The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-01
Arson Suspects
 Under Arrest

the strange destruction of the little one-family house. A loss of $10,- 900 resulted from the explosion.
 Local authorities declined today to review the case or to dtvluge the details of the evidence alleged ly obtained against the accused. The arrests climaxed weeks of pa tient work and 1t has been inti- mated that some startling disclos- ures may be made before the last chapter of the incident is written. A feature of the case which is also being investigated is the re- arrested several years ago in in Wethersfield on the charge of arson. It has also been hinted that he was sent to states prison for a being implicated in plot to wreck twenty years ago.
 About 1880 o'clock on the morn ing of October 9th an explosion that was heard for several miles rocked dwellings in the vicinity of Gates avenue. Within few min- utes' time the sky was illuminated by the glare of flames that envelp- ed the Vernale residence. The flames spread to the adjoining home of Alphonse Fillippone, members of whose family had been thrown out of their beds by the force of the explosion. Several companies of fire apparatus were sent to the scene, but the fire fighters were helpless to save the dwelling.
 Some distance away young Yer nale was found by Andrew Kul- man of Wolcott street and taken to the hospital. He was painfully burned and breathless from run ming panic-stricken through the yards and side streets of NBouley Manor.
 He told the police at the time that he had heard of his fathers illness and went to see him. As he opened the rear door of the house there was an explosion and he was hurled into the back yard. He became so badly frightened that he lost consciousness of where he was running. It developed that the elder Vernale had entered St Mary's hospital as a patient the afternoon previous to the fire.
 An investigation made the morn- ing of the fire by Fire Marshal Holland, Electrical Inspector Mar tin O'Rourke and Building Inspec- tor Patrick J. Carlin unearthed the information that something out of the ordinary had happened to wreck the house and to cause 1t to burn so quickly.
 Patrolman Daniel J. Carson of the emergency squad was one of the first on the scene when the alarm was sent into headquarters.
 He joined in the search of the ruins for suspected still, but failed to any evidence of one. Re- sidents recalled that Vernale was accused of operating still several months previous to the fire. A search of the debris was also made for a body when 1t was rumored that MT Vernale lost his life in the blaze.
 About a week after the fire MT Hurley, who is considered an ex- pert in arson cases and who is now attached to the. state board of fire underwriters, was invited to assist in the investigation of the cause of the mysterious blaze. He ques- toned the two Vernales and with the assistance of Lieutenant Stevens and Fire Marshal Holland obtained considerable data concerning the blaze. A check-up was also made apparently on the past record of MT Vernale.
 In view of the fact that thesoffi- cials are not discussing features of the case and the unquestioned alibi that the elder Vernale was in the hospital when the fire broke out, 1t is deducted that an attempt will be made to hold the son respon- sible for the fire, with the father as conspirator. It Is also evident now to the authorities that kero- sene or some highly inflammable liquid had been spread about the interior of the house and that the explosion occurred when a match was allegedly applied,