Arson Connecticut

A Yale alumnus was charged with arson for allegedly torching shanties that were built in 1986 by students to protest South African apartheid, authorities said. Dr. Elwood D. Bracey, 56, of West Palm Beach, Fla., who apparently was visiting the New Haven, Conn., campus for alumni weekend, was stopped by a jogger near the blaze, police said. He was released on $50,000 bond pending a court appearance today.

A house once owned by diminutive circus attraction Tom Thumb was severely damaged in an arson fire Saturday, officials said. No injuries were reported. Property owner Amy Vizzo-Paniccia said the house was listed on the state's Register of Historic Places and was about to be sold. Thumb, born Charles Sherwood Stratton, began his career in 1842 with P.T. Barnum. His height never exceeded 33 inches.

A man once hailed as a hero for rescuing his children from their burning Hartford home was sentenced to 50 years in prison for murdering his wife, then setting the house on fire as a cover-up. Lance Wargo, 36, told Judge John Mulcahy Jr. he had nothing to do with the November 1994 murder and arson. But friends and family of Wendy Wargo, 29, said he deserved the most severe punishment. At first, neighbors hailed Wargo as a hero for rescuing his son, 5, and daughter, 4.

A man once hailed as a hero for rescuing his children from their burning Hartford home was sentenced to 50 years in prison for murdering his wife, then setting the house on fire as a cover-up. Lance Wargo, 36, told Judge John Mulcahy Jr. he had nothing to do with the November 1994 murder and arson. But friends and family of Wendy Wargo, 29, said he deserved the most severe punishment. At first, neighbors hailed Wargo as a hero for rescuing his son, 5, and daughter, 4.

A house once owned by diminutive circus attraction Tom Thumb was severely damaged in an arson fire Saturday, officials said. No injuries were reported. Property owner Amy Vizzo-Paniccia said the house was listed on the state's Register of Historic Places and was about to be sold. Thumb, born Charles Sherwood Stratton, began his career in 1842 with P.T. Barnum. His height never exceeded 33 inches.

A Yale alumnus was charged with arson for allegedly torching shanties that were built in 1986 by students to protest South African apartheid, authorities said. Dr. Elwood D. Bracey, 56, of West Palm Beach, Fla., who apparently was visiting the New Haven, Conn., campus for alumni weekend, was stopped by a jogger near the blaze, police said. He was released on $50,000 bond pending a court appearance today.