The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-04-15
RELIEVED OF A SERIOUS CHARGE.
The Parties Accused of Arson i'm
Connection with the Globe Hotel
Fire Released by Judge Smell.


Connection with the Globe Hotel
Fire Released by Judge Smell.
The charge Of arson against Geo. Cohen
and soloman Friedman, tho proprietors of
the restaurant in the Globe HOTEL No. 337
Pennsylvania avenue, and James NJ. Glass,
which was before tho Police Court last
week, was called for trial before Judge
Smell this morning
Mr.. A. b. williams appeared for tho de-
PENDANTS and Mr.. Thomas for the Govern
ment.
Mr.. Nathan S. Putnam was tho first wit
ness called. He stated that he occupied
room No. on the fourth floor Of the Globe
Hotel, and about 9 o'clock last Wednesday
morning he awoke and smelled smoke and
got up, and the smoke was so dense that he
had to wet his handkerchief and put 1t
over his face. He then went upstairs and
whistlCd through his fingers to awaken the
inmates of the house. The three defend
ants got down on the sidewalk before wit
ness. Mrs. Wolfe and other inmates were
also out on the sidewalk in the rain. They
all called out fire, and policeman came
running down the Avenue aud an alarm
was sounded.
Officer Mcdonald testified that at Q
o'clock on the morning of tho fire he OK
amined tho Globe Hotel and found all the
ened, and there was no sign of fire. He
was the first officer who arrived there after
the alarm was turned in, and found the
house full of smoke. Mr.. Cohen was par
TALLY, dressed, and had a shawl over his
head.
Lewis Hager, q colored waiter, testified
TO leaving the house after midnight, and
locking the gate before he left.
Hayden Taylor, colorcd employe, testi-
fed to leaving tho defendants in the house
when he left ut midnight.
This evidence was introduced to show
that the building was securely fastened,
and was not entered from the outside.
w. Il. Sorrell, of No. Fire Engine Com
pany, tcstifi that his apparatus responded
to an alarm for u fire at 337 PenDa. avenue
| at 3:11 o'clock Wednesday morning. lie
| entered the hallway, and on going into the
bar, found blaze behind the bar and
several other portions of the room on fire.
| He went into the dining-room and found
the wainscoating there on fire. The build
ing was on fire in eight places.
Charles Meilett, assistant chief engineer,
| corroboratsd tho evidence Of the previous
| witness.
Officer Bro On testified that he and Mr.
| Raft visited tho hotel Wednesday and OK
amined the building. They found six
places in the bar-room, four in the dining
room and other places upstairs, making
sevent; en- places in ALL where fires had beer
kindled. In several places coal.oil ant
broken cigar-boxes were used in starting
the fires. Coal-oil was poured around thu
windows and walls, and in the pool-roou
fires were started at three Of the legs Of
pool-table.
Detective Raft asked Cohen how he &C
counted for the fire and whether an en-
trance had been effected. Cohen then tool
them to the gate and said the entrance was
made there, and showed marks on the gate
but they were on the inside.
Detective Rafl S testimony was about the
same as that of Officer Brcen.
The Court said he did not think a cast
was made out against tho defendants, bu
the yidence all tend; the other way. Tit
evidence showed that they were aroused
out of bed, and it was preposterous to thinl
that they would fire building aud then &
to bed. 1t would be unjust to the defend
ants and it would alto be unjust to til
public to burden them with the oxpens
of such prosecution. He therefore dis
charged them.