The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1913-05-15
POLICE MAKE TWO ARRESTS
Deputy State Fire Marshal Called TO
City to Make Investigation of Blaze
Which is Alleged to Have Been of an
Incendiary origin-Loss was $500.
(From Wednesdays Daily;


The West Side Theatre, a moving
picture theatre On Rowland avenue
just north of Market street, was gut
ted by fire at an early hour this morn
ing and as a result of the fire two men
have been taken into custody by the
police of the city and William G. End,
deputy state fire marshal, is hurrying
to Kenosha to begin an examination
of the circumstances surrounding the
fire on behalf of the state department.
Chief Isermann of the Kenosha de-
partment declared this morning that
there was no doubt but that the fire
was of incendiary origin and he de
ciared that the fullest investigation
would be made into the fire and that
probably arrests would be made dur
ing the day.
The fire broke out just after half
past one clock this morning and it
was discovered by Police Officer Cezak.
Before the members Of the fire depart
ment could reach the theatre the en-
ttire interior was mass of flames.
sThe fire had started in a closet under
ZONE of the stairways at the south end
of the theatre and it spread with sur
Uprising rapidity. Chief lsermann and
fhis men got to work quickly on the fire
and IN half an hour it was well under
seantfo4 l9lft before &iis rinfe danage
- the amount of more than 5000 had
resulted. The fire looked bad to Chief
lsermann from the start and before
the hose had been removed from the
building he started an investigation.
The first thing he found was q pile Of
badly charred paper under the stair
way at the north end OF the theatre.
1t is evident that this paper had been
burning but lack of air in the enclos-
ure had not made it possible for the
flames to spread
The theatre is owned by DIR. Ger
mano and is under lease to Jasper Con-
forti and Al Won Wald. The latter
was not at the theatre on Tuesday
evening, he being in charge of the Star
Theatre on Milwaukee avenue, which
is under the same management. Short
" after the fire Won Valid and Joseph
Korezek, an employee of the theatre
We're taken into custody and held
pending the investigation of the fire.
Both men declared that they had no
knowledge of the manner in which the
fire started. The chief also began an
investigation Of the business which had
been done at the theatre. The books
were turned over to the police and
these showed that the theatre had
earned a small weekly profit. The
equipment of the theatre was insured
for thousand dollars.
The theatre was in operation on
Tuesday evening and the usual crowds
saw the different shows during the
evening. Tuesday afternoon Chief
Isermann had gone to the theatre and
had demanded changes in the exits of
the theatre and the managers had de-
clared willingness to comply witch
these demands but had asked that they
be given little time Chief Isermann
had consented to permit performance
at the theatre on Tuesday evening, but
the managers were instructed that no
further time would be allowed.
The building in which the theatre
is located was not seriously damaged
by the fire and the loss on the build
ing will not exceed 5000.