The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-01-20
A MANAGES WORK.

The alarm and excitement which the
recent fires have occasioued in Elkton
reached a climax late Sunday night, when
an tempt was made to CT cate stir among
the guests of the Howard House, the
tiend entering the kitchen of the hot tel
and throwing a rubber coat upon the
heated range. A. burst of flame ensued
and part of the house was filled with
the smoke but the fire tailed to com
municate to the room. Previous to this
act the electric light globes in the main
and back Railways and the gentlemen's
reception room were removed, obviously
to preventldetection and not allow of a
light being quickly turned on when the
discovery was made. Proprietor VIM
W. Burkley at the time was reading in
his room on the second floor and detected
a slight smell of smoke, just when
the main door bell rang furiously
aud continued ringing several minutes.
He apprehended no such attempt and as
soon as possible responded to the bell
going down the main staircase. The hall
was in darkness and in attempting to
turn on the light he found the globe
missing, and proceeding to the door
found it open while no one awaited
admission. Mr.. Burkley returned to She
second floor by which time bis wife nad
been aroused by the puugent smell of
the burning rubber. She called across a
courtyard to Samuel Biddle, hostler in
the livery Office of B. 3. Dunbar, located
in the hotel, telling him 10 look in the
furnace room thinking the smoke might
be issuing from shat quarter. AS Biddle
was preparing to make the investigation
| Charles Ernest, u barber of the town,
whose saloon is situated in the basement
OF the hotel on NJ Ain street, raped for
admission, and told Biddle that be
thought he had heard hIrs. Burkley
say there was fire in the house. Bid
die hurried TO the furnace room, when
Ernest who had accompanied him said
| he saw q blaze in the kitchen above,
where the fire was Tne house was gen
orally aroused now, aud Mr.. Burkley and
| Messrs. G. G. Crothers and T. J. Murray,
guests in the hotel had reached the
kitchen when the men entered. Ernest
acted in mystifying manner, and with
ont any reference whatever having been
made as to who the perpetrator could be,
remarked that he could prove where he
was, and drew suspicion upon himself by
his subsequent actions. By the charred
lining, the co at was recognized as one
belonging to a young son of tho pyoprie-
tor, aud which was left hanging that
night on rack at the extreme end of
the back hallway. An investigation was
made of the premises when it was found
that heavy drab colored storm coat of
Mr., Burkley's hanging in the rear hall,
near the door leading to the kitchen, had
been slashed down the back. This,
the removal of the globes and the fire
where the extent of the depredations.
Ernest who had left the hotel was sus-
pected and after consultation with
States Attorney A. L. Crothers who
resides at the Howard House, Baihff
| Boulder was summoned. About Que
o'clock BaiIiff Boulder proceeded to the
Jail to consult with Sheriff Boyd and
when at the corner OF North and High
streets Ernest, who was then some
what under the influence of liquor,
nat ,tv.Fr Frpp in i
station. He asked the officer if he
had learned of the fire at the hotel
and appeared very soloitous over the
matter. He followed Baihff Boulder to
the jail aud remained on the outside
while the officer entered aud when lie
came out accompanied by Deputy
Serffs Boyd and Mackey, WAS still on
the outside. He remarked to Ballif
Boulder that he wouldn't run away, OF
something to that effect.
| The officers proceeded to the Howard
House along with Ernest aud after
making an inspection there, Ernest's
saloon was searched. Six electric light
globes were found, three of which cor
responded to the pattern OF the globe;
taken from the hotel, and in Ernest,
possession was a pen knife on the blaze
OF which close to the handle was stick
| ing "A quantity CT wool of the SAINT
3 quality and color as that OF the cloth il
3 the oVerc0at which had been cut
D warrant WAS secured and Ernest wal
d arrested and placed in Jail, being given
S hearing before Squire Cleaver in the jan
= office at eleven O'Clock on Monday morn
], ing. After considerable evidence wa
d taken he was held under $500 bail TO
: his appearance for trial at the Marcel
I term OF court. At the hearing it wa
:. brought out that two of the globes founC
in Ernest's shop were Of peculiar pat
= tern similar to a dozen which Mrs
Il Burkley had some time ago bought il
J. Philadelphia, and Mr.. G. r. Maxwell O
9 the Electric Light Company testiie,
u that this pattern of the globe had nc
! been used by the company, which gen
a orally furnishes those used Throughout
| INC tUNu. ll6SptCuIbg iHe pDSSeSSlOD o
e the globes Ernest stated that lie ha
It bought them about year ago from
) friend in Philadelphia, a certain Charlie
ot BoescheD who was then in the saloo
, business on Daring street.
% Ernest could not satisfactorily accouu
d for his whereabouts between about te
q O'Clock and the time of the fire. it bel,
le established that lie left the residence
ID Charles Pavord stain street, at abpu
t, the first named hour.
The fire occurred about half past eleve
10 O'Clock aud half an hour or more Garlic
Of a guest of the hotel found the glob,
I'd missing and the front door open. Ate
r. going to his room he LETT the hotel f
es awhile and upon returning the frol
n door was again open, when it is SUI
On posed the intruder left the house.
en- Ernest has not been able to furni.
re the required bail and laugushes in ia
he He is a married man and has one chill
de
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