Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-02-20
EVIDENCE IN HENpoN ARSON
TRIAL DAMAGING TO THREE
DEFENDANTS.
CROFT EMPLovE RELATES
EXPERIENCE At FIRE
Before and After Blaze
40 Told BY Witnesses Damaging to
Dsfsnss-Ray RspIosIs Collected Al.
legged Back Pay a. Result Of Fire
Defense Charges e!askms;:.

Centervilie, Feb. 20.-Ray Replogle
held the witness stand for five hours in
the Hendon arson case as he told of
circumstance after circumstances ex-
ceedingly damaging to the defense. His
testimony coming as it did as climax
to series of other circumstances re-
lated by other witnesses made decid-
ed impression He was employed by
the A. c. Croft Company from Febru.
airy last till a month or more after the
fire, as teanlster. His home is about
two blocks from the elevator with an
unobstructed view, and the stable
which he keeps has team just across
the track from the elevator. He told
OF going out that night to look after
his horses, first about S o'clock and
then about 10. During the evening he
saw two wagon loads of timothy seed
driven away by the Hendons and about
10 o'clock two loads of shelled corn
hauled out by the hands Of prominent
Moulton resident with a farm in the
country.
Hauled Lumber From Elevator.
Replogle continuing said that the day
before the fire he was kept busy haul
ing out lumber to the Hendon lots,
where they were preparing to build a
house, and he took windows, doors and
other things that would not be needed
for some time. On returning from his
est trip he saw Mr. Croft and William
Edwards talking together in a buggy.
and Dick Hendon back of the elevator
with loaded wagon, sideboards on,
1v,1
When he asked Mr.. Croft for the keys
to the elevator to get out some gro
ceries he had put in during the day Mr..
Croft responded that he would get
them for him, and helped him unhitch
and walked with him as he took the
team to the barn, then turning about
returned to; Mr.. Edwards, who was
waiting for him. During the fire the
witness said he and others threw
stones and clods against gasolene
barrel in which gasolene was kept out
side the building, but too near the fire
to approach, and 1t sounded as If
empty.
Witness smelisd Gasolsne.
Various witnesses had testified that
the Ares pread remarkably fast, and
one Of the first who arrived said he
thought at the time that he smelled
gasolene. Another circumstance related
by Replogle was that the evening be-
fore the fire he saw Mr. Croft and Jim
Hendon take out typewriter, some
timothy and some clover and put in
Mr. Crofts wagon After the fire nc
typewriter remains could be seen by
the witness in the ruins. About 100
sacks Of timothy seed seen by him in
the elevator as late as $3.50 o'clock the
day before the fire, yielded but eight
sacks when shoveled up after the fire,
witness saying that the only part de-
stroyed by the fire was some on the
outside, the center remaining all right.
When the defense got hold of Mr..
Replogle he was asked If he didn't
threaten Mr.. Croft since the fire If he
didn't give him some money to keep
quiet. Witness said he tried to collect
about $500 in back wages claimed to be
due him. and finally compromised with
$500, tho Mr.. Croft only admitted at
first that he owed him 500. The defense
sought to show that the witness tried
to blackmail Mr.. Croft and did in eff
feet force him to pay more than was
due. 49,