Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-03
PROBE IA MYSTERIOUS
FIRES IN HOME OF
MRS, FRENCH LEWISTON

Lewiston Me. Dec. Chief Moriar-
t. Of the Lewiston fire department and
Deputy Marshal Of Police Picard ace
investigating Ii mysterious fires which
occurred within an hour Friday, at the
home OF Mrs. S. J. French, 1866 Holland
street. Lewiston Damage to the build
ing, which is owned bw S. j. Cooling,
was slight Mrs. French denies knowl
edge of the cause of the fires. all of
which occurred while she and her
daughter. Georgia r. French. were at
home.
The fire departments attention to the
case resulted from a telephone call for
the auto truck, and while the services
of the fremen were not required, the
peculiar circumstances were reported
to Chief Moriarty. He reported the
matter to Deputy Picard, who investi-
gated
Fourteen fires. four Of which were
in one room. were found by Mrs French
and her daughter. In closets corners.
bureau drawers, in many peculiar
places, incipient fires were discovered
and eAtinguished.
Mrs. French. when questioned, at
first said the fires were probably due TO
q mouse, but later said she thought the
house was filled with explosives. The
battling feature to the investigators is
the fact that new fires were discover
ed at intervals of about 10 minutes
while both women were i'm the house
and some Of them after other tenants
had come to their assistance. Mrs.
French said she carried no insurance
On her property.
Miss French who is an empioye at
the Bates Street Shirt factory on re
turning home at about 1910 o'clock
Friday afternoon, found a pile of wood
and PAPER ablaze in the bathroom. This
was eXtinguished with little trouble.
A few minutes later two fires were
discovered in Mrs French's bed DOM,
one on the bureau and another ir the
dagonally opposite corner of the room.
Clothing was ablaze and the wall pa
per had caught when the fire was els
/ covered
Then, within 10 minutes, the women
, found a mattress in spare bedroom
ablaze. Returning they discovered two
more fires in Mrs. French's bedroom
This time pile OF newspapers was on
fire and there was also a blaze IN n
closet.
Five or 70 minutes later they FOUND
a fire in the front room. which In 20
Friday was occupied by Mrs. French's
niece Miss Gould. The latter. who is
employed al the Lunn & Sweet factory.
moved to Auburn later in the dav. In
! this room two silk waists on the back
Of chair We're burned and the chair
itself had caught fire.
Next fire was discovered under tho
sink in the kitchen. A can of kerosene
here did not ignite. BY this time Will
liam +. Moore, who lives downstairs.
! had come to the assistance of the Two
women. and further investigation re-
NealeG two more fires in the spare bad
, loom, one on chair and the cther
near the window
Mr. Moore's daughter, shortly after
ward. discovered a fire in the living
room Here smoke was seen coming
from the organ and the blaze was
found in small partly concealed
drawer
Mrs. French then suggested it would
Ge best to make a complete inspection
OF the house. Going into the attic two
fires were found. Ore had burned part
OF sheet Of paper in the bottom of
drawer The other was burning brisk
ly in a storeroom.
In September fire was discovered in
the bath room. and on Tuesday Of this
week a more serious blaze was discov-
cred in the sheathing Of the same room.
When Mrs. French lived on the No
Name Pond road her home was com
pletely destroyed by fire Only few
, days ago she reported to the police
the theft of a handbag containing
hank books and money. These articles
were recovered, with the exception of
e bout $40.