Putnam patriot., 1913-11-14
Arson, Dynamiting and Murder

aid witness was good second man. Howarth wanted to set fires,l dynamite building and kill two people in Put nam. Had set Mullan fires. Wanted to destroy his cars. Made candle test for this purpose. They were disturbed three times during the two days ex. pertinent. Would blow out the can dle and place it behind radiator. Ho- warth and he set the fire at the fair ground about midnight April aIh. Made preparation for it up to 9th. That night Howsrth didn't know what method he would use. Had been .ex- perimenting all day. When witness returned from supper found pasteboard box rigged up on Hewarth's desk. Howarth was smoking a pipe and said t'We will use this tonight". Flap n front and hole on top. Wind couldn't blow 1t out. Howarth said two hours get away will be enough. This was an expression used in one of the articles he had read by Jack Rose. A rag was put around candle about two inches from top. 1t was kerosene soaked and when
 fire got to it would go of.
 A model was shown witness and he demonstrated to the jury how it was worked.
 They left HOWarth s office just before 10 o'clock. Went down South Main street and just North of the Ballard house took the railroad track. At a point little south of the fair grounds they sealed the fence and crossed the race track to the north building where the paint shop was. Howarth carried the box wrapped up under his arm. Reached there about l030. Took of their oVereoats and laid them down. Tried all the windows. Found one on South side they could raise about an inch. Howarth produced a screw dri- yer. He then got board and prIed it up the rest of the way, They had been there in the afternoon to look the ground over. There was a fire in the stove in the back room Set the fire in the front room. Rolled the Nelie ear as far front as far front 2s they could so it would be sure to burn. Set the brake and threw clutchiin low speed so that one not familiar with cars could not move it. Chalmers was about 10 feet from where fire was set. Just be- fore the cars were taken down tanks were filled with gasolene. Howarth opened the pet cocks to let puddle of gasolene out on the floor. Witness got out the two cans of kerosene from the Nelie car and made trail to the box containing the candle. The cans came from Howarth's garage. Witness went into Howarth's cellar and filled them from barrel while Howarth WAS up- stairs getting candle. Took the cans out and put them in auto. Howarth said, "We shouldn't done it in the day time as anyone seeing the cans put in the car might be suspicion" v. Alter the pet cocks had been opened and the trail of kerosene laid, witness said itsidOubt- full if it will do as we expect as the fumes may ignite. Witness then left building. He looked in and saw Ho- warth apply the match. The empty cans were brought out of the building and placed under the porch Put on overcoats and left grounds through the entrance. Clock struck F just before they left the building. He told Ho- waTth fire might not go. Howarth said if it didn't they would have to come back at four o'clock in the morning and get the box. There were seals on the box from Letters music store where Howarth once worked aud he was afraid the box could be traced. Witness remonstrated but Howarth said il would be all right as box and seals would be destroyed. He accom- panied Howarth home. Could not see any fire from Howarth's house. He then went to his own home and to bed. Didn't known when fire broke out.
 Witness knew oi How arth's Daniel son client. Howarth referred to her as Zola, Said she had lots of money and wanted him to look up some legal matters. He rather liked Zola and said she always had an elaborate lunch for him at her house. On one occasion said his head got dizzy there. Said she wsnted him to go west sbout shaft house IL was slo,00o job. At jail Howarth said he wondered if Zoia had any connection with the case His brother had told him ibat he had