The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1895-06-27
MR.. KITTELLE EXPLAINS.
A STATEMENT ABOUT THE RE
CENT ICE INCIDENT.
He Says the Reports Circulated Were
Malicious Falsehoods-Advise
to Bring Suits for Siander.

Mr.. George w. Kittelle, the late
proprietor of Hotel Phoenix, furnishes
THE SENTINEL with card in reply
10 the various reports regarding the
recent event which created such
lively sensation, not only in Winston
but elsewhere. He says that he
makes statement "to correct the
malicious falsehoods which have been
rri 77f Circulation and which have ap-
peared in several papers,"
His card speaks for itself and reads
as follows:
'tThe statement has been made that
| directed servant to place the rem
nant of ice remaining in the tub in
the room in which guest died,
placed in my refrie orator for use in
the hotel.
"The facts are as follows: Inspect
ing the room after it was vacated, [
found it in a condition requiring i'm
mediate attention. Both the maid on
the floor and the yard boy (colOred1
seemed disinelined to enter the room.
the latter having refused to do so un-
til peremtOrily ordered by myself to
take the tub out, wash it and return
it to the laundry, where it belonged.
The tub contained good deal of
water but not more than 10 cents
worth of ice. He very sullenly obeyed
the order, aided by a bell boy, whom /
called t. assist him.
"Mr. Eyler, guest Of the hotel and
friend of the deceased, informs me
that himself and Mr.. Harris, the
clerk, ordered 25 cents worth of ice
which was used in the tub. To this
Mr.. Harris says he added 25 cents
worth more. This constituted the
ice supply from Wednesday night to
4 p m. Friday, and none of it came
nearer the body than four feet, the
cooling of which was produced by an
electric fan.
''The head waiter and his assistant,
who handled the ice used in the din
ing-room, assert that no part of the
ice from the tub was used in the
dining-room for any purpose. What
ever disposition the servant maze Of
the ice from the tub was entirely of
his own VOlition, and any statement
made that / directed it's use is un-
qualifiedly false.
"When it came to my knowledge
that the guests had been informed
that the ice had been placed in the
refrigerator for use, I at once looked
up the boy and asked him what he had
done with it. He showed it to me, in
the small ice box alongside the refrig-
orator, which contained full supply
of ice-nOt less than POO pounds. / at
once ordered it thrown into the slOp
sink and showed it to three gentlemen
as evidence that it had not been
used.
"The boy at once denied having
been ordered by me to place the ice in
the refrigerator and so stated to sew
eral guests with whom he was con-
fronted. His motives for stating
otherwise later / leave for inference
simply saying that credable wit
ness present. when he claims the
instructions were given, contradicts
him in toto. That he is unworthy Of
belief | am prepared to show by per-
sons who know him fully.
The average consumption Of ice at
the time referred TO was not less than
400 or 500 pounds daily, as the books
of Mr.. ID. II. King, the man who sup
piled it, will show. This would seem
to prove it to be quite unnecessary to
add to it the dimes worth of ice con-
tanned in the tub.
81 trust this explanation will serve
to prove the groundlessness of the va
rious fictitious stories which have
grown in variety and number and cir
culated through thoughtlessness or
malice.
"Yours very truly.
GEORGE w. KITTELLE."
Mr.. Kittelle tells THE SENTINEL
that he did not authorize the state
mept. published in yesterdays Char
lotte Observer, to the effect that he
is preparing to bring suit for slander
against Mr.. John IgelstrHm, who
has been guest at Hotel Phoenix.
Mr.. Kittelle states, however, that he
has been advised by his friends to en-
ter suits against the parties who first
circulated the damaging report about
him. He declines to commit himself
as to what he intends doing in regard
to the matter.