Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1914-05-22
HELD TO GRAND Jury
ON CHARGE Of ARSON
wrs Meath and Mrs. Crswell Prellml-
nary Nearing Tuesday and We'd
nssday Before Judge Rogers.
couar ROOM WAS CROWDED
Much Interest on Part Of Public In
Sensational Case Growing Out
Of Recent Destructive Fire.

.The court will hold the defendants
!, this ease to await the action Of the
Grand Jury"
These words closed the preliminary
hearing Thursday in the ease Of
IN, state of New Mexico versus the
Helen r. Heath and Margaret Gro
well. charged with arson.
A TENSE MOMENT
The Judgment of the court was
given lust rs J. =. Waddill. district
attorney. took his seat ut the close
of the arguments in the ease. The
sentence brought a tense moment of
silence to the crowded court room
and the spectators, mostly women,
involunlarily glanced toward the ac-
,u.rd women, whose faces expressed
the disappointment which they felt.
$1,000 BAIL
Judge &. c. Rogers, the examining
magistrate, continued: 'In view OF
the fact that the evidence presented
by the state is none too strong. !
will fix the bail at 81 900 each. which
is 1900 less each than the bail ex-
acted ~ the time of the arrests
There was little demonstration by
the crowd which. for two days. fol-
lowed closely the court proceedings.
A few openly expressed sympathy
with the accused persons. but n con-
sensus of opinions could not be de-
termined. The required bail was fur
nlshed.
GREW OUT OF FIRE
The ease grew out of the burning
ON May . of the Clark block,
which caused u loss Of 100000
The complaint was filed by X. r.
RYAN Of Silver City. Mr.. Ryan is the
attorney for the Clark estate and
acted ms special prosecutor. Tho
defence was conducted by Fred
Sherman and John G. Watson.
STEPHENS ON STAND
The cus. was called at 10 O'Clock
Tuesday morning, but there was som'
delay in getting started. Arraignmcn
was waived
The first witness called by the stat'
wa~ sheriff D. B. Stephens. MIR. Step
hens testified that he was in Ton!
Ehrman's saloon on Silver avenu'
about II o'clock on May Q, when tn
fire broke ont and the alarm wa
given. Tie told of seeing the reflec
iinn Of the flames above the partl
tion behind which the fire originated
After he had arrived. with others, a
the scene. with the fire hose. he ex
planned. they were forced bac
because of lack Of water pressure !
the hose.
MANAGER OF HOTEL
stephen Nixon was next called. Nj
Nixon testified that he was the man
aeer of the Victoria Hotel. which wa
situated over the Heath Hat Shol
lie described how the guests wei
awakened and how they made the
escape from the hotel. which was III
ID with smoke. The hotel regist'
was burned, he stated.
COUNTY RECORDS
Charles Hughes, county clerk. WI
placed on the stand by the proser'
ton To describe, locate, and g''
ownership by the records OF u
property destroyed. Strong oble
ton to this testimony was raised
the defense on the grou.d that It WI
not the best evidence. but he cou
overruled the objection.
$4,000 INSURANCE
W. C. Curtis testified rs to Z
office record which showed fire
surance policy for $1,000 on
contents Of the Heath Hat Sh
which had been taken out in
Royal Insurance Company. OF WIN
A. W. Pollard is agent, and that
policy was in force at the time OF
fire.
like testimony was given by ~
sell Cooper as to the existence OF a
other policy for $1,000 on the CO
tents Of the Heath Hat Shop IN
Queen Insurance Company, OF WIN
Lester and Sherman is agent, a
which was in full force at the u
of the fire. Strong objection v
made by the defence to this ties
mony. and that Of the preceding v
ness ON the ground that il was not
best evidence, but the objection v
overruled.
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