Milford chronicle., 1923-08-24
BOOTLECCERS BURN
PREACHERS HOME
POcOmOke City M. E. Church Par
sOnage Fired When Outlaws
Start Reign Of Terror.
FAMILY'S NARROW ESCAPE
Invalid Wife Of Rev. J. R. Bicking
In Serious Condition As Result
Of Her Experience.

The war which has been in progress
at Pocomoke City, Maryland, between
the law-abiding citizens of the town
and the lawless element, came to a
head early Saturday morning last
when the home of Rev. J. r. Bicking,
pastor of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, was burned by arsonists. Rev.
Bicking went to the Maryland town
from Wilmington, Delaware, and is
weIl-known to persons in the local
conference. Several months ago Rev.
Bicking noticed that a group of Po-
comoke City boys were habitually
drunk and he started campaign from
his pulpit looking to the betterment
of conditions generally. Since that
time he has kept up bitter warfare
against boOtleggers, and during that
time the bootleggers have taken sew
eral methods or retaliation against the
pastor.
Very recently two efforts were made
to cutie the launch owned by Mr..
Bicking. In both instances the boat
was raised after it had been sunk and
it was found that holes had been bored
in the bottom of the boat. Not salts
fed with this, third attempt to dam
age the boat was made. This time the
launch was hauled out on shore and
burned by the enemies of the preach
er He still continued his fight against
the outlaws, and it seems from reports
that his efforts were not very ably
aided by the authorities. At any rate
the fight got so intense that the burn
ing of the parsonage was resorted to
on Saturday morning.
At the time that the residence was
set on fire the entire Bicking family
was asleep on the second floor of their
home. Mr.. Bicking was aroused by the
barking of his dog, but investigation
showed no signs Of any persons.
thereafter however, smoke
awoke his invalid wife and it was
found that the first floor was mass
Of flames. Prompt aid from neighbors
only resulted in getting his sick wife
from the burning structure. One of his
small sons was painfully burned when
he made his escape through the
flames. The home had been fired by the |
generous use of gasoline sprinkled |
about the lower floor.
This outrage awoke the citizens of I
Pocomoke to the seriousness of the
situation confronting them and steps |
we're Immediately taken to start "a
campaign to clean house. On Monday,
L7-year-old Martin Wilkson, was ar
'ested on suspicion of having been in
7olved in the trouble. After lengthy
he broke down and con-
essed that he, assisted by Wallace
Dorsey, II years, of Baltimore, and
William King, Is years, of Pocomoke,
lad fired the house. The story told by
he boy was to the effect that they had
,een paid by a bootlegger, who he
famed, to burn the home of Rev. Mr.
3icking. He said that the. boys were
orced to do the work by the older
nan, who gave them a big sum of
money for the job. Maryland author
ties stated that they would soon have
he man under arrest, but as this is
,eing written announcement of the
apture of the man wanted has not
cen made.
Reports from Pocomoke City are to
he effect that Mrs. Bicking who for
ears has been sufferer from can
er, suffered so greatly from shock,
aused by her experience and narrow
scape that fears are entertained for
er recovery. Since the latest outrage
n the part of the bootleggers vigilent 1
ommittees have been formed with a
le expressed purpose Of driving the c
lwless element from the town.