The record-union., 1893-05-26
SENSATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS.
The Fire Believed to Have Been al
Incendiary's Work.

The Fire Believed to Have Been an
Incendiary's Work.
The following special dispatch to the
RECoRD-UNIoN last night, from C. Hl.
Dunkell, borders on the sensational.
Two arrests have been made, one OF
the prisoners. Swedish cook, having
been taken in custody here yesterday
by Sheriff Conroy, he having slid out of
Rocklin by the first train that passed af-
ter the fire broke out. Following is the
dispatch:
DEVELOPMENTS AT THE INQUEST.
RoCKLIN, May 25.-The Coroner's in
quest held over the remains of Miss Alice
Irish, who was burned to death in the
tlre here this morning, promises to bring
out some facts regarding the origin of the
cont1agration which may have an inter
esting if not serious termination.
From the testimony of one of the wit
nesses, man who has been cooking for
the Davies Hotel for some time past is
closely connected with the cause of the
hre. There is no direct evidence as vet
of his having committed the deed, but in
the testimony of one of the witnesses at
luctantly made which aroused enough
suspicion M the minds of Coroner Mitch
ell and Sheriff ConroY to cause them to
order his arrest.
What strengthens this suspicion, as
much as anything, is the fact that the
cook left for Sacramento on the local
train this morning, Immediately after the
fire. Sheriff Conroy and Constable
Fleckenstein went down to Sacramento
as soon as they learned the facts, and
brought him back at 8 o'clock this even
ing. He is now being held to appear be-
fore the CorOner's jury tomorrow at l
o'clock.
1t appears that the cook and Miss Irish
had some words together the other day
over some matter which has not been
learned. Miss Irish was waiting upon
the tables in the dining-room, and had
just delivered an order to the cook,
Those in the dining heard the loud
voice of the cook, who was using abusive
language to the waitress.
Finally he was heard to say, YOU'RE a
damned liar !" and then added, ''I'u get
even with you yet"
AT this point Miss Irish burst into
tears and went into the Office, where she
| reported the matter to Mr.. Davies. The
proprietor reprimanded the cook for his
| action, and the matter dropped.
During the evening the cook was tell
ing of the matter in saloon, and was
! heard to repeat that he would get even
with her yet. He was about town about
. o'clock this morning, as far as at pres
ent known, and how much later he was
about must yet be proven. No sounds
were heard in his room during the night
by those occupying apartments, although
the rooms are divided only by thin
board partition, through which sounds
could easily be heard.
There are strong suspicious as to
whether the cook does not know con-
siderable concerning the origin of the
fire. OF course, this is merely the result
of Imagination, but in putting this and
that together one is satisfied that there
are some strong grounds upon which to
base this Imagination.
We are doubly confident that some
startling facts will develop at the reas-
sembling of the Coroner's jury to-mor-
row.
John Mallett, the witness heretofore re-
ferred to, and to whom so much import
ance is attached, was with the cook dur
ing the evening, and the evidence proves
that they were together until l o'clock. at
least. He was arrested to-day and taken
to the County Jail for safe keeping. 1t is
certain that he knows a great deal more
about the circumstances surrounding the
origin OF the fire than he cares to tell.
although there is no idea that he com
mitted the act himself.
When placed on the stand to-day he
was just recovering from a slight spree.
and although he endeavored to evade
nearly all the direct questions, he un-
guardedly dropped sentence now and
then which convinced the Coroner that
he was a valuable witness, and he was
ordered into custody to give him an op-
portunity to sober up.
The charred remains of the unfortunate
woman were taken TO Georgetown this
evening by a brother OF Miss Irish.
where the funeral will be held. The re-
mains were in charge of the local lodge of
Rebekahs until the arrival of the brother.