New Britain herald., 1917-02-23

whether any substance of an explosive or highly inflamable nature was stored in the buildings. He clearly rememb bers having heard one sound 1 that resembled an explosion at this point as he carefully listened for one 1 or more further ones that he ex- pected might follow. Following a conference with Clerk r. J. Egan Of the water department, Mayor QuiSley directed the placing Of men on all-nights duty at tho Shuttle Meadow water works. Orders were given to hold up and question any suspicious appearing persons and, 1 if necessary, to shoot. Orders were given by Captain Graee to all night policemen to stop and question any persons found out late at night act- ing suspiciously. Several belated per sons on their way home including
 number who had celebrated unWisely but too well received scares when they were summarily held up by d mllltiaman or a policeman. Police
 authorities are not mincing matters
 in lending every effort of the fire
 department to solve the mystery, ap-
 prehend those responsible and pre-
 vent further outrages.
 "o'iAA Notti chh, SiFlIlS ot II dIhlll
 street, Hartford as his home, was
 found sleeping in shed near Fin
 negans stables about 2:30 this morn-
 ing by Supernumerary Policeman AL
 bert H. Sharp, one of detail direct
 ed to keep close watch in the alley
 ways and backyards of that, section.
 Sullivan was closely questioned but
 gave satisfactory account of him.
 self. saying that he was on his way
 home but had got befated because of
 the weather. He was sentenced to
 twenty days in jail for vagrancy by
 Judge James T. Meskill in police
 court today.
 John Sundell of Al Lafayette street, who was picked up early yesterday
 morning in front of the City Drug store on Main street and taken to
 headquarters as suspicious charac- ter, was fined $5 and costs for intoxi- cation. WitE coat dusty and his ap- pearance indicating agitation, he was discovered i'- front of the drug store about 5:3o in the morning. apparent ly trying to gain entrance at the front door. Today he said that he left his room a short time earlier to get d drink and was going tc a bakery to 1 get some buns for breakfast, when arrested.
 Frank Moser of 15 Clark street. found in a hallway of the Boyle block on Commercial street, not far from the partially gutted. Reynolds block, ] by Policeman Delbert Veley was fined } and costs for intoxication.
 Many Rumors Agitate Police.
 All sorts of rumors were aHoat ] yesterday and last night, causing l much investigation by detectives. At 1 1:30 this morning a telephone mes sage from Fox's theater informed ! Sergeant George Kelly that there was electrical trouble there and 1t was feared that the wiring had been with. The report was s to l the effect that all of the lights had ! become extinguished and there was no service, even after new fuses had l been installed. Shortly afterwards 1t l was reported that the trouble had ] been remedicd.
 Philip Bloomquist telephoed to 'po- lice headquarters early yesterday morning that he had noted two men acting .suspiciously on West Main street, near Park Place. They ran, he reported when they saw him coming. Captain Grace had policeman search that locality but without success.
 Inspector Frank P. Hardiman of the District police, connect cd with the Boston office, came to New Britain yesterday for the purpose of Investigating the suspected use of
 fire bombs. He said that his office was particularly interested in this sus- pected phase of incendiary fires. With Detective Sergeant Samuel Bamforth, the entire happenings were thoroughly JnSnoctnr a r6i cai6 l that his department has been unable to get definite proof that such bombs as described are used. Reports that there were indications of their use had been received by him.
 Philip Bloomquist telephoned to po- 1 ley, IT,, may have come to harm in this city during the excitement or to have suffered asphasia as a result of an injury received in Plainville yester- day, when he fell and received a la cerated scalp that required surgical attention, Thomas Crowley of 3S Hud- son street, Hartford, came to police headquarters this morning to enlist aid in locating the boy. He said that he had received word that his son had been so seriously injured that a trip to a surgeon was necessary. Later, ac- cording to his information, the sur geon had placed his patient on car for Hartford. With that Crowley ap- pears to have disappeared. Review of the police records and inquiry at the hospital has produced no trace of the missing one.
 New Britain received host of visi- tors yesterday from neighboring cities and towns, railroad trains, trolley cars and automobiles bringing their quota of passengers. Much interest was shown in visiting the scenes of the fires, many theories and conjectures expressed and some advanced disap- that fhe1. did not see a 1