The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-08-20
Milwaukee Man Held on q Charge
OF Arson on the Evidence
lSlof His Companions
SAID He WOULD APPLY TORCH
Ed Ashman and Gus Weber Are AL
legged Not to Have Been Directly
connected With Fire But
Are Held as Witnesses

AS result of hearing before JUS
tiCe Donahue on Tuesday afternoon
Michael Griffin was held to the Circuit
Court in bonds of $4,000 to answer a
charge of arson in connection with the
burning of the "Forf Corners" two
weeks ago. The evidence against
Griffin, which was pretty strong, was
given by Ed Stuhlfault and Gus Weber
two men arrested with Griffin, and their
evidence left little doubt as to the
suficiency of proof to hold Griffin to
the Circuit Court. Neither Stuhlfault,
who was originally arrested under the
name of Ashman or Weber were held
en- the arson charge, but were ordered
to recognize as witnesses under bonds
Of $500 Weber, who is a member of
a well known family at Three Rivers,
went on the stand and told everything
he knew in regard to the resort and its
destruction and while Stuhlfault told
considerable and gave evidence enough
to hold Griffin to the higher court it is
allegedsby the district attorney that he
las not told all he knows as yet. Web
Der, had absolutely no knowledge OF
the fires which threatened and destroy
ed the building, but after the second
fire had forced him out of bed in the
middle Of the night he began to get
wise. and made no effort to put out the
blaze. He stated that Griffin had been
hanging about the place for a week
before the first fire and that on the
morning before The fire he saw him in
the garden near the spot where the first
blaze was started holding large bottle
of kerosene which he declared that he
had found there On the night Of the
fire which destroyed the old building
Weber had retired very early, but
Stuhlfault testified that he and Griffin
sat out on the front porch until after
midnight and that during the evening
Griffin asked him what Crosse" mean
ing Mrs. Kingston had said in regard
to the fire on the first night and he re
FLIED that she did not care much about
it. .Stuhlfault then testified that Grit
fin declared "I'l stick a torch under
her all right. Stuhlfault claims that
he asked Griffin not to burn the build
ing, but that he feared that he would
and that for this reason he went to
bed with his clothes on. He alleged
that Griffin promised not to start the
fire, but that later on when the two men
net in the road after the building was
in flames he said to him "You didn It
keep your promise" and Griffin SAID
"Shut up, don't you know that the
bushes have ears. -
This was all that was said between
the two men and Weber was not in
any way let in on the secret After
the arrest of the three men Weber at
once declared that he had no knowledge
Of the manner in which the fire started,
hut Stuhlfault after maintaining silence
fol-, several days expressed willingness
to tell all he knew
There was no evidence brought out
at the hearing of Griffin to connect any
one else with the crime and when such
evidence was sought it was in such a
guarded manner that it would be diff
iicult to discover just whom it was be
ing aimed at. It was stated before
the hearing. that another warrant would
be issued today, but the identity of the
defendant to be named in the warrant
was not given out.
Griffin was. represented in court by w.
J, Kershaw, the well known Milwaukee
politician. The accused man was form
ely prosperous contractor in Milwau-
kee, but it seems that he has been down
and out for some time and that while
in that condition he was picked up by
the Parker woman and sent out to the
Pleasant Prairie resort.
Justice Donahue announced that he
would accept a cash bond of $4,000 for
the release Of Griffin and it is expected
that this will be furnished today.
The father of Gus Weber was in
Kenosha Sunday and stated that he
believed the story told by his son and
that he would furnish any reasonable
Bond for him. It is expected that
Stuhlfault will also be able to get bail
tbday. erfgE E f