Norwich bulletin., 1921-11-09
RICH HAMPTON BACHELOR BURNED 10
 DEATH; NEIGHBOR CONFES ESSES TO ARSON

was not damaged though shingles on the roof were charred.
 The blackened torso of Miller was all of his body that was recovered after the heat in the cellar cooled sufficiently to allow searchers to make an inyestiga- tion. Skinner was coolly gazing upon what was left of his victim and appar- ently as little concerned as anyone pres ent when the finger of suspicion was first pointed at him by the state police
 Skinner is moron and seems not fully to realize the heinousness of his crime. q don't know just what come over me- but I decided to burn the place up,' he said, after he had finally started to reveal his doings of the night. T got so I hated him because he didn't seem to like me around at times' Beyond this, no motive for the crime had been un- earthed up to Tuesday, but it is known that Skinner was aware that Miller was in possession of considerable funds In preparation for his trip. It so happened. however, that the funds were in the form of money orders Whether these were destroyed in the fire or whether some thing of further interest pertaining to them will develop as the case Is subject ed to further investigation is a point of interest.N Skinner denies having entered the Miller place before setting it af1re. Suspicion was directed toward young Skinner because of the fact that he has on occasions In the past threatened in the hearing of others to dynamite the Miller place. This he admitted after his arrest i on Tuesday He also has threatened to l.burn the homes of other people in the neghborhood. His moods and tempera- | ment may be indicated by citing that on one occasion, only a few years back, he attacked a schoolmate, Harry Fitts of Hampton. and slashed young Fitts on the hand with a knife The scar from the wound is still visible on Fitts' hand. His mental capacity may be indicated by the 1 fact that all that seemed to interest him | after his arrest was that questioning of | him be finished so he could get to work running his cider mill. Incidentally. he | thinks it terrible for a man to take a drink of liquor never did it in my life, : I he proudly asserted. Arson and murder | however. seem merely minor means of satisfying his grudges
 | Skinner was fully aware, according to | his own admissions, that Miller was | asleep in the house when he applied the match to it. Skinner did not go near the fire while it was raging. refraining from 1 putting in an appearance until about 6.3C | in the morning, when groups of neigh 1 bors, shocked by the tragedy of the night
 
 Miller was a well-to-do bachelor. He came to Towards Valley about 14 years ago and bought the place where he died i Previously he had lived for years in the i town of Sprague. He had lived alone ir | the house where he was burned to death 1 working when his fancy willed, but not l through necessity. Neighbors said Tues ! day morning that his life had a clout cast over it when a young man, fsis bride-to-be dying two weeks before tn, 1 time set for their wedding day Thi. disappointment in life made him retiring but by no means recluse, though h, l kept much to himself.
 One neighbor said that he understood from Miller that he had a paid-up life in eurance policy for s20,00o and funds anc l the property in addition. Miller is be
 lieved to have brother and a sister liv
 ing in New York state, but just wher
 no one who was at the Miller place Tues
 day morning Was able to say
 Miller's remains were taken in charr
 by Selectman Wallace Jewett, who va
 at the location of the fire at the time o
 Skinners arrest.
 Skinner is a son of John and Alice F
 Skinner Hampton people were quick t
 recall following young Skinner's arcs
 that his mother has served a sentence il
 the state prison at Wethersf1eld for arso
 and has been in other difficulties of
 criminal nature. Her whereabouts at thI
 time were unknown at Towards Vaile
 Tuesday. though some there said she
 believed to be living in Holland When presented in justices court i l Hampton late Tuesday afternoon, Judg W. Fenner Woodward of the town couI l of Killingly acting as justice. Skinnt ] pleaded guilty to murder and was n, , dered committed to jail without bail. H was taken to the jail by Officers Ellio and Williams.