The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1907-12-08
ARSON IS ALLEGED CRIME
JEFF w. Banks Makes Bond OF $1,000
for His Appearance for Prelimin.
ary Hearing Before Justice
Winfrey on December 10.

exclusively announced III tnc NGu'
morcitc that within the next few
days an arrest would be- made charg-
ing some one with the crime of ar
son, in having set fire to the Alex
ander Hotel that was burned on the
Saturday night previous.
The arrest was made yesterday
afternoon shortly after 3 o'clock
waeu deputy sheriff W. r. Hignight
placed JEFF W Banks under arrest
charged with the crime of having
set fire to the Alexander Hotel build
ing. which Is owned by Mr.. Banks
aud partly leased to Mrs Matte |
Alexander as "A hotel. The surprise !
came In the arrest Of Mr.. Banks, |
who is considered one of the best /
business men In the city and owns .
considerable property, being connect !
ed with the l. W. Banks Mercantile I
/ CO. MIR Banks has been u citizen
Of Ardmorc for fifteen years or
more and has always been identified
with the building up of the town,
and with the best people who stand
for the upholding of TIE law. The
gentleman when arrested was taken
before Justice of the peace Winirey
where he made bond in the sum of
$4,000. for his appearance AT the pre-
llminary hearing to be held Dcccm-
her. l6
\ large number of Mr.. Banks
friends were ready and willing and
anxious to go on his bond. II not
being necessary for all of those who
3 applied. Sam noble and Joe + Rob
ison made the bond
r The affidavit sworn out before
/ Justice Wmfrcy was signed by VIII
| liam Oscar Alexander and is AZ
follows.
II William Oscar Alexander. twen'
y y.thrcc years of age upon oath de-
j clare that on I've 3oth day OF Nov
A Icn W. Banks did unlawiully and
l maIiciously In the night time burn
= with intent to destroy certain III
II habitcd building to.wit' The three
story brick building enclosed with
walls and roof located ON the norti
, side of Main street, bctwccn u and
" e streets uortH west in the city OF
Ardmorc. in said county and known
AS the Alexander Hotel IN Ardmor"
which said building AT the time OF
such burning was then and there IN
hahitod hy certain human beings
towit: Mrs Matte Alexander, Miss
, Eugcuia Alexander Geo. Hammer
Il. aud Marshall Alexander, ana o
s.. which said building at the time o
p, such burning as aforesaid the SAID
49, Mrs. Matte Alexander was rightml
d, ly in the possession Of and was ac
., tuaIly occupying certain parts there
OF. To wit an of the second and third
floors aud the west rooms ON IN,
-. first floor uf said building,
D., j. r Coleman has been retained
NJ. by MIR Banks as attorney, and Mr.
I nlcmau stated when seen. \ hay,
d, no fear hut that Mr. Banks will b'
- released at the preliminary hearing
, and feel no uncasnc-s at the ont
.. come of the case
>, Mr. hanks is superintendent o
-, ,thr Methodist Sunday school AZ tn
=, broadway Methodist church and has
80 alway, been looked upon as one o
-, the best citizens In this city.
, The states side Of the case will he
-. looked after by county attorney Jas
, n Mathcrs and his two assistants
i W. + Freeman and $ c. Matsou
!. The adjustcrs for the various in
- surancc companies having risks or
-, the i. W. Banks hotel property, In
=, Guiding his stock of goods, mad,
=, settlement with him yesterday after
noon.
II is generally understood that in
surance companies resist the pay
"A mcnt OF claims of losses OF this mag
# nimde, whore there is the slightes,
o. evidence OF fraud on the part OF
~ the insured
Is II Is rather remarkable that some
,a one. who has only the best inter
,s csts Of society in mind, should de
: maud the arrest and prosecution OF
., Mr. Banks on the charge of arson
10 Mr. Banks has lived here eighteen
, years and has always aligned him
self with the best interests uf the
IS city and the law and order Of this
,,r,,,,urftr ~. ar, confident that