Crime or Insanity? – (PIP #49)

By Louise Peloquin

On  April 15th 2019, the New York Times featured the following headline:  “Fire Mauls Beloved Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.”

95 years earlier, Little Canada’s beloved cathedral would have suffered the same fate were it not for a young woman’s acuity and responsiveness. Here is L’Etoile’s front-page coverage of the breaking news.

L’Etoile October 31, 1924

SOMEONE TRIES TO SET FIRE TO THE CHURCH

IS IT INSANITY OR IS IT A CRIME?

     An unknown individual tries to set fire to Saint-Jean-Baptiste church but the act of arson is perceived by a young woman performing her devotions  – A lit match on oil poured on the floor.

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THIS IS THE SECOND ATTEMPT

IN SEVERAL DAYS

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     The magnificent Saint-Jean-Baptiste church which, on November 1912, was almost devastated by fire, nearly met the same fate this morning when an arsonist believed to be a pyromaniac, tried to set fire after having doused the floor and lower walls with a quantity of oil.

     The news of this heinous attempt spread rapidly across the city and caused considerable emotion within the entire population. It is highly likely that, had the arsonist had the time to accomplish his work, we would once again have to recount the sad details of a blaze similar to that of 1912.

     According to the details we have gathered this morning, it seems that the arsonist penetrated into the church between 9:30 and 10 and stayed there for a while kneeling or sitting in the choir area of the church basement. There were a few people in the church at the time.

     Shortly after 10, a young lady doing the Way of the Cross devotions, looked in the direction of the choir and saw the stranger light a match and throw it on the floor.

     The young woman in question had the presence of mind to run to St.-Joseph rectory to warn the priests. When they arrived, the arsonist had disappeared. The priests immediately saw that oil had been poured onto the floor and along the walls close to the confessionals in the back of the church.

     The police authorities were immediately notified and, a few minutes later, Sargent Phillip Dart and agents Joseph L. Lamoureux and Daniel M. Lynch arrived on the scene. They investigated everywhere in the surroundings but, as they had received no reports on the unknown person, their research was useless.

     The police officers noticed that matches had been lit and thrown onto the floor but, remarkable thing, the oil had not caught fire. 

     It is reported that this attempted arson is the second to take place in less than a week. A few days ago, rags soaked in oil were found in the staircase leading to the choir loft of the upper church.

     The police authorities have begun an investigation and will make all possible efforts to arrest the culprit. According to indications, it seems that the two attempts were accomplished by the same individual. (1)

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1) Translation by Louise Peloquin.