Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-03-10
TIE LEVINE FIRE.
What the Chief of the Fire Department. of
hillsbaro says about 1t.

billsbaTo SHys About It.
HILLsBORo, TEX March g. 1855.
To the iitor of the Gazette
notice in to-day's News telegram
with double head to it announcing the
fact that the Sheriff Of this county had
sr ested in Waco yesterday Mr.. Joe
Levine, the grand j1ry having found a
true bill against him fer arson. Now,
have known the above med gentleman
for the past seventeen years, and have
never yet heard one word against him.
He has always borne the best character,
and, Notwithstanding the unjust charge
that has been made against MIN, ma
jority of the best men, both
Jew and Gentle, in Waco are
ready and willing TO declare
him innocent OF the charge. OF course
all OF your readers are not familiar with
this case, he &c l will bri' fly state: The
firm Of Levine Bros. of Waco has had
for number of years branch house in
this city, with Mr.. Ben J. French IS man
ager. On the night of December 10, or
rather on the morning OF the 20 b, be-
tween the hours Of aod o'clGck, @ Dire
WAS discovered in the Levine store, and
it was said by some thai Mr. j. Levine
had been seen coming from c out of the
store Just as The fire started. There w>s
much excite ment over the matter, 81 d
on Wednesday fire quest was
held before Justice OVerton. One DR.
Ll!lard CT Waco testified that be saw Mr..
Levine strike a mitch and set fire to his
store. A ne gro man testified that ne SAN
Mr.. Levine IN the act Of leaving he store
Just before the fire broke out, and
another negro testified that he saw Mr.
Levine get Of the passenger train (from
the sout } the evening previous. Upon
this testimony the jury Of IIqlest
returned verdict that lney believed Mr..
10 Lzwine cid set fire to his srorehouse.
This. news soon reached Wsco and
created considerable commotion there,
and the next train brought
up Mr.. 10 Levine accom-
panied by number If prominent bust
ness men # tDaJ city, who would swear
tDat Mr. Levine was III Waco at 2 O'Clock
on Tuesday morning. bond wss given
Tor Mr.. Le~iue's appearance before the
grand jury. The grand jury found true
Diil on Wednesday and ne was arrested
aud brought here on this mornings
early train. Mr.. Sam Sanger and Mr.
S1spera accompanied min, sud bond of
$1,000 was given for his appearance for
trial. A Thousand prominent men in
Waco would go on his bond and swear he
WAS not in HlIlsb 70 St the time the fire
broke out.
Now, / am chief Of tue fire de-
pArtment of this city, ana was the first to
ring the fire alarm, ana my wife and
daughter occupied the nearest rooms to
TIRE burning buildings, snd - I qusTter to
8 O'Clock she detected smoke ana aroused
my daughter snd asked her to lock and
see il there WAS not something burning
10 the house. This was smoke from
Lewine's store which entered my Wite's
bedroom. When the first alarm was given
on the streets it was twenty i've minutes
to O'Clock. A thorough iGvest gatioD
will show quite plainly that Mr.. Lewin9
was not here and will point very strongly
to other parties. There are ciTcum
stances connected with that fire that will
astonish a great many OF cur citizens
when made public.
That Mr.. 10 Levine Is innocent Of the
charge, but few of our citizens VIII for 8
minute doubt, and had the jury of II quesl
heard the testimony Of hundreds Of 60 d
people OF Waco, they never would nave
concluded Mr.. Levine guilty, and to-day
doubt il there Is single one OF the jurq
that entertans the ides that he is guilty.
regret that merchant who stands as
high, morally and financially, IS Mr..
Levine, should have SO damaging charge
made sgainst him, and sincerely nope you
will give place to this communication,
fseEI e confident that the great majority
Of our people are now fully satisfied that
Mr.. Levine is innocent OF the charge.
Very respectfully,
JAMES W. GOLLgDGE.
Chief Of the Fire Department.