Bridgeton pioneer., 1890-06-12
HELD FOR COURT.
CHARGED WITH FIRING Ell
MER'S BUILDING.
The Hearing q Private One In the
Office of Prosecutor LOgue
Friday Afternoon.

dEFesteu FTanK hlenZie, on warrant
issued by Alphonzo Woodruff, Justice
of the Peace, charging him with set
ting fire to Elmer's block, on South
Laurel street, on Friday morning.
May Both.
The arrest created great sensation,
few knowing that Mr.. Kienzle was
suspicioned Of the grave crime. A
PIONEER reporter has had knowledge
of the fact that Pinkerton detective
has been in this city nearly week,
| and the arrest is the result of his in
vestigatons
The PIONEER is not permitted at
this time to give the theory of the
detective to the public.
Friday afternoon as stated in the
PIONEER Frank Kienzle was given a
hearing before Justice Alphonso Wood
ruff, upon the charge of setting fire to
the building of N. Elmer & Brother,
on South Laurel street.
A PIONEER reporter was present just
before the hearing was commenced.
Frank was sitting beside his counsel,
j. L.. VanSyckle, while his father,
Jacob Kienzle, was sitting directly op-
posite his son on the other side of the
desk. Judge Woodruff, was sitting at
the large desk and Prosecutor Logue,
was sitting directly opposite. The
Pinkerton detective who has been
working up the case, was also present,
but he said nothing during the hear
ing of the case.
just before the court was ready to
sit Prosecutor Logue informed the re-
porter that the investigation was to be
private one, and requested the re-
porter to leave the room, and the pad
and pencil was Immediately placed in
the reporters pocket, and a hasty exit
| made.
just before the hearing Mr.. Newton
Elmer, Samuel n. Wells and a PIONEER
reporter took all the burned debris
from under the cellar way, and in
baskets brought it to the first floor,
where it was carefully riddled through
d seive. The search was made for
| some of Mr.. Emer's private keys,
which had been left in the desk that
was burned, and they were found
among the debris.
When Mr.. VanSyckle learned of this
search ne was very indignant. He had
claimed that his client had had
seventytwo dollars in the burned desk,
and declared that search was to have
been made for the money by Mr.. Kien-
zle. 1t is claimed that already piece
or two of the money had been found.
Mr.. VanSyckle intimated that the
search made by Mr.. Elmer was tor the
purpose of concealing evidence tor the
defendant, and ended his remarks by
saying, "Oh, we'll, it is only in keeping
with everything you have done il this
case from the beginning"
There was no evidence established
at the hearing which fastened the
guilt upon Mr.. Kienzle. Prosecutor
Logue remarked, however, that the
Judge was warranted in holding the
defendant for court, although Mr..
Van Syckle made a strong plea for the
discharge of his client. The Pinkerton
detective was not called, and offered
no evidence, and his theory of the
motives were not made known to any
one. Newton Elmer was called, and
gave testimony. Frank s. PeAaell
testified that Frank Kienzle came out
of the cigar store on the night of the
goth OF May, at ten minutes of twelve,
fand accompanied him up Broad street.
Officer George Parvin testified that
some time after half past eleven on the
same evening, he saw Frank in the
store, but paid no attention to she
| fact.
Chief of the Fire Department w. ii.
| H. E,well and Secretary of the Efe
Department John F. johnson were
called, and gave testimony as to the
condition Of things as they found them,
when they got there.
After the testimony, Judge Wood
ruff held Kienzle for Court, In the sum
of $1,000. Mr.. Jacob Kienzle became
bondsman for his son.
After the hearing Mr.. Kienzle indig.
nantly said to Mr.. Newton Elmer that
it was dastardly outrage in having
an innocent boy arrested upon such a
serious charge, and further said. what
object should his son have in burning
mp his stock, with no insurance upon
it, while Mr.. Elmer had a larg9 insur-
ance upon his own stock. Mr.. Kien
zle further intimated that people gen.
orally thought Mr.. Elmer was the
guilty man
Mr. Elmer was very much hurt by
This iasinuation, and Saturday took
! a PIONEER reporter to the burned