Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-12
V|RC|N|AN ARRESTED
ON CHARGE OF ARSON
Alfred 8. Mcars, Widely-Rnown Mer-
chant, Held for Setting His
Store on Fire.
PRISONER NOW IN BALTIMORE
Alleged That lie Destroyed Place Of
business That He Might Collect
Insurance and Join Family-Wife
Offers Bail, but 1t Is Refused.

BALTIMORE, MD. February 11.-Al-
fred S. Mears. sixty years old. one OF
the best-known men Of Accomac
County. Va. who for the last three
months has been living with his wife
and two daughters at 1898 North Cal
vert street. was arrested last night by
Headquarters Detectives Bradley and
oDonncll and locked up at the Central
Police station on the charge of setting
lire TO Il store IN Mcars, Accomac
COUNTY which he formerly controlled.
FOLLOWING his arrest. when he was
being held ut police headquarters,
ms wife. who. he stated, was rated as
being worth 100000. offered $1,000 cash
bond for his release. but Detective Cap
lain McGovcrn would not accept the
bail and the Yirginian was taken to
The police station.
Mr.. Meara was heavily interested in
the town OF Mears. in Accornac County,
lie sold ont all Of his interests last Oc-
tobcr. Mrs. Mcars came to Baltimore
with their two daughters, one of whom.
Miss Juanita Mears, seventeen ycars
oId, Is Il student AT Goucher College
mo only possessions that Mears had
ictt In the Mcars township was tho
stock In store that he had formerly
sold TO j. S. Gordy. Despite the sale
Oh the building he still continued as
owner OF the merchandise in the store
thder the 6rm namc OF Mears &. Co
nc ran the store after his wife came
10 baltimore in October and located on
North Calvert Street. That he endeay
ored TO sell out the merchandise he had
IN 'he store was known to everyone In
INC township. because nc had inti,natcd
that he wanted to get away from A..
rouIac County and Join his family in
Baltimore.
On January IL IRE broke out In
:. ana when hrcmcn arrived. the
piacc was practically destroyed Mr.
Mchrs Immediately demanded u, vn.n,
for his loss from the Insurance coz
pahies. Following an investigation nv
ne authorities II was suspected that
ne might have had some knowledrc as
10 no" the fire was caused
states Attorney George L. Doughty.
49, Oh Ncconnc County. was consulted
II. htter Interviewing number of
Witnesses he decided that the case
shorId be taken before the grand Jury
OF Accomac County. The indictments
lo'iowcd the departure of Mr.. Mears
IRON the place.
several days ago Marshal Carter was
$50" 20 ioctte him. ns he was believed
10 be In Baltimore Yesterday Dot,c
i've Bradley found h.rn at tho CaIvcr,
street house. ana when he told hin,
MAX ne was wanted on the charge of
arson. he exclaimed
why. expected this. Do you think
man who would SGT flre to n place
would take witnesses with him."
Mr. Mcars did not explain TO the do
'eS'iNes what he meant by his state
IUeit.
Alter he had been locked IN at tho
central Police Station his VIII. and
ohuEhicr Went TO the cell room wher.
he was hold. and after talking with no.
ih'hcr. HIS daughter collapsed Cold
water was brought to her By the ma
iron. and she was revived
m Innocent Of tho charges against
mo. never set fire to the place. and
'hcse chhrses must have been trumped
no against me- was his later stn,o-
mont.