A 16-year-old youth was held in Hartford prison today, in default of $2,000 bail, awaiting a hearing on charges that he broke into the Yeshiva of Hartford last Sunday, and set a fire that gutted one wing of the day school, causing damages estimated at $100,000. The youth, Michael Lawton of Hartford, also was accused of desecrating the sanctuary, throwing a Torah scroll on the floor, ripping open Jewish National Fund collection boxes and breaking furniture.
The suspect was traced by identification of his voice on a tape recorder, according to Dr. Aaron Baer, school principal. Before going on his alleged damage and arson spree, the youth had recorded his plans on the recorder, police said, and he was traced through the voice on the tape.
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