Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-02-18


which for time last fall terrorized
the people OF Cranberry Isles, four of
them occurring in seven days. has
been solved by the persistent and good
work Of the Maine Insurance depart
ment in conjunction with the work of
an employed detective agency, and the
loss Of approximately $4,000 has been
made good to the losers. Arthur Nap
Ter. a 20-year-old youth from Phila-
delphia, a longtime summer visitor at
Little Cranberry Isle, has confessed
the crimes. and as has been said, res
tltution has been made. He has, since
1t is shown that he Is a pyromaniac,
been placed under proper restraint,
where his condition and whereabouts
must be every SO often reported to
our insurance department. The boy on
all other subjects is perfectly normal
and it is hoped that proper treatment
will effect a cure of his disease.
The activity Of Investigator Charles
L. Doble of Lagrange was the promi-
nent factor in bringing about a solu-
ton of the mystery which had made
a regular reign Of terror for the peo-
pie of Cranberry Isle. The Wood
Morgan Detective Agency Of Boston
WAS also on the case. having been en-
gagged by a. committee Of the summer
visitors of Seal Harbor, Northeast
Harbor and Little Cranberry Isle, and
did effective work with Mr.. Doble.
An investigation was started soon
boy and others being suspected, but
it was found impossible to definitely
locate the guilty party or parties and
for the sake of developing something
that might lead to clue, it was de-
ciGed that the Napier boy had better
be "eXonerated" in his own and the
eyes of the public. and it was SO an
nounced. The investigators then ap-
rarantly retired from the field.
About this time the people of Seal
Harbor We're excited and alarmed by
the Burning of the Boggs and Ba"
cottages at Dodge point. 1t was 50
plainly an incendiary fire that the peo-
pie were tremendously wrought UP and
the Cranberry Isle citizens and sum-
mer visitors offered $500 reward for
the detection ana conviction of the
ncendiary. No one claimed it, because
so clever was the boy in his madness
that he so timed the fires that he
would be located in another part OF
tho town, with an apparently perfect
abb
Suspicion, however. again fell on
him. but he was again exonerated and
ne then scon returned to his Philadel-
phia home.
Another fire occurred on Jan. % OF
Big Cranberry Isle. a small loss being
suffered in a house. An irresponsible
woman was taken care CT in this case.
The matter of the investigation of
the various clues leading to the Napier
boy as the incendiary were by no
means dropped but were being drawn
tighter and tighter around him, all I'M
suspecting in his Philadelphia home,
until he was brought to such a point
that he broke down and confessed the
whole series of crimes. The Maine in
vestigator and the detectives had run
their clues down SO effectively. that
when faced with the evidence and
proof he wilted.
The disposition of the case was as
already stated. The boy has been
placed in sanitarium, where he is
always under guard and restraint and
reports are to be made regularly to the
Insurance department. Relatives have
made good all the losses incurred by
the people of Cranberry Isles and they
are willing to forego further prosecu-
ton.
The story in full of the tracing out
Of all the small. minute clues which
appeared during the long, search
much of it SO blind that at times it
seemed beyond solution-the finding at
last Of a slight clue, which when
worked out led to the clear solution
of the whole mystery, would fill
book. A great deal Of credit is due
the investigator of the department and
the detectives who so ably assisted.