AN AMAZING CONFESSION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19203, 20 June 1924, Page 5

AN AMAZING CONFESSION

THE HOPE SCHOOL FIRE. GIEL ADMITS INCENDIARISM. Press Association —By Telegraph — Copyright NEW YORK, June 18. (Received Juno 19, at 5.5 p.m.) At Los Angeles a IH-year old girl, whose name is withheld, confessed to setting fire to the Hope Development School at Plaza del Rey on May 31, when 24 lives were lost. The District Attorney announces that the girl did not like the school, and decided to bum it so that all the girk could go home and be tree to have a good time like other girls. She did not mean to kill anybody.—Reuter. Trapped in a building which was de signed to prevent their escape, 24 girl ranging from 10 to 16 years were killed when a fire destroyed a school for subnormal girls outside Venice, California i All the bodies were recovered. Many were not seriously ourned, but the victim ■ had been smothered. The retarded men tality of the inmates contributed to the pandemonium. Dozens of terrorised chil dven in their nightgowns fought with th« firemen who tried desperately to save them. The matron lost her life in attempt ing to lead the girls to safety.