The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-08-06
DARING INCENDIARY.

Last Sunday evening about 10 o'clock the
quiet stiffness of our city was suddenly broken
by the ringing of the fire alarm and In few
moments Front street was swarming with PEG
pie Max Krolik's boot and shoe store was on
fire and Its location In the very heart OF oui
business circle and In one of the best blocks
I'm tho city, was sufficient to cause considerable
nervousness. But the fire department.
promptly on hand as usual soon allayed all
fear and extngrished the incpient blaze with
| little trouble.
The fire was first discovered by II. NJ. Ham
iton's son John. He peered through the open
ing at the bottom of the window curtain and
| saw blaze I'm the rear of the store, and gave
the alarm. Volumes of smoke ut this time
came pouring through every avenue of escape
and things looked decidedly threatening for u
time. The plate glass I'm the door was broken
in at the first discovery of fire, and upon the
arrival of the department small quantity OF
water was thrown into the room
Examination of the room established con-
vlncing proof that the building had been set
| on fire. Boxes containing rubber goods on
either side of the room ana one under the
| stairs leading To the balcony were all on fire
ut the same time, and the odor arising from
|
used In fact boxes containing rubbers which
had fortunately escaped from catching on fire
were found partially filled with oil. And still
more convincing proof that the fire was the
work of daring and determined incendiary
was the fact that the central gas fixtures had
been disconnected and thrown upon the floor
which allowed gas to escape into the room I'm
great volume.
When the facts became known chief WEIGH
examined every avenue of entrance 10 the
building i'm the rear and found all securely
fastened. The back door was locked and bolt
ed from within, the windows were secured and
the entrance from the cellar was fastened.
The only possible way, therefore, for any one
To gain an entrance was through the front
door. Mr. Krolik, the proprietor, had been
seen in front of the building only fifteen or
twenty minutes before the fire, and upon COM
plant OF G.. q. Burt Mr.. Kroik was arrested
Monday morning upon the charge of arson. |
Krolik retained Mr.. COllester as his attorney
and put In portion of the day in endeavoring |
to secure bail, failing In which he was COM |
mittcd to Jail. He waived examination until |
this morning, and telegraphed in the mean
time to A Krolik & Co., OF Detroit, his pre-
dicamenr. Wednesday Mr. Herman Krolik
arrived and Max was released from confins-
mcnt yesterday morning under 81 900 bonds.
That the fire was premeditated and inten-
tional cannot be denied. That the job was
most clumsily executed goes without saying.
That Mr. Krolik committed the decd is hard
to believe, DESPITE the attendant circumstan-
ces. During his residence I'm our city OF over
Il year he has made a large number of friends
by his gentlemany demeanor and genial man.
ners. In every feature of his business, so far
rs the public is concered, he has been straight
forward. The first rumors, that he had only
about $1,000 in stock and 81 600 insurance,
were unfounded. An inventory has been
made and the stock on hand, including Il xtures
Is $3.50 with an insurance of $1,000. AT the
time of the last Inventory in June he had {
over a 81 900 stock, but owing TO the fact that
ne was selling out his stock was of course
somewhat reduced from that figure.
As we go to press Mr.. Krolik is having his l
examination before Judge Porter. I
rhe case will last during the day and possibly
portion Of tomorrow.