The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1905-05-24
CITY VISITED BY ANOTHER
BAD FIRE SATURDAY NIGHT
Wilson Block Burned-Morris Pie.
nick Arrested on Suspicion Of
Having Started the Blaze.

county Jail awaiting a hearing, he
being charged with the crime of
arson. The complaint was filed
Monday evening by Deputy County
Attorney Thompson. Pieniek was
taken before Justice Taggard, who
decided that he should be held, and
placed in bonds at $4,000. Being
unable to give bond in this amount,
the prisoner was taken to Jail.
The loss occasioned by the fire
will reach $4,000, including the
damage to the building, which was
owned by Mr.. Wilson. 1t is est
timated that this will amount to
about $4,000. Mr.. Wilson carried
$1,000 insurance on 1t. exclusive
of the plate glass, which was also
insured for it's full value, SO his loss
will be small. John H. Weigel &
Co., who occupied the northwest cor
ner of the first floor, were the heavi-
est losers. Their stock was worth
about 100000, and the loss will be
fully three-fourths. The fire and
water together left but little of the
goods untouched. The total insur-
ance carried by this firm was $14,-
900. Mrs. Davis, who conducted a
lodging-house in the second story Of
the building, lost all her personal
effects, with the exception of a piano
and few chairs. DR.. Nettie f.
Barber, the dentist, sustained total
loss on her office equipment. The
Famous Clothing store, in the east
half of the first floor, in which the
fire originated, is said to have con-
tanned about $4,000 worth of goods,
mostly clothing and furnishing
goods, and it was insured for APP
proximately $4,000.
A number of things in connection
with the fire aroused suspicion in
the minds of the authorities and an
investigation was at once instituted,
which led to the arrest of Pieniek
ny vi ant NJ . " CIOCh VuOuudy
evening. The. prisoner is said to be
a nephew Of Ellis H. Gross, the we'll
known merchant of Seattle and Ia
coma, and the owner Of the stock Of
goods in the Famous store here. He
has been connected with the store
since it was started up a few weeks
ago. ana handled the funds Of the
business. In company with J. l..
MOsler, who Is known as the stores
manager, he left after closing up
about 11:20 Saturday night. There
were one or two others in company
with them, parties who had been
making purchases and had fingered
to talk with the two men. They had
proceeded up the street but a short
distance when Pieniek stated that he
had forgotten letter which he must
write, and that he would go back
to the store and write it. Within
half hour after this time the fire
alarm called the department to the
place. where it was found the flames
mad already made good Roadway.
The utmost efforts of the department
could not check the fire until the
building had been Quilted. When the
department arrived, Pieniek was
found in front of the store very much
excited, and very anxious to save
the books. These were obtained
early in the morning by a deputy
sheriff. and placed in a bank.
The fire appeared to have started
on the floor, and some distance from
where there were any electric light
wires. A box of old clothing and
rags which the officers state had been
soaked in oil, was found in a con-
veniently located spot, and there is
also said to be some more and still
stronger evidence that the fire was
Intentionally set, that the officers de-
cline to make public at this time.
They claim to have a very strong
case against the accused, and II this
| Is true, he will have very hard
time clearing himself of the charge
Under the circumstances, however
.. the motive for crime so serious IL
difficult to define
Ellis Gross came over from the
Sound again last night Together
with Mr.. Mossler he has been In con-
sultation most OF the day with
Pieniek. 1t was given out this
morning that the preliminary hear.
ing would be had this afternoon, but
for some reason 1t has been postponed
until tomorrow. Bail has not been
offered. and Pieniek still languishes
In Jail.