DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Spacewarp, v. 4, issue 2, November 1948

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Spacewarp, v. 4, issue 2, November 1948

Page 10

By the 31st of August, we can easily conjecture that Burgard is fed up with his job. Here he has to remain away from the pleasant city of Springfield, ramping around in a lot of ashes on a farm, in the worst heatwave of the year. Besides, he still can't explain the fires. Maybe his boss is getting a mite peeved, too. After all, it's an election year.....

Furthermore, national attention is focussed on the Willey farm. Perhaps the Fire Marshal is beginning to wonder how his appropriation will fare in the next legislature if his office fumbles the year's most important case.

On the surface, however, all is quiet. The authorities give out a vague but reassuring statement now and then. They are making progress, and, in Burgard's words, are all ready to "put the finger on" the arsonist.

Now we come to a UP dispatch of 31 August 1948, which I quote in its entirety as it appeared in the Detroit Free Press:

MACOMB, ILL. --(UP)-- The 13-year-old niece of Charley Willey confessed today she touched off the "mystery"fires that burned down his house and bars and chased him from to farm, authorities reported.
The confession blasted notions that everything from radio waves to atomic energy or "ghosts" had caused the little fires that kept breaking out on Willey's property.

Wonet McNeil, red-haired niece who was once blind, admitted touching off the fires with matches because she didn't like where she was living, States Attorney Keith Scott said. The fires--hundreds of them--broke out on Willey's wallpaper until his 70-year-old, five-room farmhouse burned down. Then two barns went up in smoke.

Investigators had been baffled until recently when they began to suspect arson.

Deputy State Fire Marshal John Burgard said he set a trap by arranging a box of matches in a certain position at the new Willey home.

Burgard said that Saturday when he smelled smoke he peered through a window and saw Wonet inside. He said he put out the fires and then examined the matches, which had been disturbed.

Scott said the girl confessed after an hour's questioning by himself and Burgard.

The girl said she was unhappy because her parents were separated.

Wonet said she touched matches to the walls of the farmhouse when no one was looking. She said she fired the barns by setting fire to the hay in the haymows.

Wonet is a sixth-grade pupil. The girl was blind several years ago for about a year and as a result was behind in school, Scott said. He did not know the cause of her blindness.

Scott said he saw no reason for prosecution "at the moment." The girl was released to the custody of an aunt and Scott said she would be given an examination at Chicago.     ((End of news item))
* * * 

Well, so the case is closed. We can now all sigh in relief, with perhaps a slight wonder at the extraordinary ability of a 13-year-old who could baffle her family, the neighbors, and highly-trained professional investigators for three weeks before being caught.

10

Saving...

By the 31st of August, we can easily conjecture that Burgard is fed up with his job. Here he has to remain away from the pleasant city of Springfield, ramping around in a lot of ashes on a farm, in the worst heatwave of the year. Besides, he still can't explain the fires. Maybe his boss is getting a mite peeved, too. After all, it's an election year..... Furthermore, national attention is focussed on the Willey farm. Perhaps the Fire Marshal is beginning to wonder how his appropriation will fare in the next legislature if his office fumbles the year's most important case. On the surface, however, all is quiet. The authorities give out a vague but reassuring statement now and then. They are making progress, and, in Burgard's words, are all ready to "put the finger on" the arsonist. Now we come to a UP dispatch of 31 August 1948, which I quote in its entirety as it appeared in the Detroit Free Press: MACOMB, ILL. --(UP)-- The 13-year-old niece of Charley Willey confessed today she touched off the "mystery"fires that burned down his house and bars and chased him from to farm, authorities reported. The confession blasted notions that everything from radio waves to atomic energy or "ghosts" had caused the little fires that kept breaking out on Willey's property. Wonet McNeil, red-haired niece who was once blind, admitted touching off the fires with matches because she didn't like where she was living, States Attorney Keith Scott said. The fires--hundreds of them--broke out on Willey's wallpaper until his 70-year-old, five-room farmhouse burned down. Then two barns went up in smoke. Investigators had been baffled until recently when they began to suspect arson. Deputy State Fire Marshal John Burgard said he set a trap by arranging a box of matches in a certain position at the new Willey home. Burgard said that Saturday when he smelled smoke he peered through a window and saw Wonet inside. He said he put out the fires and then examined the matches, which had been disturbed. Scott said the girl confessed after an hour's questioning by himself and Burgard. The girl said she was unhappy because her parents were separated. Wonet said she touched matches to the walls of the farmhouse when no one was looking. She said she fired the barns by setting fire to the hay in the haymows. Wonet is a sixth-grade pupil. The girl was blind several years ago for about a year and as a result was behind in school, Scott said. He did not know the cause of her blindness. Scott said he saw no reason for prosecution "at the moment." The girl was released to the custody of an aunt and Scott said she would be given an examination at Chicago. ((End of news item)) * * * Well, so the case is closed. We can now all sigh in relief, with perhaps a slight wonder at the extraordinary ability of a 13-year-old who could baffle her family, the neighbors, and highly-trained professional investigators for three weeks before being caught. 10