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On a Civil Suit Brought By J. H. Stearns, Plmmer Confesses (hat Me Set the Five at Wootaside Cottages Men, iNew to Mae een Petitioned into Incolvency. The arrest of Luther J. Pinon, its lodgment In the county jail at Newfane, and his confession that he is guilty of the crime of incendiarism, the starues and shocked the people of Brattleboro, who have heretofore accorded Wind a reputation as a young business man of Integrity. The air was fit of rumors in regard to the case last week, but many of them were without foundation. The Phomix was in possession of all the facets up to Friday noon, but none arrest had been made, wind acting upon the request of the lawyers and those having thy tevestigation in charge, and wishing to give Mr. Plumir the bine est of all doubts, we refrained from pub listing anything relating to the case. For the information of those outside the local Held It may be well to state that Mr. Phammer began his business career here a few years ago in the “Tittle So crockery and novelty store on Elliot street. Tn 180) Mr. Plimmer sold the store after leasing the Woodside cottages at Spofford lake, Chesterfield, N. Th. Since his engagement at Woodside Mr. Mummer has continued to live here during the winter, fading em ployment in John Galvin's store and other places. About December 1 Me, Phimmer leased the north store in Reverson's block, and put In a stock of crockery, gines and Laware, books and notions. On the night of Dec. 15, about 20, the dining hall at Woodside was bmned. The fire was first seen by people who were coming over the hill from Swanzey to Chesterfield Factory. Mr. Vail, who had charge of the property, and who lived near Woodside, was at Chespertick Factory at the time the fire broke out, he was at once notified, bat it was immpossible to save the dining hall, which was buries with all ita contents. The witd belie in the right direction the other Walling at Woodside Hd not take fire, bit it was only through wood Wiel that ChefWives did cor pked the offer buildings and destroy property woth from $15,000 to $20,000. The owner of Woodside cottages isd. Th Stearns, of the large ruber manufacturing firmoef Parker, Sterns Sutton, of Brooklyn’. Y. Mr. Stearns is a brother of the Stearns of this place. While on a visit to the dake liness Mr. Stearns was so touch ylocked with Woodside av a summer resort that he bought the propery, and has since made many improvements and erected on buildings ther. Since Mr. Stearns’s ownership Woodside line been a favorite renddezvous for people from Brooklyn, who were induc e to come there in large numbers to Mr. Stearns. Mr. Stearns’s loss by the fire was from $4500 10 89004, or 81000 to S200 In excess of the insurance which he carried, Plum mer owned the silverware, glassware and linen stored in the building, while the bed ding belonged to Mr Stearns. A small steamer which Plummer bought of Capt. J. Gray Estoy, which was under the dining hall, was also burned. Plummer estimated his lows at $1400, and he carried an insur ance of $1150 in the Granite State com pany. Plummer statd that he thought the fire was caused by rats working by the partition with matches, i t was alo said at Chesterfioh that boys skating on the lake has gone wider the building to smoke. An agent of the Karite State company went to Woodsire with Mr. Plummer a day or two after the fire occurred and adjusted the insurance. There was from the first same suspicion in Cheaterfield as to the origin of the fire. Mr. Stearns was ill in Brooklyn the week of the fire, but on the following Tiesd ay he came to Prattinboro with several friends. [he soon heard that Plaijmer had hired a team of the Mrattleboro Livery company, the night of the free, saying Mint Hie was gone to meet Dratiivore, and was particular to have no bella on the team. Steiros’s suspicions were ardeal and he Honsa had lawyers and began an investiga ton, engaging Chilef-of-Police Melure to assist him. It was found that Mr. Plummer did not go to the home of his parents at Weal Brat Usboro as he stated, but that he did no to Chesterfield. The sleigh in which Plum mer went to Chesterfield had ruondéra nearer together than any other sleigh owned by the Brattleboro Livery company. The shoes on the horse were of an innisial pat tern. The runner tracks and the peculiar shoe tracks were found leading from the main road to Woodside, and at places on the road where Plummer turned out when he met teams. Stearns and McClure are also possessed of other evidence which they do not make public. it happened curiously, that Mr. Vail, who had been at Dinsdale, met Plummer near the lake when the lat ter was coming toward Brattleboro. He did not recognize him at the time, as Mum mie was closely wrapped up and made no answer to Vail’s remark about it being hard to turn out, but after the Investigation te man Fall easily recognized the livery team riven by Plummer, Vail drove into Wood side before going to West Chesterfield Fac tory. Everything at Woodside appeared all right when Vail was there but of course the fire had been started by Plummer. Plummer refuses to tell how he set the fire, but from what is known he evidently left a slow match so that it would brow down to some inflammable material. When Mr. Stearns had gained all the in formation necessary Plummer was sti mond to Waterman, Martin Ditt's of fre and confronted with the evidence found. At first Plummer made a show of Independence, but when he saw how close ly the meshes were being drawn about him he broke down, crap like a child, and confessed that he was guilty. ‘This was on Sapuptay, Jan, Co. Pimmer was given a chance to settle the case for damages with Mr. Stearns, but he made no effort to use. Philomer Was at his store until last Thurdday, when he went home il. Sher iff Starkey took possession of the store Friday, an attachment of $150, having been placed on it by Capt. J. Gray Matey who had not been paid for the swanner sold to Plummer. Since Friday the store had been closed. When Plummer was asked why he set the fire he said, I don't know.” The fact undoubtedly is, however, that he was in debt, and thought that with the money which he could realize from the insurance company he could tide over his pressing needs. It is said that the stock of goals in the store a morgage, in addition to the attachment, and that Plummer owes bills to numerous people. He attempted in November to buy his old Elliot street store when it became necessary for H. T. Willard to sell it. Failing in this he at once opened the new store. It has been one of Plummer's characteristics that when he has thought of any venture he has plunged into it without carefully count ing the fing) result, she has been known by those intimately acquainted with fin use builder of ale cas tles, but he has been creditd with an av erage amount of business ability. His past reputation has been good ln every re spect. He has been an active worker in the Universality society, and the not known that a charge of dishonesty was ever brought seaing a bit before, the fneling agallet bin is far differnt fron that for most persons gality of a crime, and pity for him overshadows the enormi ty of the offence. For Mr. Primmer's wife the deepest sytopathy lefele, No family in Drattehord is more generally and highly respected thin the one to which she belongs; for Mr. Plummers parents, also, there to great sympathy, Mr. Mummer was arrested Saturday, not for inconfiarium, but of hell will for images sustained . J. Th Stari resale. jie from the fire, ‘The arrest took place at the home of Mr. Mummers parents In West Dratthehoro.
Newspaper Details
Brattleboro Vermont Phonix
Brattleboro, Vermont, US
Fri, Jan 19, 1894
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Susan S.
USA 06 Jul 2026
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