Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-09-03
KICKER HELD Foa ARSON.
4 Former RandoIphite Charged with
Elrina Hotel 1t Woodbury., Conn.

A Former RandoIphite Charged with
Firing Hotel Ut Woodbury., Conn.
B. Frank Kicker, formerly OF RAN
dolph, who has figured extensively in Or
ange county court during recent years,
was arrested last week Wednesday at
Woodbury., Conn.,, his present location,
charged with completely in an arson case
setting fire on Aug. IL last to the Gen.
trail House at Woodbury., owned by Rick
er and one Walter Greene. The hotel
property, furniture and fixtures. bore in
surance aggregating $3.50, and it is
claimed that to secure this sum, which
was greatly in excess Of the value of the
property destroyed, that the FIRE was set.
The nature OF the confiagration was such
as to indicate arson, and suspicion
pointed to one Marcus NJ. Gilbert, who
came to Woodbury. from Waterbury,
Conn.,, last May and entered the employ
of j. H. Galpin, we'll known in Randolph
as an associate of Kicker in the drover
business. Gilbert had police record in
Water bury.
| Gilbert, or "Gill" as he is known, was
called before a court of inquiry Aug. II
and examined, after which he was arrest
ed and in default o! $4,000 bail held in
/, Jail to await hearing. The Waterbury
Conn.,, Republican of Aug. q reports
/ what took place as follows
sThe town hall was we'll filed with a
curious throng, as the mysterious recent
fire has been the talk of the townspeople.
Since his arrest, Gill has been confined in
the town lookup, where he has been. un-
der close surveillance. The hearing con-
tinued throughout the morning and
when B. F. Kicker was called TO the stand
Z l.. 4 . h.
ground that they might incriminate him.
He had previously refused on the same
ground, but it was evident that Senator
William Kennedy OF Naugatuck, prosecu-
tor for the state, was DESTROYS of inquir-
ing about certain alleged insurance poll
cies.
"At the afternoon session, Sheriff Cur
tbs stepped up to Kicker and placed him
under arrest. This surprised Kicker
greatly and he, when arraigned, pleaded
not guilty. His case was continued until
Saturday morning at 10 O'Clock under
a, 900 bonds, which were furnished by j.
H. Galpin, who was also Ricker's bonds
man in the recent liquor case, when he
was charged with illegal selling.
"When this matter had been disposed
of, the trial of Gilbert was again taken
up. Testimony given by State Policeman
Jackson was to the effect that on the
night after the fire Walter Greene of Gov
entry, K. l., the other proprietor Of the
hotel, Kicker and Gilbert had been seen
in close conversation under the hotel
shed.
"GiIbert was bound over to the next
term of the superior court at Litchfield in
October, and was taken there today. At
torney Charles Bauby of Waterbury de-
Tended him. Gilbert was unable to fur
nish the $4,000 bonds fixed by the court.
The hearing OF Saturday is reported as
follows in the Waterbury American
"Most damaging testimony against
] Benjamin F. Kicker, charged with arson
/ in connection with the recent destruction
by fire of the Central House at Wood
bury, Conn.,, on Aug. IL, was produced
today by former Senator William Ken
needy, the prosecuting attorney, in the
evidence given by William E. Jackson Of
Willimantic a member of the state police
, force, who has been investigating the fire
since its occurrence. The general opin-
ion today is that Jackson has done some
wonderful detective work in securing, as
he did, admissions from both Kicker and
Gilbert.
HThe defense of Kicker as conducted
by Attorney Charles Bauby is no less
than an alibi, as on the night of the fire
he was in theater at Hartford, accord
ing to the testimony already adduced, al
though the defense has not yet started its
case.
"Long before the hour set for the hear
ing before Justice Tuttle today, the little
court room was packed with the towns
people, factory hands neglectipg their
work, housewives pcstponing their dish
washing and baking, and the farmers
leaving their harvesting for the sake Of
listening to the trial. By the time court
opened, there were as many outside the
town hall as there were inside and there
was not even standing room in the corri-
doris. Nothing like the interest has ever
been seen in the town.
sThe fire occurred on the morning of
Aug. IL shortly after midnight, and was
most spectacular one. AS the house
had been closed up and law day for the
foreclosure of the mortgage held by Irv-
ing d. Atwood had been set for Sept. Is,
the element OF suspicion Immediately en-
tered in to the investigation and the in
surance companies interested started the
investigation.
"Marcus N. Gilbert, who was bound
over to the superior court last week, was
stable helper in the employ Of Kicker,
and apparently knew all the details of
the mortgage, value of the property and
the location of the insurance policies.
"Asa w. Mitchell was the first witness
called. He testified that the property
was owned by Walter R. Greene Of Govern
try, r. l., and was mortgaged to /. ID. At
wood for $500. Greene has not been
seen in Woodbury. but once since the fire.
"Hattie Warner testified as to the prog
ress of the fire, as did also Mr.. Atwood.
MIR. Atwood also testified that only $500
of the mortgage had been paid and that he
was about to foreclose. o. E. Norton, an
insurance adjuster, testified that the total
insurance was about 1925, and that the
personal property carried ~, $50 worth Of
insurance He also testified that Seth d.
Bingham of Naugatuck also carried some
of the insurance. In his opinion the
property was worth but "a, 800.
"Sen. Kennedy brought out from the
witness the fact that no permit had been
secured by Greene to carry insurance on
the property while it was vacant, al