The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-12-19
IT LOOKS DARK FOR Them
Case of Arson Against j. S. Luce and
His Foreman.
no EVIDENCE FOR DEFENSE
Testimony Gathered by Detective Nc.
Sweeney by Request Of Fire Under
writers-R. W. Luce His Sons Bonds.
man-Bateman Goes to Jail.

John S. Luce, manager of the Scran-
ton Knitting company, nnd William G.
Bateman, foreman of the company,
were yesterday afternoon given hear
ing on the charge of having, on Oct. %,
set fire to the building at Penn avenue
and Mulberry street. The hearing took
place in the police court room before
Alderman Fuller who committed each
of the defendants to Jail to answer the
charge at court. Arson not being
bailable offense, before an alderman,
Luce after the hearing furnished bail
before Judge Archibald at the latter's
residence. r. w. Luce, the defendants
father, qualified as bondsman in the
sum Of $1,000.
Many spectators were attracted by
the case owing to the prominence OF
Mr.. Luce among the younger business
element of the city and the gravity of
the charge against him. He was repre-
sented by Attorneys George S. Horn
and M. j. Wilson; Major Warren, an
other of Mr.. Luces counsel, was absent
owing to illness. John f. Scragg was
Mr.. Batemans attorney, and Joseph
O'Brien conducted the prosecution for
Detectives McSweeney and Barring,
representing the Board of Fire Under
writer's, and City Solicitor Torrey was
present in the interest of the city, al
though he took no active part in the
proceedings,
Case Against the Accused.
vi ~ a
prosecution presented a strong case of
circumstantial evidence secured through
the efforts of the detective agency. The
most damaging testimony was given by
Detective McSweeney himself, which
was particularly his conversation with
Bateman the day after the arrests. At
torney Horn subjected all the witnesses
to a severe cross examination In the in
terest of Luce, but it was a noticeable
fact that Mr.. Scragg refrained from
asking more than an occasional ques-
ton in the interest of Bateman. The
testimony did not appear to seriously
implicate the latter and Mr.. Scragg's
policy of not questioning the witnesses
would indicate that he will conduct an
independent case for his client
No evidence in defense was offered by
the attorneys of either defendant.
c def Of the Fire Department Ferber,
brennan Newman, H. r. Long and
William Ferber, of Crystal Hose COM
pany, and Thomas Conlon, of Hook and
Ladder company, testified to the loca-
ton of several blazes and piles of waste
found on the second, third and top floor
of the building.
Anthony Howley, Of Howley Bros,
heard a noise on the back stairs at 7.40
o'clock and went to the floor above to
investigate Found Luce there seemed
to be excited. Went home at SIS o'clock
and returned to store when the alarm
sounded.
She Saw Luce.
Maggie Anderson, a domestic, of 5S9
Penn avenue, swore to having left the
house at $50 o'clock to post a letter
and, on her return, being startled
while passing the building where the
fire occurred by the sudden appearance
of Luce from the side door.
William Newhart, l3 years old, of 524
Oakford court; Louis Storms, aged II
years, of 322 Linden street, Joseph
Sampson, 1872 Kressler court; George
Klingsmith, 3OS Kressler court; Fred
Beck, 524 Wyoming avenue, each en-
ployed in the Scranton Knitting COM
pany's works, Individually testified to
having seen Luce within block of the
building at o'clock. One of the boys
bought a gallon of kerosene oil at
Luce's request the day preceding the
fire. Luce, the next day, ordered the
boy to wipe some machinery with kero-
sene, but there was no kerosene in the
can. 1t was the custom of two of the
boys to sweep the place after the hands
had stopped work, but on the night of
the fire, after they had begun sweeping,
they were ordered by Luce to stop The
usual hour for quitting work had been
6 o'clock, but that night the hands were
dismissed an hour earlier.
Detective McSweeney's Story.
Detective McSweeney occupied the
stand from 5.15 o'clock until three
quarters of an hour later. He said in
part:
Il investigated the cause of the fire
upon request Of number of insurance