The New York herald., 1920-12-28
BIG BUILDING BURNED
100000 Blaze in UniOntown
Occurs After Arrest Of
Young Smith.
TWO MORE UNDER ARREST
List of Buildings Fired In
cludes School, ? Churches
Father Held as Witness.

Special Despatch to THE NEw YORK HERALD
UN1oNTowN, Pa, Dec. 27.-With the
capture of Albert Smith, son of Reuben
Smith. Fair Hope real estate operator
and his confession that he had started
thirteen of the most destructive fires
that have occurred in Fayette county in
the last two months. the inhabitants of
the fire zone. who had begun TO relax
their vigilance, were startled again this
morning when an incendiary fire de-
stroyed a three story brick building on
East Main street, this city causing
loss Of between $500 and 100000.
William Pantelos. proprietor of one of
the dozen business establishments in the
building, was arrested by deputy State
fire marshal here investigating the
Fayette county arson rings operations
following the destruction of the big
building He was released on his own
recognizance, but hearing will be given
later. Pantelos is alleged TO have made
statements while the fire was in progress
which excited the suspicion of the deputy
fire marshal. It was the fourth time
fire had been discovered in the building,
the last attempt to burn it being made
last February.
Young Smith, who was arrested late
Saturday night on a charge of having
been implicated in one of the many
fires in the vicinity of Albany Hill.
pleaded guilty this afternoon on thirteen
charges of arson and felonious arson
before Alderman Michael. He was held
for criminal court action tomorrow
morning, when the court is expected to
determine whether the lad, who is said
to be irresponsible, shall be sent to the
Fairview Asylum for the criminal in
sane or to the penitentiary.
Reuben Smith, father of the prisoner.
was taken into custody by State troop
ers early Sunday morning. According to
the troopers the elder Smith Is being
held as material witness pending the
completion of the States case against
his son.
Basil West, "A negro, was arrested in
the lumber yard of the Fayette City
Construction Company late last night.
lie was pulled from between two piles
Of lumber by deputies who saw him
enter the place. He is being held pend
ing investigation. -
Young Smith has made detailed con-
fession to the state police. He declared
he had started the following fires. ac-
cording to the police:
Prospect Street School. South Browns
Vile; Dean HerskowitZ's residence,
Brownsville West Brownsville garage.
Christ Episcopal Church. Brownsville
the Heiman farmhouse, near Fayette
city; the John Shearer farmhouse. near
Fayette city, Joseph clark's barn. near
Fayette city; the Redstone Methodist
Episcopal Church, Fayette city; An
drew Browns barn, rear Fayette City
q lumber yard at Belle Vernon. two
dwellings near Fayette City and an
unused farmhouse.
mo one helped me and no one told
me to do it, the boy said. in denying
a suggestion that he was the tool OF a
master mind directing the incendiary OPP
erations.
While he never feared arrest when
carrying on his depredations. young
Smith quakes with fear almost continu-
ally since being taken into custody.
Asked for the reason for his timidity, the
prisoner declared he feared the VEN
geance of the people in Layette City
should they ever get hold of him.
AS a result Of the incendiary fire
which destroyed the Johnston school in
Williamsburg Sunday, guards are being
placed on all public school buildings in
the city of Pittsburg. There are 1872
public school buildings in the city proper
valued at s22000.000. All these schools
are closed during the holiday week.
making it much easier for vandals to ap-
proach the buildings without fear OF de-
foctiou.