The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-22
Fire Marshal Parkman Gives
Report Of Department.
Slxty.Eight Incendiary Fires in
State Since April.
larson GANG" 1T WORK HERE
Belief That Organization Ii
Working in Kansas City.
Six Men Convicted Since Law
Went Into Effect.

Since the state fire marshaPs office
was created in April, 90 1ncenoiars
fires have been investigated by the
department and six men have peer
port made today by State Fire Mar.
shall Harrison Parkman. Only IL OF
the 68 incendiary cases nave peel
dropped and the department is sui
working. on the s other cases of ~, WINE the
courts. Eight men and two women
are now awaiting trial in the district
court on arson charges. u-o
That the crusade against the IRE
bug in Kansas will result in big re-
duction of the states annual lire
losses, is the firm belief both OF the
fire marshal, Insurance Superinteno-
ent Lewis and officials or the IRE IN
eurance companies doing business IN IN
this state. The fire marshars office
was created by the 1918 Legislature
and is only beginning to show its real
worth to the state. Detailed Reports
of every fire in Kansas are received
case where there is an indication OF
criminal negligence or incendlariSm'
an investigation is conducted. me
new law permits the fire marsnal TO
conduct inquisitions and enables the
gathering Of evidence in arson cases
in the same manner in which county
attorneys now proceed in the gather
ing Of evidence Of violations OF the
prohibitory law.
carson Gang'' in Kansas.
That there is an larson gang IN
Kansas, is the belief Of Fire Marsnal
Parkman. This gang is operating IN
Kansas City, according to Parkman's
report and a special deputy has peen
placed in charge of the crusade
against the alleged firebugs in Wyan-
dotte county.
show that six men have been convict
er in Kansas since the fire mar
shall law was enacted and have Deen
sentenced for varying degrees OF ar
son. Three Of these men are In the
penitentiary, two in jail ana one IN
the state reformatory. In three OF
these cases, the men convicted OF
crime were shown to have started fires
to collect insurance, two OF the men
were hired by other persons to start
blazes and in the sixth case, a neigh
boris property was burned TO aVense
an alleged wrong.
Since the investigation OF tncendiary
cases, nine men suspected of crime
have suddenly disappeared, Parkman's
report shows. Eight men and two
women have been tried IN Justice
district court and are waiting final ac-
ton in their cases.
Many Gases Pending.
There are many cases under 1nves-
tigation at this time, the Parkman
report shows. These cases are in all
portions of the state. although the ma
jority of the cases are from the larg-
er counties.
wyandotte, Shawnee. Cherokee,
Reno and Bourbon counties have
caused the fire marshafs office the
greatest amount of trouble. Counties
in which Investigations have been
made or are now pending and the
1oov Of n each county
as follows:
Anderson. 2; Bourbon, 2; Butler. 1;
Cherokee. 4; Crawford. 1; Cowley. 8;
Dickinson, 2; Douglas, 1; Edwards. 2:
Finney. 1; Franklin, 3; Greeley, /;
johnson. 1; jefferson. 1; Leaven-
worth. 1; Lyon. 4; Labette. 2; Kiowa,
2; Harvey, 1; Marion. l. Montgomery.
3; Neosho, Q; Osborne, 1; Usage, 1;
Pratt. 2; Riley. 2: Rocks. 1: Reno. 8;
Seward, l.; Saline. 1; Stafford, l;
Sedgwick. 1: Stevens, 1; Shawnee. 4;
VVvan6Offo &.