The Fires of 1946
By Cody Berry
On January 31, 1946, an article about a local “firebug” appeared on the front page of The Benton Courier saying that there had been three fires in the past week. At 7:00pm, the Friday before, the office of Dr. J. W. Ashby on West Sevier Street was set on fire. Rufus Land, who lived next door, reported the fire to the Benton Fire Department, who promptly responded. Dr. Ashby’s office was on fire in three places, mainly in the examination and consultation rooms. Dr. Ashby’s exam table was covered in a combustible liquid. The same night an attempt was made to burn down the Russell Electric Company. Another fire was set near the rear door of the Western Auto Supply Co., the previous Thursday night.1
On February 7, 1946, The Benton Courier revealed that 10-year-old Charles Braswell confessed to starting several fires. Braswell said that on December 5, he set the fires at Western Auto Store, the Russell Electric Co., and Dr. Ashby’s office which also damaged the Benton Courier office next door. Braswell also set fires at the homes of Walter Beck, Ursaline Ringgold, and Frank Brown.2
According to Braswell’s confession, the night the Courier office burned, he went up there with a penny box of matches, and he used it to light some trash behind the building on fire. That fire spread from the trash to the grass and onto the building itself. Braswell then went for ice cream at Parker’s Drug Store. The fire whistle sounded as Braswell passed by the “New Theater.” He then stopped before his mother and brother came after him. After Christmas, Braswell started home from the drug store at around 7pm. He then burned some trash behind Western Auto with matches he had in his pocket. 3
A few days later, Braswell set fire to some more trash behind the Economy store and the electric company. It had rained so those papers didn’t stay lit. Braswell entered Dr. Ashby’s office and set it on fire. On the previous Saturday, Braswell set a mop on fire on the front porch of Mr. Beck and Mrs. Ringgold. As soon as he lit the mop, he ran to get some turpentine which he poured on the ground behind Mrs. Ringgold’s home and set it on fire. He then ran down to Mr. Brown’s house and lit a box of trash under his house on fire. 4 On February 14, 1946, the Courier said that Prosecuting Attorney Jim Cole filed a delinquency charge against Charles Braswell. His case was heard on February 20. In March, the Courier announced that it would be returning to its old location. In the meantime, the Benton Courier was printed in Little Rock.5
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Citations:
1 “Benton Infested By Firebug; Three Fires Past Week,” The Benton Courier, January 31, 1946, p. 1
2 “Charles Braswell, Age 10 Years, Confesses to Causing Courier Fire,” The Benton Courier, February 7, 1946, p. 1
3 “Charles Braswell, Age 10 Years, Confesses to Causing Courier Fire,” The Benton Courier, February 7, 1946, p. 1
4 “Charles Braswell, Age 10 Years, Confesses to Causing Courier Fire,” The Benton Courier, February 7, 1946, p. 1
5 “Delinquency Charge Filed By Pros. Atty. Against Charles Braswell,” The Benton Courier, February 14, 1946, p. 1; “Courier To Be Back At Our Old Location On Saturday, March 16,” The Benton Courier, March 7, 1946, p. 1