The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-08-30
BOND SET AT
$4,000 FOR
fire SUSPECT
High Bail Figure Fixed by
Judge Collins on States
Request.
STILL HELD IN HOSPITAL
Pr0berS Await Traugott
Return to Clear Up
Blast Details.

Bond for Harold Libowitz, %, of
80 N. Jereson Ave, was set at $25,0 900
by Judge James A. Collins this aft
ernoon after an affidavit charging
him with arson in connection with
the 100000 Sunday night explosion
and fire at the Traugott clothing
store and Em-Roe sporting goods
store, 209-217 w. Washington St.,
was filed in Criminal Court. Libo-
WITT still is held at the city hospital
detention ward.
Judge Collins fixed the unusually
high bond upon request of Deputy
Prosecutor John L. Niblack and
Deputy State Fire Marshal Harry
Gates, who signed the affidavit.
Libowitz, suffering from serious
burns, had been held under $4,000
bond on a yagrancy charge since
Sunday night. The bond was made
higher to block expected attempts
to get Libowitzut Wporarily out Of
custody.
No Word from Traugott
Meanwhile no further word lad
been received by officials from I'd
ward Traugott, one of the owners
of the Traugott store, where the
explosion originated from fumes
from gasoline soaked clothing.
Traugott left the city late Sunday
afternoon with Paul Scharffin, at
torney.
Worley announced Wednesday
he had received a long distance tel
ephone call from Traugott at the
Brockaway Hotel, New York City.
He said Traugott said he would start
Immediately to drive back to In
dianapolis, having learned only
Wednesday morning of full details
Of the explosion
Worley said that the State fire
marshals would question Traugott
before police as soon as Traugott re-
turns. 1t was planned to ask
Traugott about these developments:
l. A key to the front door of the
Traugott store was found in Libo-
Wits pocket after firemen had
found him, his clothing and hair
aflame, back of the store just after
the blast
Kept Key to Store
2. Libowitz said Traugott let him
have the key because he kept a
trunk in the store and frequently
desired to get to it after store hours.
g. Libowitz refused to talk fur
ther until he has talked with Trau-
gott.
4. William Leeman, Lorraine Ho-
tel night Waterman, told fire mar
shals he saw Traugott and Libowitz
talking in front of the Traugott
store little after $50 Sunday
afternoon.
s. On a tip from an undisclosed
source, fire marshals and detectives
got from Maurice A. Davis, proprie-
tor of a clothing store at 249 E.
Washington St., a statement that
Libowitz had delivered for Trau-
gott a consignment of clothing
worth, wholesale, at from $500 to
$1,000 to the Davis store Sunday
about noon. Police are holding this
at headquarters.
6. A large amount Of merchandise
in nine packing cases placed by
Traugott few days before the ex-
plosion was discovered in an IN
dianapolis warehouse.
z, Mrs. Mildred Dawson, 435 S.
Pine St., bookkeeper for Traugott,
told police Libowitz had frequented
the store for about three years and
received his mail there. Libowitz
kept clothing salesman's sample
cases in the store, she said.
Complained of Business
Davis told detectives he frequently
had bought merchandise through
Traugott in order to obtain better
prices within the last five years. He
said he told Traugott several weeks
ago that business was 80 rotten"
he would have to get a cheaper line
for fall. He said Traugott asked
him what he wanted and he placed
an order for about two dozen over
coats, a dozen top coats, some shirts
and some underwear.
Sunday morning about 10 a. M,
Davis declared, Traugott telephoned
him at his home in Oxford Gables,
Washington Blvd. and Maple Rd.,
that he had the merchandise for
him and could deliver it at once if
Davis would open his store. Davis
said he would be downtown in about
an hour.
However, Davis was delayed by a
shave, bath, and a stop at a tire
store and did not get to the Davis
place until about noon. Libowitz
was sitting in front of the store, he
said. Parked in front was truck
with the merchandise, consisting Of
overcoats, topcoats, underwear,
gloves, shirts and miscellaneous
articles, some unpacked, some in
boxes appearing to have been the
original containers. Davis said he
and Libowitz unpacked the goods
and Libowitz departed about 1880.
Democrats Name Decatur Man
Ay,y,Oit,f,,oav,f oF Tlioir IIa1Ior Nn