Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1922-12-20
ARMED FARMERS
GUARD BARNS.
Shoot First and Inquire.
Afterward' Is the Order p.
All Are Eager to Obey
100000 LOSS
IN 81 BURNINGS


flames shot skyward near Paoli last
night tho ragged nerves of the farm
er folk of Chester and Montgomery
counties were shaken after the ter
ror of Monday night wrought by the
four barn fires. It was thought the
arson gang was at work again and
armed posse started out early in mo-
tor cars to patrol the roads.
The alarm was caused by a fire
in the residence OF Richard Haugh-
ton, on the Great Valley Mill farm,
| tive wiring, but the fact was not
known through the countryside for
long time after the reflection OF
the blaze died out of the sky. The
report OF the nre served to start
Major Wilhelm and his men, OF the
State Police fire investigators, on the
Jumps after an ll-night-and-day in
vestigation OF the four fires OF Mon
day night. They were greatly re-
lleved to discover that It was acct
dental and not the work OF the arson
gang.
The state OF mind OF the farmer
folk Of Chester. Delaware and Mont
gomery counties is shown by the
tense wstchfulness OF the armed
guards concealed near many OF the
barns. In several instances owners
who have hired men to stand guard
through the night said they feared
to approach the building themselves,
as they had ordered the men to
shoot first and investigate afterward.
Armed posses patroling the roads
have held up state policemen in sew
eral cases and made them prove
their identity because the men were
patroling in civilian clothes.
In the excitement OF Monday night
reports were turned into Major VII
helms headquarters in the Mansion
House, this city, OF seven fires. -Four
fires were known and an anxious
hunt was made for the other three.
When the reports were sifted down
Ignatius' Home for Men. the State
Normal School barn here and the
Perkiomen Junction fire had been
reported from six towns as being in
various places The three fires had
been seen from different angles by
persons who located them in places
they were not in and led TO false re-
ports.
st. Ignatius' Home Is on a 103-
acre farm acquired about two years
a 20 by Miss Grace Towne, a chart
table Catholic. OF Philadelphia, It
down-and-out men, who are
sent there from the Philadelphia
headquarters OF Catholic philan-
thropic society. James McGlynn is
of the institution.
The aggregate losses by the thirty
four fires in the three counties now
run beyond hah million dollars,
with approximately $780, 900 loss in
VOWED in the four barn burnings
Monday night.
Major Wilhelm said he had OBJ
tanned certain evidence in connec-
tion with the Gulph Mills Golf Club I
fire last night which he believed will !,
lead to important developments. He !
was notresdy, he said, 10 talk about |
II. That It was incendiary he has not 1
the least doubt, though he Is dis
posed TO be conservative as to the |
fire at ST. Ignatius' Home. There |
were circumstances connected with |
this fire that led him to the belief It !
probably resulted from accident and |
not design. The fact that a fiery
cross, supposed to have been die
played by the Ku Klux was seen on a
hill near the home two months ago.
Is not taken seriously by the chief
fire investigator.
The Bernard Martin fire Monday
night at PerlSiomen Junction, Major
Wilhelm believes, was incendiary.
and he intimsted he had discovered |
something IN the nature of con-
vlncing evidence.
The Are Of the West Chester State
Normal School, In the opinion of the
may have been caused
by spontaneous combustion and
here was some reason for this
-heory in the fact that 1t started in
he hayloft. Neither Major wilhelm
nor his aides are prepared TO discuss
what they have found in connection
With any OF the plainly incendiary
Tres, though their confidence in say
ng that they hav. round evidence
indicates they expect satisfactory
'esults shortly.
The pistol play Of the firebugs at
he Gulph Mills Golf Club fire adds
new phase to the situation. 1t is
he first instance where persons
cen near the fires have used fire.
rms. In this case George Peters,
golfer at the club tried
,ut a shotgun he purchased only
Ionday by firing at two white men
nd a Negro he saw running from
he barn Just as the fire started.
they returned the fire and were
hot at again by Mathis. the stew
I'D. and John Taylor. the caddy
Master, as they fed in an auto.
there were no casualties on the
art OF the club employees in the
light battle, and so far as known
lone on the side OF the incendiary
,ang.
Bernard Martin, owner OF the
,arn at Perkiomen Junction. which
vas burned about 1880 yesterday
morning, said he saw a man early
n the evening near the barn.
when he spoke to the stranger g
he latter merely swore and darted S
Iown the lane and jumped into a
notorcar, which Martin had not S
oticed because the lights were out. 5
10 ran back to his house to get his =
un. but the car was out of sight. c
thinking he was safe for the night. Il
IA did not watch the barn after IL Z
clock, when he went to, bed. The II
Disc Of an auto getting underway {
oused him from slumber and he e
,oked out TO see his barn in flames. v