Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 June 1890 — Attempted Arson. [ARTICLE]

Attempted Arson.

Last Sunday night while the family were all at church, a dastardly attempt- was made to bum the residence of Hugh W. Porter. The window 7 screen was cut and the lacc window curtain fired and consumed. ■ ...... . : The fire scortched the carpet, but it being wool brussels,. it failed to ignite and the tire had “died out by the time Mr, and Mrs. Porter returned home from church. The house was loykcd and two .electric lights burning. The carpet bejng wool is j all that saved the house. The motive is hard to determine; it could not have been robbery of Mr. Porter’s house,-as the screen was cut and fire started at a front window, and there were back windows just as handy to get into, if enterancc had been desired. Mr. Porter is one of our most popular citizens and has notan- enemy in the wrnrld, that lie is aware of. The general opinion is that the fire was set for the purpose of drawing the people to that part of town and thus leave the coast clear fora” raid on someT of the" business houses. Being Sunday night and very dark made it a favorable time for working such a scheme. The same night, at one o’clock, some person or persons entered Prank Wolfs house. Mr. Wolf beard the noise and hollowed out “what .are you doing there, you ” and the invader rushed out in such haste that lie came in violent contact with the kitchen table, —the table being tough escaped serious injury and the burgular has not reported the extent of liis injuries. The people should profit by these warnings and bike prompt action looking to better protection that we now have.