St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-08
A TERRIBLE CHARGE.
Charles S. Ostram Denies That
He Set Fire TO the Trib-
une Building.
He Says He Expected People
would Say That .
He Did.
Eut if Necessary He Is Ready
TO Prove an Al
hi.
Followed by Detectives From
the Time He Left the Build
ing Until Arrested.

There was a well-defned rumOr
around the police headquarters and on
the streets last night that Charles 5.
Osram, the defaulting cashier of the
Pioneer Press, who is now in the
county jail. set fire 10 the Tribune build
ing in order to cover up all
traces of his guilt. The de-
teetives were very retieent about
the matter. but some Of them admitted
that suspicion had settled upon Os-
tram. Although Ostram has made a
full confession of the ENLIGHTENMENT of
$500 from the Pioneer Pres :. and has
admitted making numerous false en-
tries in the books. he stoutly denies that
he IS guilty Of setting fire TO the
Tribune building. and his many friends
feel confident that. while suspicion has
been attached to MIN, the facts in the
ease point 10 this conclusion as per-
fectly logical Through the courtesy
OF Sheriff Eye a GLOBE reporter was
allowed to Interview 0stram III his cell
late last night.
Charley" exclaimed the reporter.
1T has been charged that you set the
your guilt? Are you willing to say any
timing about tn schdTge?"
Il certainly an" was his answer
in firm tone, without the
least trace of emotion. II
did not set the building on
fire. This charge is no surprise 10 me.
In fact. | expected that il would be
MAZE before. ! certainly had every in
centive IN the world to destroy those
books. If they had been burned up
there would have been no evil
denee against ne. It IS per-
fectly natural that suspicion should
point 10 NE when all the facts are con-
sidered Then l left the books out of
the safe on Saturday night. had often
done this before, and nothing was ever
thought of it. Some of the men
IN the Office generally locked them
up before they left if neglected it. but,
taken into consideration with my defal-
cation and the fire. the logical conelu-
sion of nine men ont of ten would bt.
that l am responsible for the origin Of
the fire.
Can you prove by witnesses where
you were on Saturday night? was
asked.
Yes. 1 think I can without much
trouble. After | left the Office. between
and o'clock. l went to the depot, in
tending 10 take a train and leave this
part Of the country. While in the depot
waiting for the train I thought the
matter over and finally concluded it
would be better 10 stay here and
face the trouble. | went I'D to the
Summit house TO get nv wife. She
wasn't there and went up to the West
hotel and from there l came down Fifth
street TO Nic0Ilet avenue and walked
down Nic0llet avenue TO Washington
and down Washington to the st. James
hotel. l went 20 several other places.
which | cannot remember Just now, and
arrived at my house about 9 O'Clock.
No one was home and l waited in the
rooms upstairs. which are not occupied
by me, with 4 lady until my wife
came home. After that l was not
outside the house, | amp positive that |
was not nearer the office on Saturday
night after ) O'Clock than when l passed
down NicOilet avenue on my wav to
the st. James Hotel. One thing
which will be in my favor
viii be the story Of the detectives who
followed NE from the time | left the Of
fee until | went home, and he told me
every place | had been. and that when
/ went to bed at home he sat in room
of the unOccupied house next door
10 my home at window where he
could see NE If / attempted 10 leave. |
felt sure that this charge would be
made against NE. but the detective
who Swallowed NE viii cOrrobOrate nv
statement that | am not guilty of the
terrible crime Of arson"
Young OstrOm has still many friends
in Minneapolis who, while greatly
shocked at the crime lie has committed,
stOutly maintain that he would never
attempt % conceal his crime by COM
hitting another Of greater magnitude.