The Detroit times., 1914-10-14
CATHOLICS DID
IT, SAID PASTOR
AT CHURCH FIRE
Witness In Arson Case Repeats
Remark of Rev. Joseph Cot
tam, Accused
PEOPLE ATTEMPT TO
IMPEACH JOHN BOLZ
Witness Gets His Story Twisted
Differs From the One He
Previously Told

A more or less successful attemp,
on the part of the prosecution to Inn
peach the testimony Of its own wit
ness furnished the thrill. Tuesday
morning. In the trial OF the Rev. 10
seph Gotham. now being tried on q
charge OF arson In connection with
the burning OF the parsonage OF the
Dearborn Methodist church. Jan. Is. !.
The element Of religion and sectar-
ianism entered to a marked degree
into the proceedings OF the morning
and the terms Protestant" and Cath.
olic" appeared often.
John Bolz was called to the stand 70
complete testimony that he began
Monday afternoon. Assistant Prose
cutor vorhees almost at the start be-
gan q line Of questioning based on
the stenographic report Of the wit.
ness examination before the fire mar.
shal In the sheriff's ONCE shortly af-
ter the fire.
In his direct testimony the witness
had declared that he had been told
by the minister that q strange man
was about the church sheds on the
night OF the fre. He said he had gone
made q tour of the building and lot.
At the time. he declared. the minister
had asked him II ne were an oficer,
and told him OF seeing the strange
man.
On coming out from the basement
Bolz said he heard footsteps running
away, and he thought they were In
the direction of Q blacksmith shop
that adjourns the parsonage A mo-
ment later, he testified, an explosion
came and the parsonage burst into
flames. He said he ran to the rear
and tried the back door. but II was SO
hot he abandoned the attempt and
ran to window. through which he
entered
He also declared that he met Cot.
tam as the latter was returning to
the church from his home. and that
tor used In gargling his throat. He
further stated that the pastor had
brought him box of books to keep
and that they were old books.
Prosecutor Voorhees, then took up
the report of the firS marshal, made
by stenographer In the Office OF the
sheriff when the witness was being
questioned. =
Didn't you say at the time OF your
examination by the fire marshal that
Cotton told you that ne had seen q
masked man. asked the prosecutor.
The witness denied this, and was
sure that he had not mentioned a
mask. The prosecutor then read from
the report wherein the witness had
said the minister told him, Il saw q
masked man outside and l think he
had q handkerchief about the lower
part Of his face"
A series OF questions then tangled
the witness, who finally said that he
did not remember making such q
statement, but II he did that II was
true. A moment later the prosecutor
read from his previous testimony in
which the witness had declared that
he did not try the back door, although
Q few moments before he had said he
did.
In his direct testimony the witness
declared the tox Of books had been
In the church shed all summer. and
In his testimony before the fire mar.
shal the stenographic report showed
that he had said the minister told him
II still have friends and they. have
sent me these books"
The defense demanded q right TO
see all the report made before the fire
marshal ut the preliminary examina-
tion. and the court ordered that the
reports be given them. An attempt
on their part to establish third de.
gree" In the examination by the fire
marshal Of the witness failed when
Bolz declared that he had not been
threatened with arrest II he did not
tell sll.s
#. c. Reamcr. village marshal and
former FIRE chief. was called to the
stand and testified that he had exam.
ined the parsonage and In his belief
oil had been used to start the blaze.
II was with Mr.. Cottam when he