Newspaper Clipping of the Day

Via Newspapers.com

Out: Spontaneous Human Combustion.  In: Spontaneous Shirt Combustion.  The “Western Daily Press,” April 22, 1996:

Can anybody solve the mystery of the frazzled shirt, the melted clothes pegs, and the bang from the sky?

A tale of the paranormal, perhaps?

Father-of-three Alan Fairless has been left a bemused man by the sudden destruction of his favorite green-and-white striped polo shirt.

His Sunday lie-in was interrupted at about 6 a.m. by an explosive-like noise in his back garden. 

But there was no sign of lightning or anything strangely untoward around Howes Close in Warmley, near Bristol.

But later as he sipped his morning coffee, Mr. Fairless noticed the smouldering remains of his Lacoste shirt beneath the washing line.

"All that remains of the shirt is a few bits of green cloth around the shoulders.  It was barely recognizable,” said Mr. Fairless.

“I’ve no idea how this happened.  None of the other clothes on the washing line were touched.”

“It was a fine night.  I even phoned the weather centre and they said there had been no reports of lightning.”

The engineer added, “It couldn’t have been a practical joke either.  My neighbors are very quiet.”

“It couldn’t have been the children either since the eldest is only four.”

His wife Marcia said, “We had just had a quiet night in and we were woken up by this bang.  It’s a real mystery.”

Bristol Weather Centre said they had no reports of lightning early on Sunday morning.

There was a sequel to this story in the “Bristol Observer” on July 5:

Washing lines in Warmley were the subject of a series of bizarre arson attacks last weekend. Clothes and property were damaged at seven homes following a two-hour blitz on Saturday morning (June 29), from 4am to 6am. The attacks happened in Quantock Close, Chiltern Close, Malvern Drive and Meadow Court. The fire in Chiltern Close spread to the side of the house and damaged a conservatory.

A playpen of toys was also destroyed in the first blaze in Quantock Close. The attacks follow the destruction of a man's shirt while it was hanging on a washing line in Warmley at the end of April this year.

Alan Fairless, of Howes Close, heard a loud explosion in his back yard at 6am and later discovered the remains of his shirt under the washing line.

Fire Brigade spokesman John Dando said he felt there was a link between that incident and the current ones.

“It’s extraordinary.  I think the incidents have got to be related.  There is no logical explanation.

“But on a serious note, it’s obviously worrying that someone is stalking around at that time of night setting fire to washing lines. 

"I cannot understand what motivation anyone would have for doing that. It's not much of a progression from setting fire to garden sheds, cars and homes. We want this person caught as soon as possible." 

Police have appealed for witnesses to the attacks. Phone Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 if you can help.

I couldn’t find out if the mystery was ever solved.