A Reign Of Terror
Barton's sentenee to Jackson brings to the public ruiud a terrible record of fire and torror in the sectiou round about Unadilla. For the past few years the people of the neighborhood have rarely slept with any feeling of secnrity. They have been held in absolute terror j the fire bug. Going to bed with everything iu seeming safety, the residents were likely to be startled froru an uneasy sleep in the middle of the night by the dreaded but not unexpected alarm of fire. None knew when his tuin would come and fear reigned, an absolute monarch. The people teil that hey often arose at night, feeling insecure and fidgety, to see if their buildings were all right. Night af ter night, soine member of rnany families in the región would get up and make a tour of inspection. And it was not alone of arson that the people were afraid. They dreaded lest their stock would be poisoned, or that their wells might be seasoned with Paris Ureen, or that every meal they ate ruight contain the essence of death in some dread forni. This week Monday, the day when Barton iiame before Judge Kiuue for trial, there were many people in court from Lyudon and Unadilla, auxious for the outcorne, for it meant much as to their future peace of mind. It w.as with the greatest satisf aetion that they heard I the sentence of five years, upon oonfession of the one crime. The reign of terror in large part, at least, was removed. The record of arson dates back fully ten years and inclndes the buruiug or attempted burning of over a dozen valuable buildings. Iu the flrst place there carne the burning of a house and then a barn, without exciting much ment. But then came the burning of Hoyland's large grist mili in Uuadilla, and the people became aroused to the uncomfortable knowledge that a daugerous inceudiary was in their midst. Then followed the burning of an oid house, used as a shop, and finally a school houso was fired iu the viüage of ünadilla, but it failed to buru. The atteinpfc to burn the Messeuger barns in Lyndon has becorne notorious. Regarding it Proseouting Attorney Rauduil tells an interésting story of Wiliie Bartou's connention with tho matter. Willis tells that he was ridiug home witb Cuyler one day, when his uncle asked him if Messenger's barn should buru, whom he thought it would be laid to. Wiliie told him he thonght it would be laid to his own door. Upon Cuyler' s asking him why he thought so, Wiliie replied, ' ' because you are in bad repute with the neighbors. " Cuyler went on'to say that [he would like to have a good tire and asked Wiliie what he would take to set one for him. Wiliie replied by asking how much he would give. and his uncle said he would pay him $25. Wiliie aocepted the offer and shortly afterwards Cuyler showed him one of his machines and explainedits working. Then Wiliie told him he had changed his mind and would not set the fire; tbere was too niuch risk and it was not right Sometí me later the barn was discovered afire and a maobine was found in it. Two atterupts were made to buru the barn of John Webb, of Lyndon, the second of which was successful. After the first attempt, one of the machines was found in the barn. The last attempt was only two months ago. Prosecuting Attorney Raudall was one moruing called to the telephone from Gregory, and was told of the burning. He sent Sheriff Jndson there to investígate. The latter came back and said that a steam threshing machine had been at work in the barn the day before and this fact would injure the prospecta for making a case of arsou out of it. Barton had worked with the threshing gang and was suspected. The building was so soon in a hlaze on all sides, that it was thought that Barton had placed his machine at different places and had so arranged them that they all started fires at the same time. James McKinder was another farmei i who came near suffering from rlx; lire ; fiend. This was some timo ago. His straw stack was fired but the fire went out and a telltale machine told the uure story óf incendiarisni. The Bangs barn in Unadilla is one of the most recent cases. It was bnrned since Hadley's and was a fine large structure. Rev. Mr. North, a Methodist preacher of Unadilla, was another sufferer. Auother case was that with which Edson May was connected, upon whom Barton's defense was endeavoring to throw discredit. May was abont to move into a dwelliug in Unadilla township, which was the property of the heirs of Gilbert S. May, when the house was i-et afire and was partly bnrned. Por tliis crime, Barton was arrested in Livingston county and was in jail at Howell, for laok of $2,000 bail. wheu Sheriff Judson went af ter hiin last week, in order to bring hini here for tri-il. This house was lired after the burning of the Wobb barn.
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Ann Arbor Argus
Old News