The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-08-20
THE INCENDlARY CASE
H. HAUSER GIVEN A PRELIMINARY
HEARING YESTERDAY.
The Witnesses Mako Out n Clear Case
ofIncendiarfsm, but There was no
Direct Evidence Against the Defend
and-He was Bound Over to Court.

rested on Monday on the charge OF
setting fire to his jewellery establish
ment at 122 Market street. took place
yesterday morning in the municipal
court before Alderman II. z. West,
mayor pro tenn. The hearing began at
10 a. m. and lasted till 100 p m. Quite
a number of spectators were present
n the proceedings were followed
with intense interest. Mr. Hauser was
in court with his attorneys, Messrs
Bellamy & Peschau. The state was
represented by City Attorney William
=. Beilamy and Herber McClammy,
Esq. Colonel J.. r. Young, of Raleigh,
Insurance commissioner of North Car
DINA. was present during the hearing.
Captain Charles Schnibben, chief OF
the fire department, vas the first wit
ness called for the state. He testified
that the department was called out
about $3.50 o'clock on Sunday night,
August II, on account of fire in H
Hauser's jewellery store, 122 Market
street. He said he had been to the
sound and a gotten back to Fourth
and Orange streets when he saw the
II CA64AlCo 6O4hS " In NhN AA% ~
partment got to the scene before he did
and had the chemical engine playing
on the fire. He made an examination
of the establishment that night, and
the evidence of incendiarism was such
that he had the place locked and placed
under the protection of two policemen
whose orders were to allow no one to
enter or pass out of the building. He
made a more thorough examination
Monday morning and what he saw
made it his duty to have Mr.. Hauser
arrested. He described the interior of
the store. saying that both on the first
and SECOND floors he found trails of
straw and old papers ramifying in
man. directions and leading up to
in1amatory material. In different
places there were glass jars filled with
gasoline or kerosene, and in the lockers
and bureau Growers clothing was hang
ing out so it could catch from the trail
of straw and papers. The clothing was
saturated with gasoline or kerosene
oil. On the first floor trails of straw
led to the lockers and the latter were
so arranged as to- create a draft. On
the first floor he also found a large
desk. He learned that it was a clock
n inside if it, he is satisfied, the fire
started. In the clock he found a brok-
en- bottle which had contained gasoline.
He also found matches along in the
trails of straw and in some places
candles and lightwood. The curtains
to the front windows were pulled down
very low, much lower la was necss-
sary. He gave a detailed statement of
the appearances in the building but it
would take much space to reproduce it.
Joseph d. Smith, a former insurance
agent, also testified to the condition of
the building and went into complete
details as to the ramification of the
trails of hay n old papers, as to va
rious articles being saturated with
gasoline, and as to the jars of gaso-
line, etc.
Colonel Walker Taylor, the insurance
agent, also testified fully as to the evil
dem preparation to destroy the build
ing by fire.
Mr.. j. VanB. Nets, insurance agent,
was also called. and in his testimony
he gave an account OF the insurance
carried by Mr.. Hauser. On the 10th of
July Mr.. Hauser increased his policy
5000 to cover a clock or invention, and
show cases.
Alderman E. P. Bailey testified that
he also saw the evidences of incen-
diarism.
@ ATo1forI N E-a~,.- %@-&;G@l
what they discovered when the fire
men reached the building.
Alderman Frank Maunder was called
by the state and testified that he often
sold Mr.. Hauser five gallons of gaso-
line and kerosene oil. 1t was about
six weeks ago when he sold him five
gallons of gasoline.
The state closed it's testimony, and
the defense called Mr.. Hauser to the
stand to prove an alibi. Mr.. Hauser
Testified that or Sunday he left the CITY
shortly after 2:S0 D. m. and drove to
Wrightsville. While there, about s or
$3.50 p. m, somebody t%elephoned him
that his store was on fire. He said he
had lived in Wilmington about six
years, and came here from Beaufort.
N c., where ne was doing detective
work. He testified that he came here
10 ferret out some cases OF incendiar-
ism and arson for the city. He denied
that ne had set fire to his place, and
as 10 his clock he said he valued it at
Sl,V0o. He had been working on it
ever since he was 20 years old, and had
just completed il. and would have
opened it for exhibition on Monday
last. He said the clock had nine dials
so 1t could keep the time of nine
divisions of time in America and Eu-
o 1t also struck the hours and the
clock also called them put. In other
words it was a talking clock, played
two kinds of music and had other fea-
lures. He. Hauser, said he was at
Wrightsville up to $3.50 p. m, on the
evening of the fire and went there upon
agreement with three friends. He de-
MED that ne had placed anything in the