The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1913-05-20
Makes Attempt to
Burn Entire Family
Geo. Marion, Sets Fire To Home
While Wife And Children
Are Asleep
LOSES HIS LIFE
VIM. Cent? Attempts Rescue And Is
Overcome By Smoke And
Flames

Mystery Of the blood-curdling sort
for some time enshrouded the incen-
diary burning of the barn and resi-
dence of George Marion at Spring
field early Sunday morning, May IL.
After the fire had been extinguished,
corpse badly charred, was found in
the bedroom usually occupied by Mar
ron, and this gentleman was not to
be found. 1t was at first surmised
that the body was that Of Marion him
self, but this conclusion was en-
phatically demolished when Marion
emerged from the basement, alive and
well. Inquiries then followed, and it
was learned that Marion had set fire
to the house and barn himself. 1t
was the work of an insane man in
tent not only on destroying property,
but his family and himself.
Body Was That of Neighbor
1t was not ascertained until about
eight o'clock Sunday evening who the
dead man was, when a gentleman re-
cognized the body as that of neigh
Dor, William Cent?. He had not been
missed. His wife was visiting rela-
tives in LETTERS and it was supposed
that he was at his home. His hands
and feet were badly burned, and his
hair was singed off. He had put up
his hands to shield his face from the
flames. 1t is thought that Mr.. Cent?
had discovered the fire and had gone
to the house to give assistance, but
had been overcome by the smoke up
on entering the burning structure. Mr..
Cent? leaves wife and son, William
Cent?, Jr., who lives six miles from
Springfield. The body was removed
to the undertaking rooms and Coro-
ner DR.. G. F. Reineke, of this city,
was summoned.
Coroner Holds Inquest
Coroner Reineke and Sheriff w. J.
Julius went to Springfield on the
Monday morning passenger, and i'm
mediately upon their arrival, the for
mer made hasty examination of the
remains. The coroner deemed an in
quest necessary, and consequently a
jury, composed of James Dickson,
Fred. Bott, H. F. Dirks, M. Huiras, A.
]. Black and Henry Bloemke, was en-
paneled. After thorough investiga-
ton of the matter, the coroner's jury
rendered the following verdict: "That
said William Cent? came to his death
accidentally from suffocation and
burns received upon entering the
burning dwelling house of George
Marion at Springfield, Mimi, on the
night of May II, 1913, in an attempt
to save the family of said George
Marion after the said George Marion
had set the house on fire."
Marion Arraigned in Court
Following the inquest, Marion was
arraigned in Justice J. j. Rays court,
on charge of arson, and he was SUBJ
sequently bound over to await the ac-
ton of the grand jury at the May term
of district court, the amount of his
bail being fixed at $4,000. Marion re-
fused to even attempt to get the nee
essary sureties for a bail bond, and
was, therefore, sent to New Ulm,
Wednesday evening, by Sheriff julius
and lodged in the county Jail. The
unfortunate mans mind has been un-
balanced for several years, and in 1910
he was committed to the state hos
pital at st. Peter, but was released
on parole in 1911. On April 25th of
the present year, Judge Of Probate
Geo. Ross received Marron's discharge
papers from the hospital authorities.
Fired House in Three Places
The Journal reporter called on Mar
ron at the county Jail and was grant
ed an interview. Marion admitted
frankly that he had set fire to his
property and from all appearances he
is not in the least remorseful. He re-
lated calmly the incident of the un-
fortunate occurrence, saying: "First
set fire to the barn on the southeast
corner, then I went into the house,
took some old newspapers, crumpled
them up and placing them in three
different rooms-in my bedroom, in
the kitchen and on a couch in the
dining-room-I lit the papers. No,
sir, did not use kerosene or gasoline
just newspapers. Yes, I knew that
my family was upstairs, fast asleep.
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