The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-04-20
The
lnCendlary
By EVERETT P. CLARKE

- -
| was in a -efiminal courtroom one
day among the spectators when | saw
man sentenced for incendiarism for
five years. His wife was in court, and
the scene between them after the SEN
tcnce had been passed was heartrend-
ing. | saw the mans face but few
moments. and it was distorted by ago
ny, but it was Impressed upon my
mind.
The crime had been committed in the
town of Hilton, which WAS the county
seat | lived in Hilton, but had no
acquaintance with the convict. Sew
eral fires had occurred at short inter
walls. One night a citizen saw man
setting fire TO the building. BY the
light of the newly Rindled fame the
citizen got Il glimpse Of the incendi-
ary's face, but before he could reach
him lie had disappeared in the dark
ness, \ few days later he met the
man Mansfield had seen sentenced
in the street and recognized him for
the frebug. The result was convic-
ton.
Within few months after Mansfield
had been taken to the penitentiary
series of fires occurred in Allanvllle,
some twenty miles from Hilton. | had
meanwhile removed to Allanvile and
was interested in these fires, naturally
connecting them with those that had
occurred in Hilton. Had | not seen
the perpetrator OF the incendiarism in
Hilton sent TO prison for five years /
would have connected him with the
fires in .Alanville. Indeed, / made in
uuiries as TO where Mansfield was and
was told that he was serving out his
time.
A number OF citizens of Allanville
volunteered to watch at night, and |
was one OF them There were twelve
of us, and we divided our number into
three watches of four each. One night
or rather, morning, for it was ,
O'Clock. saw man walking some
distance ahead of me. | followed him,
but before | caught up with him | met
one OF the watchers. On asking him
about the party ahead OF me, whom
he must have passed, he said that he
knew him well. His name was Simp-
son. He was troubled with insomnia,
and, not being able 70 sleep, he would
go out and walk the streets.
was perfectly satisfied with this
expana ton and went back to my beat.
Notwithstanding our vigilance the
fires continued. and we failed to be on
the ground when they were lighted.
They were not very frequent. and some
of the watchers began to think that
occurring as they did was merely
coincidence. One after another gave
up watching till there We're but half a
dozen of MS left.
/ met Simpson on several occasions,
but never in sufficient light to see his
face. One night when walking with
fellow watcher Simpson passed us.
My companion babe him good evening,
spoke few words to him, and we
passed on. We were near street
lamp when we met him, and | got a
glimpse of his partially lighted face.
Something within me, some psyche
logical working, seemed to connect
Simpson with the fires. | said nothing
to my companion Of my feeling, but
resolved that would devote my fu-
ture watchings to Mr.. Simpson. But ]
asked questions as TO who and what
he was aud was told that he was a
good citizen and the father OF a highly
respected family.
Acting on an impression for which |
could not account, | spent several OF
my periods OF watching near Mr.. Simp-
sons house On the third night ! saw
him go out and Swallowed him. He
walked about aimlessly for awhile,
then returned to his home. | was so
far satisfied that he was what he was
considered to be that | gave up my
purpose OF shadowing him. But
could not get rid of the impression l
had received.
One morning about dawn when |
was about to so home from my watch
saw one of our party coming with
policeman who had man by the arm.
waited till they came up, and, be-
hold. the prisoner was Simpson. was
told that he had been caught setting
fire to building.
The town of Allanville was greatly
shocked 10 learn that its respected
fellow citizen was a firebus. He was
tried for Ills crime and adiudged IN
sane OF The testimony OF alieuists.
who considered his insomnia the cause
oe lis insanity He was acquitted on
thc promise Of his family to send him
TO private sanliarium.
When first saw Simpson in the
light recognized or thought recog
nizetl- Mansfield. who had been con
victed of the same crime at Hilton.
Then began to suspect that simpson
was different person aud was the
real criminal in both cases. / asked
if he had ever lived at Hilton and
was told that he had been staying
there temporarily mt the time the fires
had occurred there. This settled the
matter in my mind
went ut once to Hilton, called on
Mrs. Mansfield and told her that |
thought had proof of her husbands
innocence. TIE happiest moment of
~