Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-01-14
J. w. Edge and Joe Edge, CT
gar Dealers, Arrested at
Point of Pistol on Charge Of
Arson--Citizens Enraged
TOWN WAS IN A PANIC
WHILE GUESTS ESCAPED
Edges Had Taken Out Extra
Insurance Wednesday Morn
ing Under Suspicious Cir
cumStanceS, 1t Is Charged

The little town of Austen Is miles from
Atlanta, on the Southern railway, was
plunged into widest excitement wednes-
day night by an incendiary attempt to
burn the Benscot Lithia hotel, which was
full of sleeping guests when the torch
was applied. The building was badly
injured.
p. w. Edge and Joe Edge, two we'll
known young proprietors of cigar store
cuffed and sent to Marietta, charged with
arson.
TORCH APPLIED TO OIL.
Wednesday morning, according to the
statement of the mayor Of the town, the
two Edge boys, aged 81 and II respective
ly, took out additional heavy insurance
on their cigar stock. 1t became known
aroused.
Secret watches were placed around the
hotel Wednesday night
In the dead of the night the building
was soaked with oil and the torch was
applied. One of the Edges was arrested
near the scene. The other was arrested a
few moments later.
PANIC IN HOTEL.
Meanwhile the fire had spread, and the
hotel was in a blaze. Half clothed
guests made their escape through the
smoke and flame, as best they could. all
getting safely out.
The entire town was aroused. The citi-
zens formed themselves into volunteer
fire brigades, and by means of water from
the Southern railway tank, with hose and
buckets finally subdued the flames, but
Only after they had risen to the third
story of the building.
The evidence against the two Edges
says the mayor, is circumstantial
The entire community is abso-
lutely indignant over the attempted ar
son. The townspeople were incensed to
the highest degree at the thought that the
lives of hotel full of people were put
in awful danger.
EDGE BOYS ARE COUSINS.
The Edge boys are cousins. p. W.
Edge, the older, went to Austell from
Macon, several months ago. He is a
son OF a well known and highly re-
spected family. His younger cousin,
who has lived in the neighborhood OF
Austell most of his life, was employed
by the other.
p. w. Edge was the proprietor OF a
cigar store on the ground floor of the
hotel, and had apparently been, doing
a successful business since 1t opened.
He also had the saltwater privileges
The fire stared in this cigar tore, and
practically detroyed the entire stock,
running a valuable soda fountain. Oil
| had been sprinkled everywhere, IL is
said, and it soon spread into the other
parts of the htoei.
WATCHMAN SAW FLAMES.
A Waterman named Davis nrst saw
the blaze and shouted the alarm. Call
boys and porters began to rush through
the hotel, in the binding smofle, crying
fire" at the tops of their voices,
pounding and kicking at the bed room
doors to awaken the sleeping guests.
most of whom escaped in their night
clothes.
The principal damage, IN addition to
the destruction OF the cigar store stock
was to the woodwork the building
and will probably aggregate several
thousand dollars mostly covered by
insurance.
is VERY GRATEFUL.
Mrs. W. z. Shelverton, owner of the
Benscot Lithia hotel, desires to express
her heartfelt thanks to the citizens of
| AusteII who made such a splendid and
courageous fight to save her property
| from the flames. Without their timely
assistance II would have probably been
! totally destroyed, she thinks; while ow-
] ing to their efforts only the northeast
corner of the building was badly dam
aged