The New York herald., 1920-12-26
SEVEN MORE FIRES
CAUSE ARREST OF
BOY IN ARSON BELT
Church, Two Schools, Three
Homes and Barn Set AblaZe
in "a Hours.
POSSES SCOUR COUNTRY
Youth of 20 Said to Have
Confessed That He Was
Incendiary.
INSANITY, SAYS FATHER
Lad Taken to State Police Bar
racks at Greensburg, Pa,
to Prevent Lynching.
POSSES SCOUR COUNTRY
INSANITY, SAYS FATHER

SpeciaI Despatch to THE New YORK HERALD.
BROWNSVILLE, Pa, Dec. 25.-Incen-
diary fires in three homes, two school
houses, a church and a barn within
the last twenty-four hours. and the
arrest of Albert Smith, 90 son OF a
real estate man Of Fairhope, are the
latest developments in the activities
OF the arson ring which has terrorized
this region for the last two months
and destroyed property worth s4500.-
900.
The developments have come rapidly
and are said TO be serious for young
Smith, who. according to local author
tiles. has made admissions.
The South Brownsville school and
the Brownsville Episcopal church in
Brownsville, the double dwelling of
Harvey Elliott and George Elliott, the
Heilman farmhouse, the James Sharer
farmhouse and the barn OF James
Clark at Albany Hill, and the Braz-
nell Public School. at Braznell, Jeffer-
son township, were set on fire last
night or early this morning.
Charges Against Smith.
Young Smith is accused OF starting
the fires at the South Brownsville school
house and the four buildings at Albany
Hill. The South Brownsville school was
found burning soon after 9 o'clock last
night. A pedestrian is said to have
seen man acting queerly, and Justice
of the Peace Chalfonte was notified.
A squad investigated, and short time
later the Justice was notified that the
suspected man had entered the school
and was believed to have been cornered
on the third floor. Justice Chalfonte
hurried to the place and was just IN time
to see blaze start on the third floor OF
the building.
The officers, who until this time had
remained at the entrances and window.
on the first floor OF the school, ready t
pounce on the intruder IL he attempted
to leave. rushed into the building, a
least one going in by every entrance. !
hurried search was made. The buildin.
Is three stories high and with twent,
rooms. but no one was found. The mel
then turned their attention to puttint
out the IRE on the third floor. which hae
spread rapidly.
= SNeeASAi AOi lit IlTepuk Ialleu 10 10
cate him. How he escaped from tn.
school no member Of the posse was able
&c say. as every exit was thought ts
have been closed and well guarded.
Church Blaze Put Out.
The Brownsville Episcopal Church
was damaged only slightly, due to tn,
holding Of midnight service Christina!
eve. When the first arrivals for tn.
service entered the church they discov
cred fire smoldering in the rear of tn,
main auditorium. They were able to ex
tinguish it before any great damage haC
been done
The Heilman home. the Shearer farm
house, the Elliott home and the Clarl
barn were set on fire in the order name,
within two hours, starting just befor,
midnight. The Heilman home was dam
aged TO the extent OF 81 900 The flame
started at the side Of the home from ,
pile of scrap covered with oil.
The Shearer homo was not damaged
The hre was kindled on a back porch
but members OF the family discovered /
and extinguished it with buckets o.
water.
The Elliott residence was burned en-
tirely. The house with its furnishing.