The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-08-04

Finley Cotton company, w. G.
knight. cotton factors. and Roper Foltx
produce company were suffers in the
fire. The flames originated In the Of
flee OF the Finley company on the third
floor w c. Knight occupies the second
floor
Rhoderiek, according to chief Moore.
who made the arrest. opened a drawer
in the safe Of the Finley company and
took some foreign coins. Rhoderick
stoutly denies this, saying that the
coins were on the floor and he, think
ing them Of no value. picked them up.
Doors to the safe, which Is Of the
regular office type. were open when the
fire fighters entered the room, Chief
Moore and Salvage Chief John Fftz-
morris declared, The safe was locked.
John G. Potts, in charge OF the Finley
company during Nice-President +. p.
Flournoy's absence. declared Wednes-
day when he left the office as $50
Tuesday. Potts said he tested the
doors to make sure He returned an
hour later to put in a long distance
not test the doors. they were Shut
then. Potts SAYS.
Blames Incendiary.
The fire started directly in front Of
this safe. Chief Moore declared. and
burned downward. The chief gave cre-
dcnce TO suggestion that IL was the
work OF an incendiary. II the safe was
robbed, Potts thinks, war savings
stamps. between $500 and 81 900 In value
were taken. These stamps might have
been taken by Mr.. Flournoy. from the
safe to his deposit box before the vice.
president left the city, Potts stated.
Potts himself had 800 Liberty bond
in the safe. This was found Wednes-
day, as were the firms papers and
books, with exception OF a single ac-
count book.
The coins Rhoderick Is alleged to have
taken were South American pieces COLI
iected by Mr.. Flournoy during recent
trip. They are of no value save as
curlos, Potts declared,
Rhoderick was to face city court on
wednesday afternoon. He has been
on the fire department several weeks,
coming on about the time the firemen's
strike occurred, He was a member Of
truck company No. !, Adams avenue
station. He said he came TO Memphis
from Chicago about four months ago.
His home is In Terre Haute, Ind,
City Detectives Jack Ward and BIN
Hendricks were detailed to inyestigate
the safe robbery possibilities They
discount the robbery theory and say
that some attache In the Finley office
forgot TO lock the safe. Rhoderick's
arrest has no connection with the
opening OF the safe, officials OF both
departments say.
Finley Biggest Loser.
The Finley company suffered the
greatest loss. Potts was unable 10 es-
Innate this. He said the company had
insurance but didn't know II the dam
age was covered. Office fixtures and
papers comprised the loss w e.
Knight g. Co.'S office was water soaked
and smoke damaged. The produce com :
pany only a few months ago suffered
g fire apd repairs were going on when
wednesday mornings blaze broke out.
4 fireman at headquarters first saw
the flames, the burned building being
| only block away. The entire third
floor was aflame when the first OF
the companies responding reached the
scene
The building is owned by the estate
of Mrs. w. T, Norfleet and is covered
by insurance, ]. p. Burlington. under-
writer, said. Darlington estimated the
entire damage, offices and building Al
$1,000 Fire Chief Fitzmorris also gave
such a figure.
The late Brodie II. Finley was presl-
dent OF the Finley company, He died
several weeks ago. Vice President
Ffournoy teelgrapheC from Chicago that
he viii reach Memphis Thursday. Until
his arrival, the safe robbery theory can
not be celared up.