Valdez daily prospector. (Valdez, Alaska) 1905-1918, 1917-01-16
xAN|Tz HELD
TO GRAND JURY
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Postoffice heating plant. Spoke very
strongly against postmaster; very an
cry; said it would not be long before
she would see the whole town go up
in flames.
G.. B. Smith was next called. He
testified was in real estate and in
surance business; last June Kanitz
spoke to him about insurance and
later Mrs. Kanitz came to his ofIica
and wanted to insure Postoffice build.
ing and adjoining buildings for SILL
900 or $4,000; did not give her any
direct answer; later she came down
to $4,000; he told her this was more
than the buildings were worth; said
Mrs. Kanitz insisted that If insurance
was written and buildings burned
she would get the full amount of the
policies; he did not write, as he did
not care to- recommend the moral
risk.
H. H. Jones was next called for the
government. He was engaged in q
general brokerage and insurance bus
mess. Wrote insurance on Postoffice
building and contents within sixty
days; could not remember exact
date; issued policy for $1,000 on
building and $1,000 on contents; and
$500 on Kanitz's interest in Postof-
flee fixtures; also wrote policy for
$500 on Kanitz's one-third interest in
the Kanitz and Cotick adjoining Buff
fet policy on Postoffice building is
sued early in December and during
latter part of month on other build
ing; negotiations commenced June Of
last year. On cross examination he
stated Mrs. Kanitz had spoken to him
about insurance last June, was not
prepared to write insurance then;
was in July; talked with her off and
on until December when policies were
written; value of building was
placed at $1,000 and contents $500.
On redirect examination said Mrs.
Kanitz was insistent that policies be-
come in force at once. On cross
examination said inquiries \ as to
when policies became effective were
common.
Jennie Raymond, the next witness
for the government, testified had been
a resident of Valdez for 16 years;
knew Kanitz well; had frequently
patronized bath house and was ia
miliar with furnishings of bath
house and also with the rest room
connected with it. Since the fire she
had been shown an electric light fix
ture that was part of the restroom
fixtures, a number of pictures that
had been in rest room and the car
pet of the room, and also a clock.
Part of these things had been shown
to her at Marshal's Office and the car
pet was on the floor of the house
where Mrs. Kanitz was now living.
Mrs. Joseph Braxton testified she
lived on Keystone wharf; knew Otto
kanitz we'll; saw him at her house
about half hour after fire started;
had brought two birdcages there and
said town was afire; about half hour
later brought his family there and
then went away; Mrs. Kanitz asked
for green house across the roadway.
Kanitz did not return to her house
until after Postoffice burned. She
did not go up town until after the
Postoffice had been burned. Mr.. Long
had come in and informed them of
the fire in Postoffice block. Kanitz
came back to her house about half
hour after that and remained until
Marshal came and took him away.
cross examination if Kanitz appeared
all worn out, said she could not say.
G. w. Long, the next witness for
the government testified that he had
Mrs. Kanitz staid all day. Asked on
the morning of the fire he was not
aroused until nearly O'Clock; went
up town; found fire burning in four
places; went home to warn children
to remain at home; on return up
town met KanitZ at corner of Key
stone avenue and Front street; Kan
itz showed him number of bum
dies and stated that he had saved
that much; had a conversation with
Kanitz two weeks before the fire re-
garding Postoffice contract; had ask
ed Kanitz if the people who had sub
scribed to the amounts to be paid in
addition to the government rental
had come through; Kanitz stated
some of them had; said he would get
out Of contract as they did not have
him cinched used violent language.
cuch as witness WOn1d have used If