The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-01-22
SERIOUS
CHARGE
Barry Renaker, PrOmi-
nent Stock Dealer .
Of Cynthiana,
Arrested
Charged With Arson in Con-
neCtiOn With Burning Of
Lewisburg Turkey
Pens

Deputy Sheriff Nike Brown placed
Barry Renaker, prominent poultry and
stock dealer of Cynthlana, under ar
rest on the charge Of having assisted
in an arson case.
1t will be remembered that during
the first week Of December that the
large poultry pens belonging to Rem
aker located at Lewisburg in this
county, we're burned to the ground.
As the fire occurred at night and as
there had been no fire about the place
for several days, the state fire mar
shall was summoned to the scene.
Former Fire Chief Edward Hite of
this city, then deputy fire marshal, was
given the task of unraVeIlng the mys-
terry that surrounded the burning of
the buildings.
Evidence OF the use of coal oil and
other iniIammable material was found
and upon further investigation it was
learned that within the last five years
seven dwellings owned by Renaker had
been destroyed by fire.
This knowledge caused the insur-
ance companies to become more alert
and after several days of thorough In
VestigatiOn IL was learned that Eneas
Williams, cOlOred, Of Cynthiana, who
has worked for the Renaker Company,
had on December bought several
gallons of coal oil at different stores
In Cynthiana, and after gathering It
into one shipment, had IL expressed to
Lewisburg as personal property; also.
II was learned that he had purchased
a pair Of new OyershOeS.
By some expert detective work the
negro, il was learned, had come to
Lewisburg on the day Of the fire and
had been seen about the destroyed
buildings and Il was also learned that
he had asked farmer living near that
place for a match, which was gwen
him.
The footprints about the burned
building cOrrespOnded with the shoes
worn by Williams, who, In his confess
sion, says that he was employed by
Barry Renaker for the sum of $3.50 TO
set fire to the building at Lewisburg,
Renaker saying that the reason he
wished them destroyed was that they
were a losing proposition and that he
did not want to journey from home to
attend to the business there.
OF the $3.50 promised, Renaker is
said to have given him SEQ as the first
payment, promising to pay him when
the deed was accomplished.
Williams went TO Lewisburg and
went to the building and poured five
gallons OF coal oil ON some kindling
and coal lying in the place; then he
touched q match TO the inflammabIe
pile and left, locking the door. He
came to this city, throwing his shoes
away, as Renaker had instructed him.
As Il was at a late hour that the
building was destroyed, the time of
the arrival of the negro I'm this city
was close 10 the time that the first
c. 81 o. train leaves for Cincinnati in
the morning.
Before boarding the train Williams
destroyed the OVereOat that he wore,
throwing II into the river. lie then
went to Cincinnati where he stayed
several days, taking the l.. 4 n. back
to his home, where he was at the time
Of bis arrest by Fire Marshal G. T..
Helm and Officer George Dlckey.
Upon his arrest he was brought TO
this city and after being put through
the ~thlrd degree" he made a full con.
fesslOn to Chief Mackey and other of.
fleials. Renaker was implicated by
Williams, Il Is said, I'm the confession.
Realizing that the evidence of the
negro would not convict Renaker,
Chief Mackey and c. a. o. Special or.
iieer Thomas Stewart decided TO trap
him aud get all possible evidence
against Renaker.
( Thursday night Detective Stewart,
dressed In a suit Of OTeralls, a cOrdu-
roy shirt and with a red bandana
handkerchief about HIS neck and his
face begrimmed with dirt was placed
In the cell next to Williams, who Was
told that Stewart Was a dope erazed
hObo. by lying on the stone floor
lstewaTt overheard enough Of the con-
Versstfep that went on between WI