Cops Quiz Firebomb Suspects

Camden Cops Quiz Firebomb Suspects Camden police today were questioning several suspects in last night's fire bombing of a home at 976 Woodland Avenue in which two persons escaped serious injury. Witnesses told police they saw three or four juveniles running from the home of William Knoth Sr., shortly before a beer bottle containing either gasoline or kerosene exploded in the living room of their home. Camden Fire Marshal Benjamin Walters said William Knoth, Jr., 46, and his mother, Martha, 74 were sitting in the living room watching television when the bomb was thrown through a window and exploded. Harry Walker of 264 Branch Village and Thomas Jennings, of South 8th Street, who were walking in the area heard the bomb explode and rushed to the home and helped evacuate Knoth and his mother, Walters said. Walters said he recommended that Mrs. Knoth be taken to a hospital for treatment of minor burns received in the bombing but that she declined and instead was taken to another son's home in National Park. Acting Bat. Chief William Hillman said 25 firemen and five pieces of equipment responded to the 8 p.m. alarm and brought the blaze under control in about 10 minutes. He said the fire was confined to the living room of the home, and exterior of the two-story wood frame home. Some smoke and water damage was done to a neighboring home at 974 occupied by Willaim Hill, and his wife and 17-year-old son, Charles. Police said Knoth could not think of any reason someone would want to firebomb his parents' home. Police said this was the first firebombing in the city since a bomb was thrown through the living room window of Camden Municipal Judge William M. Rosenblatt on Aug. 22, 1972. There were no injuries.