Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-09-22
QUEST ON
FIRE VICTIM
pses Arrest Of Joseph Joyce on
Perjury Charge.

The coroner's inquest commenced
llAte yesterday afternoon over the re-
mains OF Gus Layton. who persisted
in the hotel Franklin are. was re-
sumed this morning at the hour Of
10 o'clock For the first time there
has been considerable agitation for
an inquet in this matter. and the one
being held now is for the purpose OF
Iinquiring into the death OF Layton.
and also for the purpose OF ascer-
tanning as to what was the origin
of the FIRE that destroyed the entire
Franklin building. and ali its con
tents, threatened the town. and in
which two lives were lost.
The first witness examined yester-
day was Frank Deegan the bartender
at the Franklin bar, and the man
who discovered the fire and gave the
alarm. He testified in brief that
while at his place at the bar he
heard noise, and that upon looking
/ up through the entrance of the dunn
my waiter which leads to the up
stairs, sew flames. He then rushed
upstairs and gave the alarm OF FIRE,
and stated that at the time the whole
interior was enveloped in smoke. He
oosA that - t1,a 4Fv,,., I, ., 1910 !. =.
culiar odor. but was unable to say
whether it was that OF kerosene or
gasoline or somthing else.
Mrs. Kidd was the next witness to
testify. She stated that at the time
when the alarm was given she had
retired. and as soon as she realized
that the building was on fire filed
from her room half clad. and out into
the street She testified that at the
time the hall was filled with smoke
and the FIRE under considerable head
way
Mike Shomer was the third witt
ness. His testimony was to the
effect that he was in his room in the
building about o'clock in the even
ing. The evening up until the dis
covery of the fire, he said, he had
spent about the tom. and when he
first learned that the building was
on fire. he was at the Lakeview bar.
He Immediately rushed toward the
building and upstairs toward his
room 10 secure his belongings The
whole interior of the building at this
time, he said. was enyeIoped in
smoke, and on fire. That was the
substance OF his testimony and an
adjournment was taken until this
morning.
] The first witness examined this
morning was Joseph Joyce. He is a
young man 81 years old, and claims
New York as his native state. He
testified that he had come to the
city from Spokane on a vacation the
day before the FIRE. Had heard much
concerning the town as a summer
resort, he said. and he had con-
leluded to come here and have a good
time. He stated that he had s2S
in money the prosecutor inquired
if he had that amount OF money.
why he stood the land
ady on for his room rent on the
second day, He explained that he
did not want people to know that he
had so much money. HIS experience
in Spokane. he informed the prose
eutoF. had taught him that it was
not safe for a man to say he had
even a i've cent piece, and then he
added that he was usually In the
habit Of not paying for his room
in advance. but that he paid at the
end of the week. On the evening OF
the IRE he spent The fore part Of
It. he said. about the docks. keeping
two watehmen on q boat company,
and went to his room about 1880.
He took OF his coat and vest. laid
them ON a chair. and then he laid
down on his bed. intending after
resting awhile 10 return to the docks
and keep the watehman company dur
ing the night His purse he said he
laid on the dresser u vas lumpy.
he said, and he wanted to rest easily.
and that was the reason ne took
IL from his pocket and laid il on the
dresser. he vas awakened b the
whistle Of the boat--sew his bed on
Gre. and then for fke asxf tEnae he
realised that the builaing was On Gre.
and be grabbed hls esat ana hat and
ran down ne hallway. leaving his