Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-09-15
History of tho Cass y llish Led q
tho Indictment 81 Hrubetz
Friday.
Evidence Pursly Oircu nti.l, Bu,
thought to b sumcisnt T. &.
tablish Guilt.
The Indicted Party Was 8 Business
Rival Of His Alleged
Victim.


"A. H. Hrubetx was arrested and In
'dicted for arson in Worth county yes.
terday. The facts Of the case are pref
sty well known. In September, 1899. the
store belonging ton Grant, of Mason
City, together with all It's contents,
was consumed by the flames. The loss
was a very heavy one for the proprie-
tor. but he had 1t fairly well insured
and opened up again. On the night OF,
February 20 OF this year as q b.. c. r.
& N. train was pulling into town they
discovered a sblaxe at the rear OF the
store. The train was stopped and the
fire extinguished Just lin time to. save
Mr.. Grant store. "A strong wind was
blowing at the time and had 1t NOT been
for the prompt action Of the crew at
least two thirds OF the town would have
been burned out. It was plainly evil
dent this time that some one had start
ed the Are. On May ! u. "A. Chairman,
"a detective from Iowa City, was put to
work on the case and has worked all
most constantly since. He was the
gentleman who did the detective work
on the attempted train wrecking On the
b., G. r. & N. and for which Frank
Fay and Jap Brockett are now serving
long terms in the state penitentiary. He
has found sufficient evidence to cause
the indictment to be made. The trial
may possibly come up at this term
There will be atleast forty witnesses!
Summoned. The entire evidence Is cirr.
cumstantial. Tbs accused is one OF a
large family Of children. A. II. has a
brother engaged In the grocery business
at Mason City. Just south of the North
and arrest OF Hrubetz caused quite a
able to give bonds. Attorney John Gig (
gitt, Of Mason City. will assist County.
Attorney Doe in the prosecution of the
case.
Mason City, Sept. ia reporter
called on N. Grant at his home at 314
North Main and appraised him OF the ar
rest Of Hrhbetz. He had known that
something Of this kind wac IN the wind,
but did not know that an arrest had
been made. "A year ago tomorrow HE
building was burned He had $4,000
stock and about 5000 of the stock was
got out of the building before 1t could
burn down. Tbe net logs on building.
and merchandise amounted to, $1,000. As
soon as he burned out he and Mr.. Field
man. his son-in-law. bought the Mitchell
stock. This was secured more to secure
a location for business than anything
else. They We're dong a fair business.
"A. II. Hubretz is also general mer-9
chandise dealer and has beensa man Well
thought of by his patrons, who are prin-
5cipally Of his nationality, Bohemian
The first fire was caused by lightning.
This was plainly evident. and there!
were no indications of 1t being of an in
cendiary origin. The last fire on the
might of Feb. % was set. 1t is claimed
that the barrel in which was placed a
lot Of infammable material and set at
the back of Grant & Feldman's store,
bore Mr.. HIS mark. and. also some of
the material in the barrel bore marks
that 1t was from the same place. The
defense, it is claimed. has complete
record OF the whereabouts of Mr.. n.
that evening up to the time Of the fire,
all but fifteen minutes. Then. il is
claimed, he was seen going back Of a
building near where the fire soon START
ted. The little village Of Manly was
much aroused over the fire and went at
|3it to hunt down the guilty party as II it
meant business.