Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-18
OBSESSED SINCE BOY,
HE TELLS DETECTIVES
Guess I Was Crazy" Says Pris.
oner, Naming Two Places Where
He Says He Caused Blaze.

guilty TO TWO CnafRcS OF arson. HIS
attorney, James A. O'Shea. indicated
his client would base his defense on a
plea of insanity.
At the request of OShea. Judge Mat
tingly recommended that Fisher be
committed to an institution for mental
observation.
Fisher gave no sign of fear or any
)ther emotion when he was brought
from his cell and arraigned No wit
ncsses we're heard for either side.
Your honor Is sufficiently familiar
with this case from the publicity it
has received. and | don't think We
need go into the details" Ralph Given
assistant United States attorney told
Judge Mattingly Il ask your honor
| 10 hold him without bond for the pro-
lection of the community"
Police Make Charges.
The information agains. the man
was sworn TO by Headquarters De-
tective Frank A. Varney. Private
Horace w. Lneberg of the eleventh,
precinct. who arrested Fisher. was
unable TO be present. The United
States attorneys request for cont:nit-
mcrt without bond came as result o.
a conference with Varney this mornine
in which he was told OF Fishers con-
feSSion
Fisher was charged with two cases
II arson. They we're the b1rring of
the building Of the Lank Woodwork Co.,
at 1919 w street. and the warehouse at
lexington place and q street northeast
belonging TO the Star Food and REM
edy Co.
Fisher. who is % years old and re-
sides at 7l6 Roxboro place. confessed
last night that he set fire 20 those
buildings. He said he vas mot sure"
of any connection with the other fires,
except that he Was certain he was only
a spectator at the Woolworth's fire
Il guess fires are about the only
things that have interested me since
I was a kid" Fisher declared thus
morning a few hours after giving has
confession to detectives.
Remembers Starting Two.
Appearing utterly downcast and be-
w!ldeFed he told of his strange oc-
session as he waited his turn 10 face
detectives in the lineup at police head
quarters this morning preliminary TO
being taken TO Police Court for hear
ing.
Il remember setting the fire to the
Mcdowell warehouse and the LanH
Woodworking Corporation" he said
and ! reckon ] was sort OF crazy,
can't tell just what did.
1t was watching the Woolworth fire
that set me of. ! was with hair
dozen people there. but slipped away
from them didn't have anything 10
do with that fire, -.
Il feel sort OF dazed. ! can't tell oil
/ Gid the night Of the flres. dont
know.
But that confession ! gave the de-
tectives is correct There wasn't any
body around when I decided 10 give II
10 them. sent for them and then !
told them all know OF my move
ments."
Confess~s 10 Police.
The detailed confession. given 10
Headquarters Detective Varney and
Motor Cycle Officer Horace w. Linebers
Of the thirteenth precinct. who had
questioned Fisher at intervals all day
Yesterday. and who had obtained war
rant charging him with arson. was
given In the presence OF Robert L.
Jones. plain clothes man OF the thir~
teenth precinct. late last night. II Is as
follows
al about II pm. January 10. ]
went 10 Goodacres lunchroom al
Twelfth street and New York avenue
and ordered sandwich heard the
fire apparatus and followed IN my car
| parked at Eleventh and y streets
northwest. walked to Tenth street and
Pennsylvania avenue. where watched
the firc In Wool~orth's. on the north
side OF the avenue between Ninth and
Tenth, and one on Tenth street south
OF the Avenue. | stayed there for
quite while, and then went back
10 my car, When ! got into my car
] had feeling that wanted to see
another fire.
Il started of and don't recall how
! got there. but | wound up at Ecking-
ton and q streets northeast, parked
my car on q street. west Of lexington,
facing east. and walked into the yard
at the rear of McDowells Feed store.
tried Il couple Of doors and none
would open. ! then went around to the
side and slid "A door open.
MY memory seemed to fail me thrn
and WHEN ! came to ] was sitting oii
the tongue of wagon In front OF the
door aud with cigar In one hand,
lighted. and IA box ot matehea IN the
other.
"A flfe Was burning behind me In
side oI tie door. and. although ! don
remember. l think l set II on ffe.
Threw Match Into building
i then ran to my car and started
IN down lexington place. don't know
ipW ] got there, but ! recall being
parked on q street facing Wfsi, west oi
lexington place. saw some rrople
around the fire hoA and. to the best
| of my recollection. hoilefed stuitthina
In them ] got out of my car and
watched the fire. After time ! LEFT
| IN my car and started west
Then recall being around lumber
| mill near Fourteenth street and Florida
| avenue northwest, IN the rear of the
| Manhattan Laundry, ! don't fenem~
| bef where | had left my car | remeinr
her waking through the alley and hee
| ing the glass out ot the NlhdnNs and
donrs of the lumber min
| Il don't remember how Iona | was
there but ! must have thrown match
Into The building.
Il then left the alley and went IA
| storm A. tihetvonds l,inrhraom. al
| Fourteenth ana u streets. and ordered II
sandwich end cup af fnftee Before
Continued On pfse b. Column -