The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1922-04-27

while working for the Maine Central
/ Company. He admitted that he had
| been charged with looking through
! holes in the basement up into the
womens toilet at the Maine Central
station
joseph Quincy, connected with the
/ Fairfield police force for rs years, tes-
| tifed that he went with Taylor and
saw the candles burning; ordered
| that the candles be blown out, candles
/ in both cans being lit. Witness said
/ he visited tenant of the Gilbreth
/ block. conferred with Deputy Hill and
notified w. w. Nye, chairman OF the
+ Board of Assessors. Mr.. Quincy, Mr..
| Hill and Mr.. Taylor went to the Gill
/ lreth again near O'Clock and looked
Kings over.
DEPUTY w. A. HILL TESTIFIES
Deputy Sheriff W A. Hill of Water
vile visited the Gilbreth Block about
/ O'Clock 90 the day that the fire was
/ discovered and conducted an inYcsti-
cation, found the candles and the cans
| n which they set partly covered with
rubbish saturated with kerosene. He
| told conditions of the room and foun
bottle which smelled very strong
of kerosene oil; pressed off beaver
board which formed part Of the par
.ition and went through Witness
ooh particular pains to determine
! ihat there were no tracks around the
window which led into the vacant
ROOM He didn't think anyone could
ret through the window and if they
|
made. afterwards in company with
Sheriff Mooers he and Cohen went
downstairs, Cohen admitting them to
he cellar through the vacant store.
searched for tracks as the floor vas
very dusty, also looked outside for
racks in the alley but didn't find ANY.
Witness didn't think the outer door
| lad been opened because there %us
ce on the sill. Mr.. Hills testimony
lealt particularly with all points OF
entrance except through the upper
store being closed. Mr. Hill heard
| conversation between Sheriff Mo0trs
md Cohen about Cohens having been
here Sunday and when asked what
'ohen WAS there for. he stated Cohen
said to see man who had telephone I
o him about renting the vacant store
the block but that Cohen didn't
tnow what the mans name was Tn
Ter cross examination by Mr.. rattan
yall Mr.. Hill stated that some Of the
class in the broken window Wa Gif-
eront now than at the time that the
Incident occurred.
TENANT Or PROPERTY TAXES
STAND
Clarence Roderiek. of Fairfield, Il
garage man and tenant OF Cohen's in
he Gilbreth block, said he MAS "A ten
mt the 18th of March and had been
tenant since April 5, 1871. Cohen
vas in the Roderick place Wednesday
,efore the burning candles were dis
oyered in the basement, he said, and
estilied to Cohen mailing up the doors
Witness had eight cars IN the
garage at the time He had asked
IT. Cohen over the telephone ate
he candles had been discovered what
lie had been trying to do and stated
hat Mr. Cohen had said, WAS there
much damage" Mr. Roderiek also
astidel to the conversation he had
card between Sheriff Mooers and
'ohen, which was in effect that Cohen
aid he had been there on Sunday tc
meet man. Mr.. Roderick Didn't tAink
would be possible for a man to gel i'll
through the broken window. Under
ross examination i3odericl admitted
With regard to the double door which
we're fastened on the inside by piece
f timber. that one of these doors
hut inside the other and was some
That open, and that one end OF tn,
oard which fastened the door was
JAILED. Witness claimed that the ice
,ad frozen up on the outside and in
ide where the water had frozen. and
bought ice would have to be choppe
way for anybody To get in through
he door Finally witness 'aid thaI
Except for the ice outside Of the dool
he same could have been opened
hat the upper door had been malice
Up.
Warren BIaiadell. of Fairfield. VIII
vas a tenant Of an apartment in tht
iilbreth Block over the vacant store
nstiled that he could net get - tn.
acant store without gong outdQOr,
nd that he had no way Of getting T,
he room where the eanlles "prs
ound lighted except by going eut-of
'oors 1t WAS claimed by tEa Star'
hat Cohen had reserved the room
Fhen letting the basement To T2ylol
or an up tairs tenant
Fred Spearin of Fairfield. conduc.a'
IN the Fairfield ana Wateryillc o'ce
ric railway, stated that Cohen cam'
Up to Fairfield ON either tire ont
lclock or ;wo o'clock car. He reca!!"s
he car getting off The rail and Mr.
'ohen getting off at that tine Charlie
Danforth of Fairfield, q motorman 81
fe same line. remembered seeing Mr.
'ohan on March 18th. Charles cake.
# Fairfield. testified Tat he ha
nown Cohen for six years AMI ~an
i'm coming down the steps in from
# his building on March 1871. II
.omombered seeing belmont Gerry oi
he sidewalk and remembered That h.
aw Cohen get on the car between
80 and.2 o'clock Witness rac1,le
he incident because he was expec'
M a party on the ear. belmont {
serry Of Fairfield knew James Cohe'
b l.;