by Jonathan Lemire
A disgruntled shoeshine stand employee who twice torched a sidewalk booth in Bryant Park tried to hotfoot it away but was busted by FDNY fire marshals.
John Edward Swain, 71, confessed yesterday to burning the stand at the 42nd St. park on March 22 and then igniting the rebuilt booth on April 6, Fire Department officials said yesterday.
Swain used to work at a stand at Grand Central Terminal and was angry that he couldn't get a job at the Bryant Park outposts, the officials said.
In both early-morning arsons, Swain doused the stands with lighter fluid and then ignited the fire with a match. No one was hurt in either blaze.
Swain was identified by witnesses and charged with two counts of fifth-degree arson. He was arrested without incident at his Bronx home yesterday morning, officials said.
The permanent shoeshine stand was installed in the park near the main branch of the New York Public Library 10 years ago.
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