Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-04-12
So Says the Board Of Police
and Fire Commissioners.
MATTER FOR GRAND JURY
Many witnesses Testify. and tho General
Belief Was That the Fire Was the WORK
ofa Fire Bug. as OIL Cans Were Dlscov-
cred Sitting In tho Middle of the Floor :
Tho Mayor Recognizes tho witnesses to
Appear Before the Grand Jury to Tell
What They Know.

A special session of the Board of
Police Commissioners was held last
night, with the following members
present: Hon. ]. t. Baird, president:
Dr. l.. a. Bilisoly, r.. L. Taylor, James
0. Shannon and J. w. Johnson.
The Mayor stated that the meeting
had been called to investigate the fire
at west & Emory's bar, on Water
street, near Glasgow street, on the
morning of April Sd at Ills o'clock
MANY WITNESSES TESTIFY.
The first witness was Chief Engineer
Wiersdorf, who testified to answering
the alarm. When he arrived there he
found the north side of the house all on
fire and fire under stairway.
Mr.. Thomas Hume was the next wit
ness, who stated that he turned in the
alarm and waited until the engine ar
rived After the fire he went in the
building. saw quite a number looking
Tor drink: there was not more than
$40 worth of stuff in the building except
the piano.
Mr.. Henry Robie stated that he
reached there soon after the fire broke
out. He was in the building; saw
everything in there. The fire started
In the middle room. There were two
empty oil cans in the middle of the
floor. He did not believe that the stock
was worth over $40.
Mr.. Lee Vaughan testified to about
the same as Mr.. Robbie and Officer
Broughton.
Deputy Sheriff Abbott said that there
was little or no stock in the building.
WHAT MIR. WEST SAID.
Mr.. West. one of the proprietors. was
called, and testified to being one of the
owners of the place, hut being unedu-
Gated he knew but little of the bust
ness. He only stayed there nights. He
had no idea OF what the stock was
worth. He, in company with Mr.. EN-
DRY, left the store soon after IL o'clock
on the morning of April Sd and walked
down Glasgow street. Before they left
they saw q man walk over to the bar
and act suspiciously. They got home
about 1870, and near o'clock was in
formed of the fire: came down: saw
some loose tobacco lying near a win
dow: thinks that the place was robbed
and then set on fire.
MIR. EMORY EXPLAINS.
Mr.. II. II. Emory. the other proprie-
tor was examined and said that their
stock was worth 5000, but that he would
not have sold the same for 500. He
had 5000 insurance on the same with
Claud Bros
His statement about leaving the store
was about the same as Mr.. Vests. He
described the amount of stuff there. in
Guiding n piano. which he valued at
$3.50 and with that the board could not
make his stock over 1870. He claimed
to have had ten kegs of liquor and
three kegs of beer; besides many bot
ties on the shelves.
FIIS STATEMENTS VARIED.
The gentlemen who testified. rclud-
ing Officer Broughton, could not agree
with his. His statements varied con-
siderable. He said his license would
expire May list and that he had made
application for u license on London
street extended.
a negro named Sam Bailey testified
that he slept over the bar and was en-
ployed in the bar to attend to Crap"
games. He went to bed after West &
Emory left and saw no fire then.
Joe Rockfellow. who is also employed
there. said he was asleep and had to
jump out of n window.
a negro woman who is employed as
piano player said that she was awall-
ened from sleep and had to be taken
out of window. This closed the evil
dcnce.
COURTS TO SETTLE 1T.
The room was cleared and the board
then deliberated on the case. They first
decided that the fire was incendary
and that l.. o. West and II. r. Emory.
the prOprietors be sent before and
grand jury for investigation and the
witnesses recognized to appear
1t was testified to that five gallons of
oil was received the day that the fire
occurred. and that there was about two
| gallons there then.
officer Broughton said that when he
saw the cans that they were empty, and
| that there was a strong smell OF oil
| in the building when it was burning.
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