The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-05-05
CLAIM 0LESON IS
GUILTY OF TRYING
TO BURN THE SHOP
Former EmpIoye of Murray
Hill Is Held While Police
Investigate what May Prove
A Serious Case.
INDICATIONS OF AN
ATTEMPT AT ARSON.
In the Meantime a Charge
OF Carrying Obscene Lit
erature Is Sufficient to De-
tain OIeson.

Walter Oleson is being held by the
police on charge of carrying obscene
literature. 1t is probable that more
serious charge. that of arson. will be
placed against the young man as he is
suspected of attempting to burn the
Murray Hill dyeing and cleaning
house. corner of Tenth and Main
streets. All the evidence indicates that
Oleson is guilty of arson and If posi-
tive proof can be obtained by the po-
lice his case will be submitted to the
grand jury for investigation
MIR. Hill is very indignant over OLE
sn's alleged attempt to burn the shop
but he is loath to file an affidavit
against the young man charging him
with arson. 'Oleson has wife and an
eleven months old baby. For their sake
would not like to charge him with ar
son." said Mr.. Hill Saturday evening.
circumstances Of Case
In speaking of Oleson's alleged at
tempt to burn the shop Mr. Hill states
that Oleson Saturday afterr oon entered
the shop for the purpose of borrowing
some dye for another dyeing and clean
ing shop where he was temporarily en-
ployed. Hill told Oleson to go into the
rear room of the shop where the dye
and about 10 gallons or gasoline are
stored. Hill states that OIeson enter
ed tbs room and left the establishment
by the rear door. About twenty min
utes after Oleson entered the shop Mr..
Hill went into the back room TO get
some supplies and noticed that the east
wall was badly smoked. Startled at this
discovery he made an investigation
and learned that an attempt to fire the
shop had been apparently made. The
fire was entirely out when Mr.. Hill
entered the room but he discovered
that the wood work was charred. that
some paper which had been stuffed In
a hole in the wall had been burned and
that coal oil had been poured on a
wood partition. On the floor there was
a quantity of ashes. Immediately ha
Oleson of making the at
tempt to burn the shop and Mr. Hill at
once notified the police. About ;
O'Clock Oleson was taken into custody.
He stoutly denied that he had attempt
ed to burn the Hill shop. The police
found obscene literature on the young
man and decided to hold him on this
charge for the time being
Had Made Threats.
II; III
employ for some time but that he dis
charged him about five weeks ago be-
cause his work was unsatisfactory.
This greatly angered Oleson and Mr..
Hill states. he twice threatened to burn
Mr.. Hill out. but Hill regarded Oleson-s
statements as only idle threats
In the back room of the Hill shop n
quart bottle. which had contained coal
oil was found and is now held by the
police. Mr.. Hill Is positive that Oleso.l
brought this with him as coal oil is net
kept in the shop. The coal oil used 10
start the blaze was not sufficient and
this is the only thing that prevented
a fire which would probably have
large amount of gasoline stored in thu
IooHi- f1du tudl DidZe sot d Sooo StdII
Il would have Immediately spread to
he gasoline. which was only abou.
.hree feet distant and when the gaso-
inc exploded / suppose ! would have
been blown through the Westcott Ho-
ell remarked Mr. HILL
1t is thought that Oleson tried y
burn the shop Saturday morning. At
hat time he entered the shop and ASK
I'd for the loan Of some dye. He was
loosely watched by Roy Martin, an en-
,loye of Mr. Hill. and got no opporfu-
lity to accomplish his alleged purpose.
)leson has not lived here very long.
lie came here from Dayton, O.. and il
S stated. his wife and baby reside in
kentucky.