The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1888-03-13
THE LEVINE FIRE.
WAT the Chief of the Fire De-
partment of Hlllsboro Says
A hont II
About 1t,
IiltL@DoRo, TEN, March 5. lSS,
the Editor of the Gazette.

49, 'COA " DAYS
About 1t,
HltL@ BoRo, TEN. March ). lSSs
To the Editor OF the Gazette
notice i'll tc-dsy's News a tele-
gram with a double head to It an
hounclng the fact that the sherif of
, (hls county had arrested in Waco YES
terday, MIR. Joe Levine. the grand
lur! having found true bill against
HIM tor arson, Now, have known
the above named gentleman for the
past seventeen years, aud 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 him, y nlG-
Jorlty of the best men, both
jew and Gentle, in Waco are
ready aud willing to declare him
innocent of the charge. OF course
all your readers ara not familiar with
tho case, hence | Will briefly state il:
The firm OF Levine Bros, of Waco,
has had for "a number of years y
branch house i'll this cry with Nj.
Ben D. French as manager. On the
night of December 10, or rather on
the morning OF tho 2Oth, between thu
hours OF ; and 1 o'c.ock, " fire wa
discovered in the Levine store. and il
was said by some that Mr.. DO Levine
( had been seen coming from
/ or out OF the store just a. the fire
starred, There was much excitement
oNer the matter, and aud on Wcdncs-
/ day y fire inquest was hold before Ju.-
tic9 Oycrtou. one Or lilArd Of
Waco TESTIFIED tdat he saw MIR. Lew
iue strlke n.tch and = { fire to hr
store. s negro man testified that be
saw Mr. Levine i'll the act of leaving
the store jus, before thc fire brok,
out and. another negro testified
toat he saw Mr. Levine g,t Of the
passenger tr in (trom the sou'h
the evening previous. pom thI,
c-timony the jury Of inques
returned a verdict that they bencvcC
Mr., 10 Levine did set fire TO hi,
storehOuse. This news soon rcaCheC
Waco and created considerable com
motion there. ard the next traii
brought up Mr.. 10 Levine accom-
panied by number of prOmincn
business mon of that city, who woul(
swear that MI. Levine was in Waco n
= O'Clock on Tuesday morning. a bono
WAS given for Mr.. L2wine's appear
ance before the grand jury. The
grand jury found a true bill on Wed
nesdsy and he was arrested au(
brought here on THIS mornings earl
train. Mr.Ssm Sanger and Mr.Shaperi
accompanied him, aud bond OF $500
was given for his appearance for trial
A tn )usand prominent men in Wac
| IA; h,,,I aud !
was not In Hillsboro at the time tn
fire broke out.
Now, am chict Of the fire depart
ment of this city, and was the first I
ring the fire alarm, and my wife al
daughter occupied the nearest room
to the burning buildings, aud at
quarter to 3 o'clock she detcctc
smoke and arous, d my daughter an
ask Cd her to jol aud see if there WI
not something burning in the hous
This was smoke from Lewine's stor
which entered my witc's bedroom
When the tlr,t alarm was given o
the streets it was twenty five minute
to { o'c ock. a thorough invest q
ton will show quite plainly ,hst NJ
Levine was not here and will pom
very strongly To other parties. Their
are circumstances connected wit
tn It fire that will astonish q gre
mauy of our citizens when made pul
lie.
That Mr.. } o Levine is innocent ,
the charge, but few of our either
will tor a minute doubt, and had til
Jury of inquest heard the testimony {
hundreds Of good people of Vac
i. i