New Ulm review., 1913-05-14
|Deranged Mind |
Causes Tragedy
Springfield Man Once Insane
Attempts tc Cremate His
Family.
Mystery Surrounds Finding
of Charred Body in Burn
ing Building.

i y 80 +
ing Building.
/ Lodged in the county jail, with his
reason dethroned, facing q charge of
arson in the first degree, George
Marron OF Springfield is hardly in
shape to realize the awful tragedy Of
which he is the author and which re-
suited in the death of neighbor and
the partial destruction Of the Marion
dwelling house and barn.
For some time mystery surrounded
the incendiary burning Of the Marion
barn and residence early Sunday
morning. After the fire had been ex-
tinguished, corpse. badly charred,
was found in the bedroom usually
occupied By Marion, and 40 he was
not to be found It was st 6rst surmised
that the body wss his, but this con-
clusion WAS emphatically demolished
when Marion emerged from the base
ment, alive and we'll.
Inquiries then followed and it was
learned that Marion had set fire to
the house and barn himself. When
questioned by Marshsll Jack Forster,
he made no pretense Of denying his
act. According to bis story he set
fire to the barn irst on the southeast
corner. then went into the house and
fred it in three different rooms, first
in the bedroom, then IN the kitchen,
aud then in couch in the dining
room. He knew the family WAS up
stairs In bed and after the fre was
blazing in good shape he went into
the cellar and awaited Developments,
staying there untilit was all over.
Marron's family had miraculous
escaps from he blazing house. The
mother, four boys, and . girl were
aroused by the smoke, and wrapped
blankets about themselves, With rare
presence OF mind, fought their way
down the stairs in the teeth Of the
flames and were ~. ~ burned. The
children range In age from twe4. "
twenty.on years.
The barn was entirely burned and
he lower portion OF the residence VAS
damaged to the extent of about 9l, 900.
It is fully insured. The garage
across the alley from the barn belong
ing to the Father H. T. Fey's Catholic
parsonage, was also burned.
Marion was committed to the
asylum at st. Peter June 30, 1910. On
September II, 1911 he was taken home
by his family and was later on
formally discharged from the St.
Peter institution. Altho it was known
that bis mind was not we'll balsnced.
ho was never considered q dangerous
character.
For time it was thought that the
dead body which was so charred that
it was unacceptable, was that of An
umbrella mender or of q cistern
cleaner, but both of them we're found
to be alive. Not until Sunday evening
about eight O'Clock was the BODY
recognized as that OF q neiehbor.
Cent?. He bad not been
missed. His wife was visiting relatives
10 Jefers and it was supposed that he
was at bis home. Hss hands and feet
wore badly burned, and his hair vas
.inged off. II 10 thought that Mr..
Cent? discovered the FIRE and came to
he house to give assistance, but had
3een overcome by the smoke upon
Mr.. Cent? was sixty.eipbt
,ears old and leaves q wife and q con.
Jr., who lives six miles from
springfield. Mr.. Cent? at one time
ived on farm in the Town of Sipel
nd was always held in high esteem
y his neighbors there. The BODY vas
to the undertaking rooms
nd Deputy Coroner Meierdine took
p the matter with Coroner Geo. F.
selneke who decided to hold an in
uest and left for Springfield on the
arly train Monday morning.
The coroner's jury was made up of
le following well.known citizens of
Fred Bott, James
ackson, J. j. Black, Henry Bloemeke,
!. F. Darks and NJ. Huiras. Several
Illnesses were examined and the jury
ter but short deliberation, re-
rned . verdict as follows: We
Id thst said William Cent? came to
8 death accidentally from suffoca-
On and burns received upon entering
Q burning dwelling house of George
arron at Springfield, MINI, on the
eht of May II, 1913, in an attempt
save the family of said George
arron after tho said George Marion
I'd set the house on fire."
Marion who was Immediately put
lder arrest bv Citv Marshall Jack
orster, after admitting setting fire to
. buildings, had his preliminary
caring before Justice j. j. Ray Mon
y, afternoon He was charged with
son in the first degree and bound
'er to the District Court to await the
tion of the grand jury. His bail
IS fixed st $1,000, in default OF which
was committed to the County Jail
,ere he was brought Mon. evening.