The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-04-19
RAGS AND COAL OIL
Prominent Features of the Bate
Arson Case.
FATHER ON THE STAND
MIR. GRANTS COMPANY NOT
DEEPLY INTERESTED.
Mysterious Introduction of Testi-
mony Concerning Charred Rags
Loose Management of the Store
A Contemplated Reserve Fund
That Never Materialized.

Inc Bate arson case dragged along in
Timmony's court yesterday, but the end
is far from being in sight. w. Z. Bate,
the defendants father, was on the stand
all of the afternoon, and the same
ground was gone over again and again.
but his testimony brought out nothing
new, except, possibly, the fact that the
insurance company represented by =.
f. Grant has no interest in the case be-
yond the insurance on the store build
ing, amounting to $3.50 The merchan-
disc stock is insured with another COM
pany altogether, hence, it is expected,
the defense will argue that Mr.. Grant
had deeper motive in working so in
dustriously ON the case, and in fixing
the crime on young Bate
a mysterious rag figured in the pro4
ceedings, and some are saying its intro
duction by the defense means that
sensation is to be uprooted. But of
what nature is unexplained The rag
was found by carpenter named George
Hackett, who was employed to repair
the slightly damaged building. He dis
covered it by the oil tank in the lean
to- Monday morning, where, it would
seem, it had been placed during the
past week, for the witness had made a
careful examination of the same place
and was positive the rag was not there
the morning following the Riverton
blaze. 1t was slightly charred and evil
IDENTIFY had been saturated in coal oil
Yesterdays Testimony.
Samuel H. Green of Bluffdale was the
first witness called. He was a must
clan at the dance and corroborated the
statements of others that young Bate
was active in rescuing property at the
fire.
John Bate, brother of the defend
ant, told nothing new, except that he
entered the 'lean-to" while the blaze
was on, and noticed that the oil tank S
cover had become unsoldered on &C
count of the heat.
Hackett, the carpenter, after giving a
minute description of the surroundings.
produced the charred rag. which he
found against the brick wall and where
the tank had stood. He was cross-ex-
amined and went into every detail of
the inspection he had made-for his
own satisfaction" so he stated. He
had found traces of coal oil on the roof
and in various parts of the premises.
Defendants Father.
w. E. Bate took the stand at the
opening of the afternoon session. Cues
toned as to the company owning the
store, he named the following stock
holders: T. II. Mott, w. E. Bate, s.
Green, Edwin Orgill and Ernest T. (
Bate. He himself owns about one
fourth. Witness testified that his son
is now % years old, and has been in
the store business since he was a small /
boy. He had seen Ernest leave the ball
room twice, and knew the fire was a
half hour after he (ErnesD had re-
turned the second time. The building
was insured for $3.50 with the Home /
Fire, and the contents of the store for
81 900 with another company. No one
except Special Agent Grant had visited
the place in the interest of any COM
pany.
On cross examination, witness gave
an account of the loose way in which |
the store was managed, The directors |
had once thought of declaring a divi- /
dend, but later decided to put the
money into a reserve fund. He could /
not tell where the supposed reserve
fund was at present; had never had |
any of it, and knew it wasn't in bank. /
On the night of the fire there was about I
$50 on hand, all the money they have. |
SO far as witness knows No bank
account.
Coming to the stamp transaction. wit
ness said Ernest had come to him
with the statement that Grant had Of
fered to help him out, and had also
NoIu uS1enddnC Chat he would be in
trouble if he didn't have the stamps in
reality.
Ernest told me" continued the wit
ness, that he didn't see the point; that
ne thought if he had the money it
would be just the same as the stamps
They have got to be lost and foDnd
Ernest said but 1 told him
thought Grant was wrong and gave
him the money $500. for the stan]ns ),
The matter was not probed further
The hearing will be resumed this morn
ng, and the defendant will probably
AXE the stand during the dav.