The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1915-04-23
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The
lncendiary
By EvERETTP p. CLARKE

4ay among the spectators when saw
la man sentenced for incendiarism for
five years. His wife was in court, and
the scene between them after the SEN
tence had been passed was heartrend-
ing. saw the mans face but q 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 a man
setting fire to the building. By the
light Of the newly kindled fame the
citizen got a glimpse of the incendi-
ary's face, but before he could reach
him be had disappeared in the dark
ness. A few days later he met the
man Mansfield I had seen sentenced
in the street and recognized him for
the firebug. The result was convic-
ton.
Within a few months after Mansfield
had been taken to the penitentiary a
series Of fires occurred in Allanville.
some twenty miles from Hilton. l had
meanwhile removed to Allanville and
was interested in these fires. naturally
connecting them with those that had
occurred in Hilton. Had l not seen
the perpetrator Of the incendiarism III
Hilton sent to prison for five years !
would have connected him with the
fires in Allanville. Indeed. l made In
quiries as to where Mansfield vas 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, ard we divided u number into
three watches of four each. One night
or. rather. morning. for it was 2
O'Clock. saw a man walking some
distance ahead of me. / followed him.
but before l 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 we'll. His name was Simp-
son. He vas troubled with insomnia.
and. not being able to sleep. he would
go out and walk the streets.
was perfectly satisfied with this
explanation 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 a
coincidence. One after another gave
IN watching till there were but half a
dozen Of US left
1 met Simpson on several occasions.
but never in sufficient light to e his
face. One night when walking with a
fellow watcher Simpson passed US.
My companion babe him good evening.
spoke a few words to him. and we
passed on. We were near a street
lamp when we met him. ind l got a
glimpse Of bis 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 I would devote my flu
ture watchings to Mr.. Simpson. But !
asked questions as to who and what
he was and was told that he was a
good citizen and the father Of q highly
respected family.
Acting on I'M impression for which l
could not account. i spent several OF
my periods Of watching near Mr.. Simp-
sons, house On the third night l saw
him 40 out and ailadowed him. he
walked. about niniessly Tor awhile.
thcu4returned to htssaa0me. !. was so
far satisfied that he was what he was
considered to lie thar ] gave up my
purpose Of Swallowing him. But l
could not get rid Of the impression I
Ind received.
1 One morning about dawn when !
was about to 60 home from my watch
saw one Of our party coming with a
policeman who had q man BY b arm.
!, waited till they came up. and. De-
hold, the prisoner was simpson,! ] was
told that he had been caught setting
Ore to a building.
The town Of Allanville was greatly
shocked to learn that its respected
fellow citizen was a frebug. He was
tried for his crime and adjudged In
sane on the testimony Of ~alienists.
who considered his insomnia the cause
If his Insanity He was acquitted on
the promise OF his family to send him
to u, private sanitarium.
When first saw Simpson in the
light I recognized or thought recog-
nized-Mansleld. who had been con-
victed Of the same crime at Hilton.
Then l~began to suspect that Simpson
was a different person and was the
real criminal In both cases. asked
II he had ever lived at Hilton and
was. told that he had been staying
there temporarily at the time the fires
had occurred there. This settled the
matter In my mind.
went at once to Hilton. called on
Mrs. Mansfield and told her that !
thought I had proof Of her husbands
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