On December 28th 1914, John Stamm was "impersonating Santa", at M.E. Church in Iola. As he walked past 17 year old Clarence Taylor, Taylor set a match Stamm's sweater.
The church was packed and the shutters were closed and latched. Stamm was badly burned before being taken outside and rolled in the snow.
Iola is a small town in Columbia County, bordering Millville Pa.
There was no proof that Taylor had actually been the one to touch the match to the sweater, but he did admit to drinking hard cider, provided by Henry Rider, before going to church. It was asserted that he had been drunk. The cost of the sweater and damages were paid, and Taylor was released.
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