Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-28
WESTVILLEFI FIRES
PUT UP TOITALIAN
Suspect Under Police
Guard as He Lies in
Hospital Bed
HAS BUCKSHOT WOUNDS
Burning of Homes Stops After
Holding of Man on
Arson Charge
HAS BUCKSHOT WOUNDS

Antonio Lagana, the Italian believed
TO have terrorlzed' the village of West
Vile, n. j., by burning down three
homes and partially destroying several
more. was today held on a charge Of
arson. An armed guard now sits be-
side his bed at Cooper Hospital, Cam
den.
The warrant charges him with at
tempting to burn down the home of
Webster Kripps. westville.
Legana Is in the hospital suffering
from buckshot wounds inflicted by
Kripps. He has told the police several
conflicting stories as to the manner in
which the wounds were inflicted. Fear
Ing that he may attempt to escape,
Magistrate Leon Godfrey, Of Woodbury.,
has ordered that he be guarded night
and day.
According TO Kripps the Italian started
fire under the kitchen porch of his
home shortly after midnight Kripps,
who was standing guard with John
Muskie, saw a man fee shortly after
the blaze started and shot at him
First Nights Rest In Ten Days
Last night, for the first time in ten
days, the inhabitants of Westville got
their first nights undisturbed rest
The similarity of the fires. especially
the time when they were started. con-
vinces the police that Lagana was re-
sponsible for all of the coniagrations.
The incendiary set fire to the homes
between midnight and / a. m. Three
houses were burned down. three we're
partly demolished and several others
were damaged during the activities of
the "firebug."
Police declare that Lagana started
his campaign of destruction for revenge
against certain residents of the village.
Detective Stellman said today that there
is plenty of evidence against the ltal-
ian, on one occasion he was heard TO
declare that he would clean out" the
village.
Recently the Italian was discharged
from a position with the railroad. Short
ly after this he had difficulties with
several Italians in the vicinity.
Daring Criminal
The fire epidemic which visited West
VILE is one of the most daring ever
recorded in the criminal annals of New
Jersey.
The incendiary opened his campaign
about ten days ago when he sent anony-
nous BLACK Hand" letter to five resi-
dents telling them that within a week
their homes would be burned unless
\ they supplied him with sums ranging
from 800 to $500. These threats were
at first looked upon as an attempt at
practical joke. Then the epidemic OF
fires started
Rags and shavings soaked in oil were
placed under the pordhes of homes
These were ignited after midnight wher
the residents of the town were sleep
ing In the first fires the victims barrel,
escaped with their lives. losing all Of
their possessions in the blaze. AS day.
progressed the incendiary became bold
er. Twice he attempted TO start two fire.
in a single night. first piling infiamma
BILE material under the porches and run
ming from one house to the other te
ignite the oil and wood
Residents Guard Property
For the last five days the residents
of Westville have taken turns in sitting
up with loaded guns TO guard their
property. Despite their vigilance the fire.
continued.
Kripps's description of the shooting O;
Lagana Is as follows:
I'VE were waiting for the firebug