Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-06-30
\ FRESNO SENSATION.
Startling Developments hFade Concerning
a Recent Winery Fire.

lCopyTiga, 1SSs. by the California issoci1.ed Press
FRESNO, June 29th.-On March % last
the large winery, distillery, storehouses,
etc, at the Marguerite vineyard were de-
stroyed by fire. The winery was owned by
G. H. Matters and Z. H. Rogers, the latter
having the property in his wife's name.
The loss on the building and contents was
yariously estimated at from $40 900 to
$50 900, with insurance at $40 .000 some
900 of which Mrs. Rogers had. The in
surance companies thought something was
wrong, and some time ago the Morse De-
tectlve Agency sent man here to work up
the case. The detective finished his work
to-day, and the following are the facts, as
far as can be learned, about the matter:
The man who is known as E. B. Rogers
is said to be in reality one Alexander, born
in Cohees. n. Y. He was indicted at Troy
for burglary, but powerful influence kept
him from trial and conviction. He then
came to California, and has since been en-
gagged in business here and elsewhere
The vineyard was in the hands of wine
maker named Captain St. Hubert and Sup
erintendent named Robson. 1t is now
alleged that the winery was set on fire, and
that the detective knows the man who
touched the match to it. Previous to
setting the winery on fire most of
the stock was removed secretly and
hauled to the mountains, and the
balance buried about the vineyard The
detective and officers found 80 puncheons
of wine buried in swamp, % barrels of
sherry and port hid in concealed room in
barn, seven barrels of brandy hid in the
hay-loft, also $50 gallons of claret, two
kegs of wine, two OF brandy and two bar
rels of sherry and port were found buried
in the cellar of the house occupied by
Superintendent Robson. Seven barrels of
brandy and three barrels of wine were
found buried in the cellar of the house oc-
cupied by St. Hubert.
From marks on the packages this LIQUOR
was found to be in the list furnished the
insurance companies as burned. All
the brandy was gauged, but was mot
stamped. Thus the Government has
not been defrauded, and the ONLY crime
against the internal revenue law is the re-
| moval of the liquors from the place pro
vided for their keeping, which is a tech
nical offense, and will not be prosecuted by
the Government Probably the liquor was
buried, not for the purpose of concealing 1t
from the revenue officers, bat to prevent
evaporation.
Nine insurance companies are interested
All the insurance has been paid but S3O,-
GOO, held by Mrs. Rogers. Collector Asa
Ellis is now here, and will investigate the
case for the Government tomorrow. No
arrests have been made yet, but the man
who fired the buildings is under suryeil-
lance, and more development are expected
tomorrow. Walters is exonerated, and
only Rogers, II. Hubert & Robson are i'm
plcated, so far as known. 1t is said that
Walters has been robbed for the past three
years by the parties selling wine and Civ
ing no account OF the sales.
Much interest is taken here, and MANY
facts will yet be made public Rogers
suits to collect insurance will be on trial in
the Superior Court in a few days, when the
whole facts will De given