St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1914-04-18
MARKET STREET HOME
IS SET AFIRE TWICE.
Firebugs Attempt to Burn
the Residence of DR..
James A. Shaw

what seems to be an attempt
at arson happened on last Sunday
morning, when DR.. James A..
Shaw, a prominent dentist, ar
rived at his home on South Mar
ket street and stumbled over a
bundle of bed clothing in the
hallway was shocked to find that
someone had endeavored to burn
his pretty little residence.
Mrs. Shaw was out of town,
visiting relatives, and DR.. Shaw
intending to go to Baton Rouge
on the early morning Frisco, de-
cided to spend the night at the
Lacombe Hotel. A few minutes
before three o'clock DR.. Shaw,
remembering that he had for
gotten something at his home,
started for his house. When he
arrived at the corner of Market
and Landry streets he saw a
crowd Of negroes coming from
church, but not suspecting any
thing went ON his way. Upon
arriving at his home he walked
through the front and was sur
prised when he stumbled over
something soft, which was "
ing in the middle of the room,
whereupon he struck a match
and discovered that it was some
bed clothing. Being aware that
he had not left the clothing there
he Immediately lit up the entire
house and began going from
room to room.
Upon further investigation DIR.
Shaw found that oil had been
sprinkIed over the floor in his
bedroom and that a small hole
had beer burned, besides a great
portion of his and his Wife's
Wardrobes; however the fire was
out and it appeared that the fire
bugs had made d failure. Not
wanting to cause any publicity
about the matter, after finding
the house all pell-mell, and not
finding the culprit, DR.. Shaw de-
cided to secure the assistance of
city court marshal, Plais Horn,
who is a very good detective and
there and then set out for the
home of Mr. Horn.
Explaining the situation to Mr..
Horn, DIR. Shaw was advised to
await daylight before making
any more Investigations and con-
sequently left to go back to his
home. On the way however he
met a friend and was several
minutes arriving at his residence.
At about half after four Sun
day morning DR.. Shaw again set
forth for his home; when he ar
rived within a block from the
house he was startled when he
heard negroes shouting to a
neighbor, attempting to wake
him up to come to the fire. Up
on hearing the word fire DIR.
Shaw set out III a run. immediate
" concluding that it must be his
home and after entering the
same room, in which he had be-
fore discovered that a hole had
been burned through the floor,
he saw that a much larger por-
ton of the floor had disapp
in flames. With the assistance
Of the darkies he easily put out
the fire and the excitement was
over.
Mr.. Horn, however, has OBJ
tanned a clue to the affair and il
is expected that within the next
few days the guilty persons vii
be lodged in jail. II is thought
that a negro woman will make 9
confession, Whereupon the fire
bugs will be in the hands of the
law.
There is three theories advanc'
ed for the attempt to burn tit
home Of Dir. Shaw. The first il
that burglars, after making then
entrance and not finding jewel
ries and other valuables, out d
revenge set the room on fire
Having sprinkled it with Oil ane
throwing every piece of clotht
available the robbers though
| that it would be only q matter o
d few minutes when the entirs
| house would be reduced to ashes
Happily for the doctor the ineVI
I table did not happen this time
The other two theories adyane
led are th;iI some one simply de
sired to see q fire and knoWini
4 that both the doctor and his wit
I were absent thought ii an cas-
matter to decide that question
The last of the three is assume
/ that some fanatic simply out Q
spite and revenge desired to des
troy the pretty Market stree
residence.
AS luck would have it whe
I Mrs. Shaw left, on her way frol
her home to the depot she though
of the jeWelry. which is value
at over three hundred dollar
and turned back to conceal the
!. yaluables. Dr.. Shaw claims TIL;
he could have hunted for the
until the end of his life and ]
world never have had the luz