Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-06-04
George I. Decker, United STATES
Express Company Agent al Old
Point Faces Serious Charge
SET FIRE 10 WHARF WAREHOUSE
Shortage In His Accounts Discovered
Recently and nc Thought He Could
Destroy All Evidence In Flames
said to Made Full confesslon-Los
May Amount to $4,000.
Daily Press Bureau.

Daily Press Bureau.
Hampton, Va, June 3.
AS the result OF the destruction
OF the express and freight warehouse
OH the Old Point wharf by fire Mt an
carly hour this morning, George II.
Decker, tho agent of the United States
Express Company,at Old Point Is In
tho guardhouse mt Fort Monroe to atl-
swer the charge OF arson Ia tho
United States courts.
Decker Is said to have fired the
building In order that tho hooks of
tho company. which would show
shortage In his accounts. would be do.
stroyed.
Decker was arrested Mt IL o'clock
this morning by Chief Bradford, who
lis stationed ut Old Point during the
jamestown Exposition, and IL Ia said
crime to the detective. He was de-
tained In the room of the chief far
two hours and then removed to the
guardhouse. He will be given pre-
llminnry hearing before one of the
United States marshals and, if held
for the! grand Jury, Will be sent to
the Norfolk jail 10 await trial, !. a, s
According to the report In clrcnln.
,tion Decker, who is about 81 years
old. has been living very wild life
lately, and n few dnys ago 1t WIS
discovered that his accounts were not
rs straight rs should be. He was
bonded in the United States Fidelity
and Trust Company. Just what the
shortage is really will never be known
for the papers and vouchers In the
office were destroyed by the fire.
When the fire was discovered short
IL al lx t..I. II. "A
the office of the United Express Com
pany. The blaze soon burned It's way
through the dry timDers and In q
short time tho entire structure was
ablaZe.
The general alarm was hurriedIy
sounded by the firing of two guns Un.
fortunately the artillerymcn are now
In summer camp above the old forti-
fications and II required some time
for the firc-flghtnIng soldiers to ar
rive Mt the wharf. Once ut the wharf
the firemen directed their attention
to saving the dock and as far as pos
sible the office supplies and freight lit
the structure. Very little could be
saved however. for by this time the
flames had spread rapidly and all tho
firemen could do was to prevent
further outbreak and conflne the
flames to the one spot, This was fl
nally accomplished.
Found the Safe Broken.
When the tiremen pulled the safe
of the United States Express Com
pany from the burning debris It was
discovered that 1t had been broken
open and later investigation showed
that 1t had been robbed of about $50
In cash. AS Decker slept in the Of
flee adjoining this room the suspic-
ions of the detective force were inn
mediately aroused. During tho fire,
however, he was one of the most ac-
tive in pulling stuff from the debris.
Bradford Takes Him.
Shortly after 1169selock this morn
ing Chief Bradford. after consultation
with the authorities at the wharf,
called Decker to his room and after
n good "sweating" secured n full con.
fession.
According to the statement of the
men present when the interview with
Decker took place the young man con-
fessed everything. He said he had
been robbing the safe at night for
several weeks. Sunday night he and
q man named Jones, said Decker, went
to the wharf about 1890 o'clock. They
sat in the office a few minutes and
nc tHeii ihNlleu JONES 10 iedVe. WHEN y
Jones left Decker said he robbed the
safe. He then took basket of ex-
celsor and placing 1t under the bun
dies in the room put match to it. 4
Decker said he waited in the room
few minutes and then left. Il Is said
that Decker exonerated Jones from
any connection In the crime
After hearing the statement OF
Decker Chief Bradford had him lock-
ed UP in the guardhouse.
From Harper's Ferry.
George T. Decker came to Old Point
last March from Harper's Ferry. w.
Va. to become the agent of the United
States Express Company. He was
considered thoroughly reliable young
man and 1t is said that he was given
absolute control OF the business OF
the company so far as Old Point was
r,trl