Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-08-24
'RADLOFF FACES
SERIOUS CHARGE
Arson Contronts Well : known
Character, in Connection
With Barn Fire
w. S. GILES SEVERE LOSS
Timber Creek Township Farmers Barn
outbuIdnss and Their Contents De-
stroyed in $4,000 Blaze Late satur-
day Nisht-Radloff Makes Damaging
Admissions.


loft, a we'll known character about
town, and Radloff is In jail awaiting
hearing on q charge of dsorderly con-
duct, filed by Constable Walter Will
son, who made the arrest. Radloif is
suspected OF setting fire to the barn OF
w. S. Gi]e, farmer living five and
one-half miles southwest of the city
in Timber Creek township. which
burned late Saturday night, causing
loss Of $1,000.
Today Radloff is alleged to have
made damaging admissions in state-
ment to the effect that he was at the
GLE farm late Saturday night. and
slept In the barn. Not being able to find
his way out in the darkness he claims
to have lighted match. The match
was dropped by accident, and the fire
resulted.
Gle and Radloff Quarrel.
AT about $40 Saturday evening, on
the street, Gle and Radloff had some
trouble. Gile was discussing certain
good points possessed by a stallion that
he owned, and Radloff Is said to have
made some remarks about the horse
that displeased Gile. Gile claims that
Radloff kept on. interrupting the COM
versation and finally Gle slapped him.
Gets News Of Burning Barn.
At about 1915 Gile. who was still
in town, received the news over the
rural phone of his burning barn. The
blaze was then practically a thing Of
the past, and instead of hurrying
home, as one might be prompted to do
under similar circumstances, Gle
sought the officers. He Immediately
suspected Radloff of setting the fire,
and made known his suspicious to the
officers. A dragnet was set out. which
resulted In Radloff's arrest while he
was walking in from the country.
Wilson Takes Tracks; Gets Game.
The sheriff's officers took the main
travelled roads leading to the Gile
home, while Constable Wilson figured
that If Radloff were the guilty man. he
would more likely avoid the public
highways, and take to the railroad
tracks. The Great Western tracks
would be more direct into the city from
the Gle farm, but the Northwestern
would afford better walking, so Wilson
took the Northwestern. At about mid
night, near the Sixth street crossing,
Wilson flashed his light into the face
of q lone man walking briskly from,
the west, and the man was Radloff. He
placed him under arrest and filed his
own charge of disorderly conduct.
Claims AaIAen IN PasturA
Radloff, when asked by the officer
where he had been, claimed he had
been in Anson's pasture asleep. Rad
loft failed to explain, however, why
he should have become so heated from
exercise, for the man was wet with
perspiration He was taken to Jail.
and this morning was arraigned. He
pleaded not guilty, and his bond was
fixed at 500. His hearing is set for
Monday morning at 9 o'clock.
Fire Was Bad One.
The fire that destroyed the Gile
barn was bad one. Mrs. Gile was
first awakened by the cracking of the
flames at about 1880. The building was
then solid mass Of flames, and the
outbuildings were caught. Aside from
the barn and its contents, an 1Sx36
corn crib, and another combination
crib, cattle shed, and tool house, were
destroyed, together with a binder shed.
and the binder 1t contained, and
stock shed. In the barn was the fine
stallion over which Gile and Radloff
had disagreed, which Gile valued at
$1,000. 1t persisted in the flames.
There were also consumed 1870 BUSH
els Of oats, forty-tive tons of hay, a
new buggy. a set of single and one
set of double harness, both new; and
all of the farm machinery and tools
belonging to the place.
Mr.. Gle says that his loss, at the
very least calculation, is $1,000 and
that the insurance on the barn and it's
contents is in the neighborhood of
between $1,000 and $1,4oo. He carried
total Of $1,000 insurance. but part
Of it is on his house and it's contents.
To File Arson Charge.
Mr.. Gile expects to, file a charge Of
arson against Radlof this afternoon.