Evening journal., 1922-12-05
Pa, HUNT FOR
FIRE FIENDS

CONTINUED from First PsgeD
ed TO scout the incendlary theory
and said there was evidence that
several Of the fires were the result
Of Illicit whisky making, careless
ness and spontaneous combustion,
he admitted the number Of barns
burned gave reasonable ground for
suspicion that a frebug was at work.
Twenty-six barns have been burn
ed in the three counties since Oc-
tober ., and the list, in part, fol-
lows:
Montgomery County
Smedley. william, Skippack
Township, October ?. Loss $500.
Drachnisky. Herman Douglass
Township October ? Loss, sil.-
600
Cole. Frank, skippack Township,
October .. Loss, $4,000.
Chester County
Dingey, John. London Grove Oc-
tober - Loss, $500.
Schrack, Henry Valley Township,
October H. Loss. $500.
/ Dunlop, Walter. London Grove,
October 2s. Loss $500.
Gawthrop, william. Pocapson,
( November s. Loss, s12.500.
Pyle. Harry. London Grove, No
vember 10. Loss $500.
Henner, william, Willistown, No
vember IA. Loss. $500.
Thomas, Sally, willistown, No
vember IA. Loss. $1,000.
Limberry George East Noting
ham. November II. Loss. $500.
Loud Frank c.. East Marlbor-
ough. November 2S. Loss. S4sO0.
Thomas. Harry. Frazer Deem
ber 1. Loss. s12.SoO.
Timmins. Mrs. e. H.. West Brad
ford. December ?. Loss. s2S,000.
Kobza Mrs. Mary Pipeland. De-
cember 3. Loss. $4,000.
Delaware County
Dunwoody, william, Newton
Township. October 6. Loss. $4,000.
SkelN. Joseph. Mddletown. Octo-
her 90 Loss $4,000
Thompson. George. Upper Darby,
October -. Loss. $4,000.
Roache. Walter. Middlctown. oc-
tober 81. Loss. $500.
De Floree. r. A., Ridley Town
shin. October 30. Loss. s11.5O0.
The foregoing list Of twenty OF
the twenty-slx fires entailed a loss
OF more than 100000; besides the
barns. cattle. horses, crops and farm
equipment were burned There is
no record in the county offices OF
the six other fires.
Taking control OF the situation, [
1, ~ Ia IN
have a sufficient force on the ground ]
within forty-eight hours 10 police /.
the three counties completely.
Il have just taken hold" he said. |
"and my talk with. the District At |
torneys OF his county and Delaware /
county Is just rounding up Of the T.
evidence they have ~ to incendlar- I
ism. / md there is evidence that |
several OF the fires were caused by I
ordinary conditions. In one case /
children playing with matches caus- |
ed a barn FIRE In another case |
sparks from a locomotive caused II. |
We believe that in several cases MI,
cit stills caused the fires. In two |
cases we have evidence that care
lessness OF employees caused the
nres.
However. we are approaching .
the investigation on the theory that .
there is an lncendiary al work. You .
must keep In mind that the fires .
are widely separated. except as 10 I
those in London Grove. where there T.
were three. and in Middletown. /
where there were two. II Is pos
sible that the incendiary. II there /
Is one. travels In an automobile. As !
to this we have statements in CON
nection with tho Harry Thomas FIRE
at Frazer. Friday night. and the
Kohza fire. at Pipeland. yesterday
morning that two men were seen
driving rapidly away in a motorcsr
from the FIRE.
These are Important statements.
but / have not talked with the wit
nesses vet and cannot say anything
as 10 their value in the investiga-
ton l hope to he in better shape
soon 10 have a clear view OF these
mysterious fires and the public will
get all we find out"
In the Z meantime the farmers
have es ablished night watches in
their barns The watches are d.
yided by employers and employees
and every man has orders 10 shoot
first and inquire afterward.' II per
sons enter the barns unannounced.