Mexborough and Swinton Times October 27, 1917

Wath Church Fire
Choirboy Admits Guilt
Five Years in a Reformatory

Sydney Cameron (14) of Leeds was charged with setting fire to Wath Church on August 10. He was accompanied by his uncle, a soldier in uniform, who wished for the lad to be tried summarily by the justices. Defendant pleaded guilty.

The Rev William Keble, Martin, vicar of Wath, said in August 16 he visited the church between 12.30 and 12:40 PM when all was safe. At 5:15 PM he was informed that the church was on fire, and on going there he found the church well alight. The fire took place almost entirely in the vestry, when he got there it was spreading from the vestry. With considerable trouble, the fire was got under control. In September 28 in consequence of something that was set in, witness in company with Miss Corrie, a church worker, went to the church, and searched the rear of the organ.

On both sides he saw spent matches and charred wood about one feet from the organ. From what could be seen, the wood had apparently been put there about the time that the fire took place in the church vestry. It had been put there since the last cleaning of that part of the church. The only cleaner of the church did not go behind the organ, because of the heavy furniture in that part of the building which could not be removed easily. The charred wood looked as if it had been put there for the purpose of setting the church on fire, and it had gone out.

In reply to questions by Mr Clews (the Clerk) the Vicar said that Cameron had been a member of the choir, which he had attended quite regularly for some few years. During the past two years he had had Cameron a good deal under his observation, and there was nothing special about his conduct, for he was always well spoken, and he (witness) previous to August 18 could have spoken well of him to anybody.

Janet Corrie said on September 28 along with the Vicar she went to the church and found the charred wood and matches behind the organ, and it looked as if a fire have been started but had not burnt.

Martha Laidlaw, married woman, 36 Park Road, Wath, said Cameron had lived at the same address. On August 16, about 5:30 PM he came home in a very excited state and said “Wath Church is on fire, both in the vestry and behind the organ,” and she replied, “Surely not.” Next day the defendant returned home, brought a piece of charred wood and a piece of the organ pipe, and she questioned him as to what they were.

She saw very little of him again until August 21 he came to the back door. She let him in and shortly afterwards he went out again with his uncles bicycle. He came back in a few minutes, and said “Mrs Laidlaw, there is a smell of fire,” and she remarked that she could not smell anything. She noticed, however, that people were passing a look at the upper part of the house, and thinking there was an aeroplane she went to the door. Someone called out “Missus your bedroom is on fire.”

She ran into the bedroom got a box which had some insurance papers in and came down again. She did not stop to see where the fire was, but her husband and some neighbours went upstairs and put it out.

The uncle of the defendant told her that the lad was beyond his control, and offered to pay for the damage, and shortly afterwards left the house.

George Johnson, road foreman, employed by the Wath Urban District Council, said on August 16 he saw the defendant loitering near the Town Hall, Wath, and the Church. He had seen him on several occasions. Defendant asked him one day if he had got the fire engine mended, and he replied “No”. Witness assisted to extinguish the fire at the Church. In October 18 he identified the defendant from among the boys at the police station.

Detective officer Shaw said from instructions received from Superintendent Haynes on October 20 he proceeded to Wath, and made enquiries respecting the fire at the Church in August last. In consequence of information he obtained, a warrant was issued for the arrest of the defendant, and on October 18 he proceeded to Burley and arrested defendant at Leeds Forge. Defendant on been told about the warrant said “I only know that it was on fire; I did not do it.” Witness conveyed the defendant to the Leeds Police Station, when he said “I will tell the truth if you will not Birch me. I did set my aunt’s house on fire because Mrs Laidlaw called me a little pig.”

On his way to Rotherham between Leeds and Barnsley in the train, the defendant said, “I will tell you all the truth and be a good boy. I did set a cassock on fire in the vestry, but I never went behind the organ.” He also stated that he did it because Mr Coates had been hitting him.

Defendant was sent to a reformatory until he was 19 years of age