Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Superior Farmers, with loaded guns hunt pyromaniac

This story was carried by The Ypsilanti Daily Press on Monday, June 24, 1909.

Farmers living in Superior Township are patrolling the roads, armed with loaded shot guns, searching for a pyromaniac who started two configurations Wednesday evening, and who is said to be responsible for several mysterious fires which have occurred in the last sixty days.

Wednesday evening about 9:45, fire was discovered in the barn on the H. S. Platt farm. The blaze was quenched, and neighbors were returning to their homes, when one of the farmers noticed the reflection of a conflagration in the sky. This time the barn of Mr. Geraghty, who lives about a half mile east of the Platt farm had been fired, and the blaze had gained great headway before being discovered.

The barn burned to the ground.

A few feet from the Platt farm, an earthen gallon jug was found, which at one time had contained kerosene. The taint of oil could be detected on the wood.

The Ypsilanti police were notified and three roads were watched until an early hour this morning. Farmers today are searching that country in an effort to discover the culprit who committed the deed. It is the theory of the police that it is the work of a pyromaniac.

Mr. Platt offers a liberal reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the party or parties that set his barn on fire.

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