Arsonists Face Murder Charges, p.25
Dublin Core
Title
Arsonists Face Murder Charges, p.25
Description
"STERLING, ILL.---(UPI)---
A beauty shop operator and a telephone installer faced murder by arson charges in July 4 fire that killed four persons.
Whiteside County Chief Deputy Sheriff Boyd Kimmell said charges would be filed her against John H. Davis, 23, and Nancy Lou Brown, who were turned over to Whiteside Country authorities under similar charges in Chicago.
Davis, a lanky telephone company employee, and Miss Brown, silver-haired and stocky, were in handcuffs when they left Chicago police headquarters early today. Neither had any comment on the charges.
State Deputy Fire Marshall [sic] Walter Parlier and Chicago arson squad police said Davis, formerly of Rock Falls, just south of here, yesterday admitted setting the fire in a conspiracy with Miss Brown to collect $13,500 insurance on contents of her shop here.
All four victims of the blaze lived in second floor apartments above the shop. They were Lloyd Robert Buckingham, Eon his wife 33 their son, Robert, 13 and Mrs. Mae Libberton, 35, a hospital secretary.
Davis told police Miss Brown promised him $1,500 to set the fire, but paid him only $320-$200 before the fire and $120 later when he met her in a tavern.
Davis said he drove to Sterling early on the Fourth of July with two containers of gasoline, which he sprayed on the first floor. He threw a burning match on the gasoline and returned to Chicago by way of Aurora, he said.
Chicago arson detectives quoted Davis as saying, “I guess I’ll spend the next 20 years in prison.”"
A beauty shop operator and a telephone installer faced murder by arson charges in July 4 fire that killed four persons.
Whiteside County Chief Deputy Sheriff Boyd Kimmell said charges would be filed her against John H. Davis, 23, and Nancy Lou Brown, who were turned over to Whiteside Country authorities under similar charges in Chicago.
Davis, a lanky telephone company employee, and Miss Brown, silver-haired and stocky, were in handcuffs when they left Chicago police headquarters early today. Neither had any comment on the charges.
State Deputy Fire Marshall [sic] Walter Parlier and Chicago arson squad police said Davis, formerly of Rock Falls, just south of here, yesterday admitted setting the fire in a conspiracy with Miss Brown to collect $13,500 insurance on contents of her shop here.
All four victims of the blaze lived in second floor apartments above the shop. They were Lloyd Robert Buckingham, Eon his wife 33 their son, Robert, 13 and Mrs. Mae Libberton, 35, a hospital secretary.
Davis told police Miss Brown promised him $1,500 to set the fire, but paid him only $320-$200 before the fire and $120 later when he met her in a tavern.
Davis said he drove to Sterling early on the Fourth of July with two containers of gasoline, which he sprayed on the first floor. He threw a burning match on the gasoline and returned to Chicago by way of Aurora, he said.
Chicago arson detectives quoted Davis as saying, “I guess I’ll spend the next 20 years in prison.”"
Creator
N/A
Publisher
The Chicago Defender
Date
1960-9-24
Collection
Citation
N/A, “Arsonists Face Murder Charges, p.25,” African American Fourth of July, accessed May 2, 2024, https://africanamerican4th.omeka.net/items/show/302.