Baxter Springs news., 1919-02-21
HARMON ADMITS
He MIGHT HAVE
STARTED THE FIRE
Makes Pleas of Intoxication and Lack OF
knowledge of All His Actions Just
Previous to Blaze.

Ray Harmon arrested on the charge of having will
fully set fire to hay straw in stable near the corner OF
East and Twelfth street Monday causing the par
tial destruction of same aragned before Justice D.
NJ English about noon Tuesday and waived examination
He was bound over to the district court at Columbus and
given his liberty after having given bond in the sum OF
$500 insure his appearance in court at the proper time
His bondSmen were l." M. Brewster j. W. Barnes, L. A.
Smith and his father, Jas. Harmon
To News reporter Tuesday morning and also III
written instrument in the hands of officers, Har-
mon admitted practically all the charges made Yesterday
by George Skies, who made the arrest Mr. Skies charged
that himself and his hired boy had been watching the ac
tions of Harmon during the day That they first saw nm
the premises hour before the fire had seen him
in the stable where the fire occurred and saw nm leave the
place At that time the boy watching from behind the
pile of sewer pipe few hundred feet east OF the stable
where the fire occurred When Harmon left the place the
boy came in to the feed barn in front OF the stable; called
Mr. Skies and together they went to the rear OF the stable
and watched Shortly Harmon onto the scene again.
entered the stable, inside short time, then rushed
out and almost simultaneously they saw smoke issuing
from the stable in which Harmon had been. They gave
the fire alarm and Mr.. Skies up Twelfth street to Mill
tary then north to Eleventh street. where ne met Harmon
The whistle had just sounded Harmon asked where the
fire was Mr. Skies replied with the accusation that dar-
mon knew he set the fire, and under his authority as
councilman he arrested Harmon and little later turned
him over to Constable Archie Bottom 1t appears that
several people had been watching during the day in antlcl
patton of fire breaking out detective 1fon out OF
town had been on the job.
To the News man Ray Harmon admitted that
he was in the barn as charged by Mr. Skies. He also de-
cared that while in there he might have struck match to
light cigarette and might have thrown down and cans-
ed the fire He declared that he had been drinking heavily
all day. had become sleepy and Supplied and his object in
going into the barn to find place to lie down and
Sleep off his jag. He did not say why he did not lie down
as he intended to do but instead left the barn very quickly
after entering Harmon in the tinshop at the rear
of the Quality store when the fire alarm sounded lie en-
tered few minutes before and was talking to Mr. Stes-
ner at the time, according to reports
Lo,, ,,oot Tho M
dav Harmon did not admit having anything to Go with
causing the ten or more other fires that have occurred
since January first nearly all of which were similar to the
one he says he might have caused
All people who are familiar with the circumstances 1Sss
we're of incenday origin and that whoever did set them
must have dsordered mind with mania for seeing
fres and they feel that every pecauton possible should
be continued to safeguard the community against futher
occurrences of the same nature .
The sympathy of the entire community is with the
family and parents of the young man accused and they
hope sincerely that he may be able to clear himself from
all accusations of intentional guilt.