New Britain herald., 1926-02-26
POLICE CONTINUING FIRE INVESTIGATION
No Statement Forthcoming on
 Blaze in Speciality Store
NOBLE STANDS BY WORDS
ire Department Chief Refuses To ketract ttterancc Regarding Sus- plcions When Seen Today By Nenook, Owner Of Place.

Police are pushing their investi- gation into the fire at the Syecialty store, 4OS Main street, yesterday morning, which damaged the store and contents to the extent of S25,. 900, and threatened the lives of 25 persons who live on the upper floors of the Curtin block. Although po- lice are still Investigating the fire. they report that they have no deti- nite information to issue as yet.
 lsadore Eenook, 2S Summer street, owner of the store. returned 10 New Britain this morning and told the Herald that he has a fire record in Passaic, New Jersey, but that the fire which occurred on March 13, 1920, started in a store two stores away, and spread to his store. He stated that he had the store insured for s16,000, and his loss was s5o,00O.
 He declared that another fire in 1925 vas in a store of which he was a partner and there was small loss. A fire in this city in a storeroom originated from a pile of rubbish, and was extinguished with little damage, he said. He claimed that the janitor on last December, threw out hot ashes and rubbish. which began to burn.
 Chief William J. Noble declared that there has never been a satisfac- tory explanation of that fire. and when Nenook came to his office this morning he refused to retract his statement yesterday, when he said that the fire Hooked bad" and there should be an investigation. Chief Noble refused to say anything about the fire record of Venook in Passaic, beyond stating that the records spoke for itself.
 Nenook said that he has been out of town frequently for Is weeks due 10 the illness of his wife In Passaic. He insisted that this year his fire insurance was reduced s2,000 and that in the last 1O days he has got ten in over $2,000 worth of spring merchandise. He said that he was notified of the fire yesterday by tele- phone. He said there were no gas pipes in the store,
 Chief Noble said yesterday that regular inspections have been made in the past of Venook's store, be- cause upon information furnished him by the National Board of un- derwriters, he was suspicious. To- day Chief Noble said that the matter was out of his hands as the police were investigating,
 NcnOok reported to Chief of Po- lice William C. Hart. 10 make a statement this morning, but Chief Hart referred him 10 Sergeant George Ellinger who is conducting he investigation for Tle police de- partment Nenook did not return to the police headquarters up to 2 o'clock this afternoon.
 Chief Hart intimated that there may he an investigation by the state and National Board of Underwriters into he fire.
 Orticor Otis Hopkins first noticed inc fire at 2:50 o'clock Thursday morning. when he heard an explo- sion in the Specially store. He turn I'd in an alarm al Main and Com morrial streets.
 The 25 persons in the upper floors were taken 10 safety hy Sergeant Michael Flynn and Officers Hopkins Cahelus, noty. Kozlauskas and O'Rrien. There were no injuries.
 The police investigation will con- tinuo, but Chief Hart or Sergeant FL finger did not know just what steps they will take next.