Evening times-Republican., 1903-08-18
L. j. Gress a Laborer of Sioux
City, Taken In Custody
by Officers
HE RAN FROM INcENDIARY FIRE
While Evidently Seeking to Make His
Escape from the Place, Gress' Actions
Were Noticed by the Crowd, Which
Had Gathered, Which Finally Re-
suited in His Arrest.

Sioux City, Aug. 1S.-In L. j. Gress
a laborer, who was caught early Sun
day morning running away from an
incendiary fire in the barn back of the
| Freeport hotel 917 Fourth street, the
police believe they have the man who IS
responsible for number of blazes in
| the past two months.
"Gress, when arranged yesterday
morning, took change of Venue to
Justice Browns court. In a number
of interviews with Chief Davenport, the
the story he tells varies SO much as to
facts actually known in the case that
suspicion is more strongly than ever
directed against him.
Between / and 2 o'clock Sunday
morning woman tenant of the old
Freeport hotel leased by Mrs. A. ID.
Reed, saw flames shooting from the
barn back of the place. She gave the
alarm and the boarders rushing out
found two piles of newspapers blazing
one in the east end of the barn and
one in the west. The boarders formed
a bucket brigade and soon extinguished
the fire.
While this was going on the woman
saw n suspicious object crouching in
the shade of a high board fence. They
walked toward it and as they ap
preached, roughly dressed man with
his hat pulled over his eyes started
away on run. He hid behind tele
graph pole until he was chased out by
the men of the party.
Dashing down the alley Gress ran
straight into the arms of Officer Jack
Newell, who collared him.
Save me, save me-" Gress cried, |
trembling violently.
whats the matter here?" demanded |
Newell.
II don't know, only those people are
chasing me-" painted Gress.
Newell was speedily made acquainted
with the situation and Gress was taken
to the station and locked in cell.
Chief Davenport later saw and talked
with him.
What were you doing in the alley?"
asked the chief.
"Why me and another guy went in
there bout 8 o'clock to drink some
beer" declared Gress I'VE had bin
rushin' the can all evening. 1t was
bout 10 o'cloc& Wen that mob run out
IF the hotel hollerin' fire. The feller
With me run and | stopped 10 look on.
Pretty soon some of the women set up
/, big hoot and l hiked. The men took
after me TOO, and finally the cop
letched me-
Isn't it rather late to be rushing the
IAN at 2 o'clock in the morning." sug-
sested the chief.
WAS it that late?' inquired Gress,
well If it wuZ. / dunno what did do .
hat night, must have been full"
The police say the man showed no
of intoxication when taken in. /
iress, however. was locked up about {
wo months ago for drunkenness. S
He has lived for several months in a
hanty on the city dump at the foot {
If Water street. He does no work but
laims occasionally that he helps move
he bridge draw. He is % years old
and claims to be laborer. L
"The fellow acts rather suspiciously I
0 me-" declared Chief Davenport to- /
ay, land / believe we will be able to 4
ct enough evidence to make it inter- h
sting for him. During the past month v
he barns of the Palmer company. the S
hathaway commission firm, Fritz q
back of the Columbia house Il