaint drawn up by States Attorney Charles E. Searles, contained l4 counts alleging both common law and statutory arson. The co mplaint covered different fires that have occurred in Putnam between October 30th, 1912 and April 18th, 1913. The arrests were made by State Police man Robert Hurley.
 The young men were brought before the court at the close of the naturaliza- tion business. The complaint was not read to them in court. The States at- torney asked that the cases be con- tinued to the October term of court having criminal jurisdiction. This will be at Willimantic the third Tues day in October.
 Howarth appeared very unconcerned and stood with his hands in his pock- cts smiling. Cain appeared to realize his position and there were tears in his eyes. While the, ,officer was sign ing his return Howarth spoke to Cain and smiled. There was no responding smile on Gains face.
 The States Attorney informed the court that the complaint was in four teen counts for arson. That some of them were counts brought for the same offense in different form. That there were really eight crimes alleged. He said that he had given the matter of a bond careful consideration and thought that S1 ,500 on each of the eight crimes alleged would be right and suggested that the bond be fixed at $l0,000.
 Cain stepped forward and whispered to the attorney. AS he stepped back the attorney said to the court, "I mean 1000 in each case, your honor" !" Asked if they had anything to say, Howarth said that as far as the bond was concerned he was satisfied but he thought that the case should be tried at this term of court. He said that it is a serious matter to "'us boys and we would like to have it over with" The court however adjourned the case to the October term.
 The accused were then taken to the police station and locked up, one in the cage and the other in a cell. Howarth still kept up his appearance of care-free young man and whistled and drummed on the cell. Cain at- tempted to get bond and broke down and cried. The bond not being forth- coming the two young men were taken to Brookly jail. Hurley took one in his machine and NJ. R. Joy took the other with Captain Murray in charge. It appears that the officers do not in tend that the young men shall be giv' en a chance to communicate with each other.
 The fires that the defendants are al- legged to have set are as follows:
 October 30, 1912, the barn of Miss Elizabeth Clarke, Elm street. The fire was quickly extinguished with no damage.
 November 2nd, the Bradley building on NJ ain street. Fire was discovered in the rear of the Putnam Light X Power Company's office outside of the building. It was extinguished with out damage.
 Novem Der 5th, the same place with the same result.
 November 9th, the Mullan building in the rear of Main street occupied by Philias Cloutier. Damage about sl 900. This fire started in shed at the rear of the building.
 November 17th, building on Priests Island. This was an old un- occupied building and was Of little value.
 November 21st, the plant Of the Wheaton Building X Lumber Compa- ny. This was the largest confiagration the city ever knew. Several houses were destroyed including the house of George l.. Prentice, nearly mile away. The estimated loss was about sI25, ,0O0.
 April Fist, 1913, the buildings on the lair grounds occupied as paint shop. There were six or eight automobiles In the buildings. Howarth owned two ot the machines we'll insured. The loss was estimated at over Sl0,000.
 April 25, the handle factory Of J. B. Tatem < Son. The loss was estimated at about sl2,000.
 The Tatem fire was the last fire that the city has had that amounted to anything and there have been but one or two alarms since that fire.
 The citizens generally had thought that the matter of catching the per sons guilty of setting the tires had been abandoned but it is now appar- ent that the work has been going on all the time, the state police working in conjunction with the States Attor- ney. The arrests came as a surprise and shock to the community. There were but very fewiin the court room when the prisoners were brought in. Cain was acting as messenger and sat at the reporters table when State Po- liceman Hurly walked quietly up To