Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-01-11
FIREBUG AT WORK
Waterloo Merchant Arrested confes.es
to an Attempt to Burn Store and
Goods-Wanted an EmpIoye to AS
sist Him.

Waterloo. Jan. 11.-As the result of
an unsuccessful attempt to fire his own
store In this city Friday night, L. G.
Willing is now lying in the city jail
awaiting trial on the charge of arson.
Nothing can be done to Willing on ac-
count of the attempt last night. but the
charge OF arson will be made in the
case of fire which occurred in his own
store one year ago last Fourth OF July.
and the fire that occurred in the Peo-
pies department store on the east side
last spring. After being arrested on
account OF the attempt TO fire his store
Friday night. Willing was given Sc
we're sweating and confessed to- setting
1.-THE two fires above mentioned, each of
which was set for the purpose of secur-
ing insurance.
Two weeks ago 1t is said. Willing de-
cided to set fire to his present stock of
goods in the James Byrnes building at
222 West Fourth street. He took Sam
Doran. a friend. into his confidence and
concocted the scheme whereby he was
to set things In readiness In the store
and Doran was to set fire to the goods.
Doran told Mayor Martin of the
scheme and these two were to start the
fire and receive 10 per cent of the in
surance. which, II the entire stock We're
destroyed would amount to $1,000. Will
ling sent his clerks home at 6 o'clock
Friday evening and prepared the base
ment of the store for the fire. He al
lowed barrel of kerosene to run OYER
the floor, scattered cotton over the
floor. and fixed drapings about the
ceiling so that the entire place with
the drafts which he had fixed by allow
ing the elevator to be half way low
cred, opening the cellar windows and
the stair door 1t would be ablaze as
soon as the fire was touched. All that
1t was necessary for Vikings supposed
helpmates to do after Willing had
completed his work was to touch a
match to the candle which was set in
box filled with shavings soaked In
kerosene, which box was next to the
kerosene barrel. Willing also scattered
things about In the store room up
stairs with the intention of claiming
burglary II the fire was not success
full.
After he had fixed things In readi-
Parkersburg and return on the night
train, or to a dance in the Woodman
hall. The fire was to be started al
II o'clock. He went to the latter
place, where he was arrested by the
officers after they had gone to the
store with Doran and kilgore and had
seen the shape in which Willing had
fixed things.
After Willing was arrested he was
taken to police court, and on seeing
Doran ard Kilgore there, knew what
was up and threatened to Kill Doran.
He was given sweating and confessed
to his crime, and the former setting fire
to his own store. and the fire in the
Allendrof department store. Both
fires were suspected of being set at the
time, but both proprietors secured
their insurance and held big fire sales.
Allendrof later went into bankruptcy,
and his creditors are now claiming
fraud. Both men are of Jewish ma
tionality, and their dealings have been
very shady. Aliendrof is now al Dav-
export.
The insurance companies Carrying
Insurance on the stock refuse to state
that they carry any insurance and IT
is supposed they do not wish 1t known
who they are. Special agents are In
the city. however. and will push the
cases against Willing. Allendrof will
be arrested also. Willing will have his
hearing today before Justice Kuhns.
County Attorney S. T. Mears and the
city and county officers are working
on the case.