Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1922-12-23
MAN and BOY
fired BARNS

Continued from Page One.)
tioning the poy rcld the story and
included a dramatic effort made by
himself and his brother TO save the
auto at the risk Of their lives.
When the boy was brought into
headquarters he acted as though
she considered his adventure a great
lark, and complc ined of hunger.
After he had sworn his statement
was the truth about the barn fires
he was fed and locked UP in police
headquarters.
The other arrest was made earlier
N the day and Leo Finperty, the
prisoner, who is held at Radnor,
confessed he started the fire in the
barn of John Fox. at Radnor. Della
ware county. after a night OF drink
ing with a man whom he knew only
as Bones" He is twenty-five years
old. He followed the race horses
from New Orleans 10 Baltimore and
obtained employment on the Fox
farm only six weeks ago. While
both prisoners assert they had moth
ing to do with any other fires, Ma
ior Wilhelm intends to question
both again. He said he believed the
Wood boy knows more about barn
fires than he has told, in spite OF
bland and very ready way OF swear
ing his signed statement was true.
He said he will know more about
the man called Bones" that Fin
nerty said he was out drinking with
nj NJ
Barney Martin, az Swedeland. wes
burned that night, and posses pur-
sued an auto containing two white
men and driven by a Negro.
Finnerty insisted Bones" was a
white man. but would rot admit
knowledge Of his where's bouts or his
residence place.
The story of Cyril Wood. told af-
ter two hours quiet and persistent
questioning by Campbell and Nc
Clarey. was related by him with /
boyish grins and grimaces. He said |
he was employed in the Garrett |
Brothers Steel Works and went /
home from work about SEQ o'clock |
Wednesday night. After he had had I
supper with his parents and the /
other members OF the family he I
asked his father:
What are the chances for $3.50 ,"
Nothing doing" was the reply. I
The boy said ne walked out OF the /
house angry. In a few minutes he /
went 10 the barn and stood on the I
outside. He sald he picked up a |
bundle OF straw and touched a
match 10 1t. Throwing the burning /
straw into the hay, he ran back to I
The house. He knew. he said, that /
his father was in the barn bedding /
down the cattle and horses. From
he house he sa W the FIRE start and
hen his father ran out OF the barn /
calling for help to fight the fire.
Wood said he and his brother ran
70 the barn and he. Cyril. tried to
get the motorcsr out. but his broth
er had locked 70. His brother, he
said, was so excited he could not
get the KEYS out OF his pocket.
BY that time, the boy said, the fire
Fss all around them, and both were
sat Off from escape by the front
ioor. He ssid he burst open small
door used to axe IN the crops and
jumped into a pit with his clothing
burning. His brother escaped in
the same way. They were not burn
cd. however, and both helped the
father TO get some OF the cattle
out. At his fathers ERECTION. he
said he mounted his fathers driv-
ing horse and rode toward Bridge
port to call the fire company. He
mst them on the way and told them
where the hre was and followed
Them They were too late 10 do
a nything 10 save the barn as the
roof had fallen by that time.
Mr.. McClarey and Constable Camp
bell questioned the boy the night OF
the FIRE. as well as other members
OF the Wood family. They suspected
the boy had guilty knowledge OF the
origin OF the FIRE and watched him
and Thursday night. Some
hing in his actions decided them to
AXE the boy into custody yesterday
a ftsrnoon, and they sent for Major ,
Wiltshire. II took two hours 10 break ,
down the lads denials. but when ,
Major wilhelm, as a chance thrust
old him he had better tell the truth,
a. Il was known TO somebody who \
had seen him set the are. the boy
auSsasd and seid: "All right, 1 will
ell the truth" When he was put !
n a eel he asked for cigarettes, and
-hesriiy babe his captors good night.