The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-11-06
NEGRO ARRESTED
FOR MILNE BLAZE
Murder and Arson Charged
Against George WesterfieId
After Probe.
DEATHBED STATE IN ENT

George WesterfieId, enlored, 10 in
the county Jail charge murder
and arson as the reg 3 tho fire
Wednesday at the M chair COM
pany, in which Roy Sanders, an
employe Of the CHI jmpany, was
so badly burned 10 later died.
He was arrested ire Marshal S.
M. ludlow at A.: ysdnesday after.
noon. 4.
1t is charged fWesterfie1d bore
q grudge agait anders, and while
the latter was at-,sork in the benzine
room threw lighted match in where
he was, starting the fire and setting
fire to Sanders clothing. Two others
were also painfully burned in the
fire.
Sanders made a dying declaration,
in which he said: ~ know ! am 90 :
ing to die; that negro said no was
going to kill me before night" This
statement was made by Sanders
while the flesh was dropping from his
body in the presence Of Ed Hedge
Goth and another employe of the
chair company.
hC uyili oldISllIGllt VI CdUueIS lS
in the hands of Atty.-Gen. George
w. Chamlee, who also has a state
ment from Hedgecoth. Immediately
upon hearing of Sanders dying words
Gen. Chamlee had a warrant for
murder issued against Westerfield.
Had Registered Out"
1t was further learned Thursday
that Immediately before the fire broke
ouc Westerfeld, who was also en-
ployed at the plant, ran downstairs
and registered out and left the plant,
and was not seen again until he was
arrested by Deputy Fire Marshal S.
M. ludlow.
The negro, when seen at the county
Jail, denied he had anything to do
with the fire, and declared he had no
grievance against Sanders. He said
he was eating his lunch at the time
the fire broke out and claimed he
could prove it. However, it is the
belief Of the officials that the negro
bore grudge against Sanders and,
seeing him in the benzine room,
slipped UP the steps and threw a
match into the room, starting a fire
which caused great property damage,
the death of one man and the pain
Aui Jul IillS VI TWO OLHGFS.
Westerfield will not be tried until
after the funeral of Robert Sanders,
at which time he will be given a pre-
'liminary7 hearing before Squire j. ],
Bork.
Loss Not Appraised.
Damage done by fire which broke
out shortly before noon Wednesday
in the benzine room of the Milne
Chair company has not yet been es-
timated by officials of the big plant.
1t will be necessary to examine the
stock before any estimate of the
damage to it can be ascertained. The
benzine room and it's contents were
destroyed by the flames.
With the exception of that part
of the plant which was affected by
the fire, the factory Is running
Thursday as usual, with about 45O
men and women at their jobs.
1t is expected that the task of re-
building the benzine room and re-
pairing the other damage will be be-
gun as soon as insurance adjusters
arrive and look over the situation.
From outside sources the loss is
estimated at $4,000 or $4,000.
Sanders Dies.
Robert Sanders, who was fright
fully burned before he could escape
from the. flames, died Wednesday
evening at the Woolford- johnson in
firmary. Everything possible was
done to relieve his suffering. His
father remained with him until he
passed away.
The body was removed to O'Dono-
hue's undertaking establishment and
prepared for burial.
Accompanied by the bereaved par
ents and other relatives, it will be
taken Friday morning at o'clock
to Cleveland for funeral and inter-
ment.