Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-06-14
Against Lewis Shire and
Samuel Rubinovisco.
The Result Of a Fire Sunday
Evening in Newport Store.
Sam'l RubInovIsch Last Winter Was
Charged With Baroen's Murder.

newport, Me-, June l5.-LeWlS SHlTO
of Waterville and Samuel Rubinovisch
OF this town will be arraigned before
nicipal court at $50 Wednesday morn
ing, Shire to answer to the charge of
arson. while Rubinoviseh win be
charged with aiding and abettins in
the crime of arson. The arraignment
will be the result of a fire inquest held
Monday afternoon before the board of
selectmen at the law office of William
II. Mitchell. County Attorney George
E. Thompson appeared in behalf of the
State at the inquest and he
will also represent the State at the
hearing before the lower court
Wednesday morning. The result of the
inquest Monday afternoon was that
Rubinoviseh and Shire were held Sr
a hearing before the municipal COURT
under $500 bail in each case. Shire was
unable to get the required bail and
passed Tuesday night locked behind
the bars in one of the cages beneath
the Town hall, while Rubinovisch Sc
curing bail. was released from custody.
The arrest of these two men. the fire
inquest and the hearing before Judge
Halliday come as a result of fire
which occurred Sunday evening in the
small fruit, confectionery and cigar
store of Rubinovisch on Mill street. The
State will allege that the fire was de-
liberately set by Shire at the instiga-
ton of Rubinovisch and that the mo-
tive was to secure the insurance money
on the stock of goods.
The hearing Monday afternoon
brought forth facts substantially as
follows: Soon after o'clock Sunday
evening, John Jordan, who is board
ell in the home of a family that lives
over the store smelled smoke and upon
making an investigation discovered fire
in the store beneath. Jordan testified
that he called to Lewis Shire. the clerk,
who had just locked the door, telling
him of the fire. Jordan testifies that
Shire was in no way surprised nor
agitated but returned. calmly unlocked
the door, and assisted in extinguishing
the flames.
Night officer Hefferon happened to
be near at the time and after making
a short investigation of conditions sur
rounding the fire decided that an In
quest would not be amiss. Officer
Hefferon notified Deputy Sheriff Ed
lace E. Rackliffe. The authorities took
possession of the store and caused the
arrest of Rubinovisch and Shire, pend
ing an inquest.
Samuel Rubinovisch, owner of the
store, when on the witness stand, tes-
titled that he was in Bangor, Sunday
driving to the city by team in the
morning and not returning until eve
ming when he found the officers in
charge of his place of business. He
claimed that he knew nothing about
the fire until his arrival here in the
evening.
He was questioned closely as to his
object in employing Shire. In reply to
the question asked, he stated that he
employed Shire to see that the other
clerk did his work Sunday. during his
absence in Bangor. He testified that
he had no talk with Shire other than
instructing him in his duties for the
day. Lewis Shire testified that Rub
inovisch engaged him to work Sunday
to keep the store open while the other
clerk went to his meals. Witness said
that he had not spoken of insurance
and that he did not see Rubinovisch
after Saturday night.
Owen Sanborn testified that he was
employed in the store evenings. He
stated that he did not know that Shire
was coming Sunday. Sanborn said that
he was not present at the fire, but had
left the store with Shire in charge. He
testified that on his return he saw
evidence of three distinct fires, the two
larger ones being about two feet apart.
while the third and smaller fire was
fully three feet away.
Several other witnesses we're called
and testimony of a nature unfavorable
to the respondents came out. One
significant fact was that shortly after
the fire Shire attempted to remove
some of the burned paper and put the
partially burned packages together.
The hearing lasted through large
part of the afternoon. The respond
ents were represented by John E. Nell
son. Esq; of Waterville. while County
Attorney Thompson conducted the
nearing Tor the State.
There is much local interest in the
case. Rubinovisch. who is a Russian
Jew. is not stranger in local court
circles. Last spring while he was en-
gagged in the junk business with head
quarters in Waterville, he was ar
rested on charge of murder. the State
alleging that he was concerned in the
death of Lewis Baroen of Waterville,
fellow junk dealer, whose remains were
found in Sebasticook stream, near this
town. There were many suspicious
about this case but after
a lengthy hearing before Judge Mitch
ell in the municipal court, he was dis
the evidence against him be-
ing insufficient to hold him for the
grand jury.
Soon after the excitement over the
Baroen case died down Rubinovisch
came to this town and established him
self in the fruit business on Mill street.