Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-09-08
YOUNG ELGAN SAYS
HE STARTED FIRES
Adolph, Son Of Council Bluffs Tele-
phone Official, Confesses Try
ing to Burn Up Plants,
THREATS AGAINST OWN FATHER

the lives OF those at the head of tho
corporation was cleared last nigh
by the confession OF 15-year-olG
Adolph Elgan, son of Police Commits.
sioner Frank Elgan, who ia also one
of the chief officers Of the telephone
company OF the Iowa city.
For almost week Council Blufh
has been in a furore Of excitemen
/ because of attempts of an lncendiary
to set fire TO the buildings. and mys-
terious messages threatening to muir
der the different men in control OF
the plant.
Many Threats Made.
! Already several thousands OF dollars
worth of damage has been done TO the
property OF the company.
! Frank Elgan, as district superintendent
had been warned several times that he
was to be murdered. other officials re
oeived word that the telephone company
buildings were to be blown UP.
/ Yesterday II was discovered that an at
tempt had been made 60 burn the Elgan
home, and the excitement reached a high
pitch
Mothers OF girls working as operators
refused 10 permit their daughters TO leave
home. and every employee and friend of
those connected with the telephone com
pany became uneasy.
Detectives working on the case man
aged TO obtain clue that directed sus-
plcion against young Elgan. and he was
watched. The confession resulted His
motive IL Obscure at this time, because Of
the fact that all OF the telephone com
panys officials are doing their utmost
TO protect the boy.
Little Known or Motive,
c. Il. Yost, president or the Nebraska
Telephone company, last night admitted
to Bee reporter that young Elgan had
confessed TO setting all of the fires, and
that he was also the sender OF the threats.
Mr.. Yost would not say VIII me younster
acted 40 strangely. howe-s-.
/ II am sure there will he no prosecu-
tion." no said I'VE want TO give the boy
a chance"
MT Yost declined to say more.
Young Elgan's mother is Frustrated
with grief because of her sons doings.
and she Is now in the care Of a physician.
How suspicion started.
Suspicion might not have been directed
20 the boy II It had not been so clearly
evident that II wRs he who attempted to
burn his fathers home on Sunday night.
The story no told was too improbable for
credence even before investigation
showed that the telephone wires had
been cut, and that the gasoline that had
been thrown upon the porch and against
the side Of the house could only have
been done by someone who at least had
access 20 the house. The telephone wires
had been cut In the basement A small
piece of glass had been broken from a
basement window and a hole punched
through the wire screen. Both had been
done from the inside. and the hole was
not largo enough to admit anything
larger than a mans arm or the family
cat. The telephone wires were too far
away from the window to be reached
from the outside.
Detect OdOr of Gasoline.
Gasoline in such quantities was thrown
upon the outside Of the house that
nelghbors living in the adjoining resi-
dence detected the odor and finally be-
came 30 uneasy that a telephone message
was sent 20 the police station. Police
Captain Shafer met the boy when re-
spending to the call.
!
afternoon. the boys stories became still
more divergent and irreconcilable. lie
said he discovered the presence Of the
gasoline when he stepped upon the porch
when he first returned homo about .
o'clock. and that he then went down to
the Main street telephone building TO get
some one to help him investigate. When
II was pointed out to him that he knew
there would be nobody there except a
possible guard. he made an evasive reply
The full confession followed after
sharp grilling by the Telephone officers
assisted by the distressed father himself.
who urged the lad to tell the whole.
Full details OF the confession have not
been given out. and It is not known to a
certainty that he had duplicate keys. He
could easily have provided himself with
them. however. as he spent a good deal
of time about the telephone buildings
and was an apt pupil
Just Fifteen Years of Age.
The boy has Just passed his fifteenth
birthday anniversary, He has never been
physically rugged. Although somewhat
beyond the normal height he is OF slight
build with a suggestion of physical weak
ness lie Is OF decided blonde type with
! AlhhA anu ltlu ne mas Aao tVHbAuti
able trouble In his school work. and IL
has required some effort to keep him in
school. He has borne an excellent reputa
ton for truthfulness and has never de
veloped apparent traits OF dishonesty.
II has been terrible blow t. his parents.
Mrs. Elgan last night was in state OF
nervous collapse and the distress of the
father was heart-breaiing. The lad has
always before shown strong filial love
and a willingness to obey the wishes OF
his parents.
Deputy State Marshal Tracey. who was
here ten days ago securing evidence IN
another case. said that he had at the
present time no less than a dozen cases
where boys between Is and IT years OF
age had suddenly became pyromaniacs
and set scores OF fire. including the homes
| OF their parents.
Apartments. 1atA houses ana cottages
can be rented quickly and cheapiy by a