Norwich bulletin., 1921-06-23
PUTNAM

anu IHeOuOTe Dumas, If, | son of Peter Dumas. Lamont street, was z !so arrested at the same time, and Is charged with arson. According to the police all three have signed statements that clear up the origin of the fire last May that completely destroyed the sum- mer home of Dr George A. Shepard of New York city. It is understood that Bidwell has admitted setting the building on fire by lighting some straw and a mattress underneath the house. The oth- CT two, the police say, were present at the time and have stated that they saw Bidwell apply the match.
 The fire which the boys are charged with setting occurred on May of this year. The Shepard summer home is located on the Putnam Heights road. A fire was discovered in it about o'clock by James Page, who lives in a nearby farm. The Putnam fire department was called, but when it reached the scene the house, wooden structure, was mass of flame. In addition there was not available any water on the property, or near at hand, and the firemen could do nothing. The house burned completely to the ground, and all the household fur nishings were destroyed, with a loss es- timated at nearly s10.o00. The origin of the fire was not satisfactorily explained at the time. for no one was living in the house. It had not been occupied since October, when Dr. Shepard and his fam ily returned to New York after passing tAe summer on the Heights Also, ac- cording to those who reached the fire first, it was apparent that it had been started from the outside. At the time fine police were inclined to believe that the fire was of incendiary origin, and on this basis Captain Bulger went 10 work on the case.
 It was known at the time of the fire that two high powered guns had been in the Shepard home. One was a rifle and the other double barrel shot gun. Some time ago it came to the attention of 1 Captain Buleer that one of these guns was in the possession of one Of the bows who was arrested on Wednesday. With this as his point of departure, the cap tain was able to find out from the boys | how they came into possession of the | weapons. According 10 Captain BuIger 1 Bidwell and Morrell admit breaking into | the Shepard house a week befor the fire, and stealing the guns. Dumas, 1t is | understood, was not with them at this l time, though one of the guns, it is aIleg. ed, was hidden in a pigeon coop at his home. The police allege that a week after the theft of the guns, Bidwell and Morell. this time accompanied by Du- | mas, returned tothe Shepard home, and 1 the fire followed. The two guns which it is alleged werA stolen from Dr. Shep. ard were recoyred Wednesday by the po
 lice.
 On January of this year, Mrs Mar tine Shay, 72, Water street, Putnam. an( i Louis Shay, a veteran hotel keeper ot | Spencer, Mass, were married at the rec
 tory of St. Mary's church, Putnam. A
 that time the weather was cold, and al fhnYY 4hafr
 couple decided to postpone their weddin,
 trip until the balmy month of June. Nov
 thatthe bluebirds are singing and tn
 grass is green, ftr. and Mrs. Shay are en
 toying their belated honeymoon, whicl
 is being spent with relatives in this vi
 cinity. It was last Thursday that the,
 left Spencer where they have been liv
 ing since they were married. and thei
 trip is takingtthem to Putnam, Fall Riv
 CT, Providence, New Bedford and Woon
 socket.
 Mrs. Shay had been a widow for tnirt, years before she succumbed last Jan
 uary to the gallantry of Mir. Shay, wh
 had thrice before marched to the altar
 Mrs Shay at the time of her maria 2 declared that thirty years was quite loni
 enough for anyone to remain single, am
 Louis insisted that his three marriage
 give evidence that he liked married life His third wife had been dead for a-yeal
 and he was beginning. he said to fee
 the need of the guiding influence of
 mate. Directly after the ceremony MI
 and Mrs. Shay went to Spencer where, a
 a family reunion, MT. Shay introduce
 his bride to her eight step-children Mi Shay had not confided in them that h was to become a benedict. He later e1 plained to them that when one has bee married as often as he, the novelty ( the thing wears off and he really didn consider it essential to divulge his plan Further, he is a most bashful gentl, a man. Still, he proved himself a whir s wind of a wooer, for his courtship I Mrs. Shay covered just four days. E1 s actly 96 hours passed from the time the { first met to the time he slipped the gol band on her finger, The meeting of Il couple came about when Mir. Shay can 9 to Putnam to spend Christmas vi
 friends here. Mrs. Shay made Ter hon I with these friends. Apparently i. was ,. case of love at first sight, and the que H ton was quickly popped. It was on We : nesday that MT. Shay came to Putnae s It was on Sunday that the ma criaee w N solemnized by Rev. Charles F BedaI H Although their hair is tinged with whit N their hearts are light aal gay as the
 now call upon friends in the var'ous citi Fl which are lncluueu Tn the Itinerary or ti S belated honeymoon.
 G. Harold Gilpatric and son Richar Fl Henry Wheeloek and Arthur s. Masdoi q aid were in New Haven Tuesday attent
 ing the Yale-Harvard baseball game.
 Members of the Nightingale-AIOr 3 baseball team are planning to raise funC {. with which to build covers over u
 bleachers at the new Main street bs
 grounds. This ball field. which W;
 used for the first time this year. Is ca 8 of Main street, and one block south
 Providence street. It is by far the be
 ball field a Putnam team has oeeupii
 in several years Already blesche N have been built, but they are now UT | covered. werkmen are now engaged X cutting away a hank in left cid. and Il K earth removed is being used to level il E outfield which in some places nedd fl
 Ing in.
 Former members and graduates
 Putnam high school gathered Wednesds H at the high school gymnasium for u & annual meeting of the Alumni associ
 tien. The speaker of the evening VI
 Stanley Kelley of Camp Eastferd. I
 Roy Sharp of Uxbridge, Mass, acted k toastmaster. Following the speakin F. dopoino Hvas f41 iovad