Connecticut western news., 1922-10-12

house fires has been solved by the state police and Luke DeGarmo, a Is year old grammar school pupil is in the town lookup at Sharon. The boy made a complete confession to the state police, giving as his only reason that he no longer cared to attend school.
 Fire of unknown origin destroyed the Sharon High School building with it's contents last Wednesday evening, despite the efforts of the fire depart ments which were called in from neighboring towns. The fire started between 7:30 and 500 o'clock and had gained such headway before it was discovered that the firemen were practically helpless. Twenty five tons of coal in the cellar were saved by the fire fighters, who kept constant stream of water playing on the coal bins.
 Thursday evening the school house in Sharon Valley was also destroyed by fre.>. The village being without fire protection, and the fire having reached a stage where bucket bri- gades could do little or no good, efforts were concentrated on saving the contents of the building. All the desks, and books were saved\ with some difficulty and then the crowd which gathered helplessly stood by and watched the flames destroy the building. The Valley school house contained two rooms with seating capacity for about 50 pupils,
 About a week. previous to these two fires, large barn on the Hotch- kiss place was destroyed, which led to the belief that firebug was oper- ating in the town. Furthermore, investigation in Sharon Valley re- vealed that a stone had been taken from the foundation of the school house and the opening stuffed with straw. Apparently both school houses were to have been set on fire at the same time, but the plans miscarried.
 The buildings destroyed during the past two days represent loss of about S3O,OOo. On the Sharon Val ley school house only $700 insurance was carried. About $12,000 insur- ance was carried on the high school building.
 Supt: Hurley of the state police personally made an investigation on Friday. Teachers and pupils were questioned by the police, and on Mon day DeGarmo was arrested after
 "nIch he mace a complete comics sioR
 SGaEmo was arraigned in court T, es4ay night before Justice Mar ckres charged with arson on two counts. He pleaded guilty to the first complaint charging him with in-t toying the Sharon Valley school, but his plea to the second complaint, charging that he also set fire to the AhHron high school, was not guilty.
 Wednesday morning the hearing was resumed and DeGarmo again pleaded not guilty to setting the high school building on fire. The state police introduced the boys confession as evidence, which he re- pudiated. Justice Marckres bound the boy over to the Superior court under $4,O0O bonds and he was taken to the county jail at Litchfeld to. await trial.
 Although not defiant, young De- Garmo presented an attitude of one absolutely disinterested in court. In his confession, he told how he set about to cause the destruction of the school house in which he was a pupil becaues he had become tired of the school life routine.
 In both cases, he entered the schools through window, carried books and papers to the second floor and set fire to them. He was un- aided in both crimes, he told the police. In the opinion of the authori- ties the boy is pyromaniac. As a pupil, his standing was below the average, it was said.
 Of late, the authorities declared | DeGarmo has been keeping company with a group of "village cut-ups", whose activities have been a source of annoyance to many of the towns people. The group is after what might be termed might life" in the country, coupled with lack of paren- tai supervision. Both DeGarmo's ] father and mother work, and the police say that he has had consider able freedom for his age.
 The arrest was made by Officer Thomas Leahy of the state police, and Deputy Sheriff Arthur J. Harris Prosecuting Attorney Willard Baker,