Philadelphia Inquirer, October 20, 1922View transcription
CAMDEN MERCHANT ON TRIAL FOR ARSON
Store Found Soaked in Oil; Man Tells Judge He Was Away From Home
Gas House Emplpyee Tells Court "Fumes" Not Whisky Made Him Drunk
Accused of being responsible for a fire which damaged his shoe store on the night of July 23 last, Charles Morris, 50 years old, a merchant at 1203 Haddon avenue, was placed on trial in the Camden Criminal Court yesterday on three indictments. One charges arson, another conspiracy to commit the crime and the third with aiding in the crime. Morris pledged not guilty to all three charges.
When fire was discovered in the store a few minutes before midnight on July 23 the firemen found a heavy shoe rack against the front door and on the floors were rags, stockings and a carpet runner soaked in oil. The flames were checked before making much headway. None of the members of the Morris family was at home when the fire broke out. They were at the seashore and did not return until the following morning when Morris was placed under arrest. He states that he went away early on the morning of the day of the fire and that he has no knowledge of the cause of the blaze. He also denies the presence of the oil-soaked rags in the store. The rags and other articles which had been bathed in kerosene were shown to the jury, on which there are five women. Fire Chief Carter, Police Chief Hyde and several firemen testified to the oil fumes in the store. The State also contended that Morris carried $10,000 insurance on a $7000 stock.
Philadelphia Inquirer, October 20, 1922 — page 2
Store Found Soaked in Oil; Man Tells Judge He Was Away From Home
Gas House Emplpyee [sic] Tells Court “Fumes” Not Whisky Made Him Drunk
Accused of being responsible for a fire which damaged his shoe store on the night of July 23 last, Charles Morris, 50 years old, a merchant at 1203 Haddon avenue, was placed on trial in the Camden Criminal Court yesterday on three indictments. One charges arson, another conspiracy to commit the crime and the third with aiding in the crime. Morris pledged [sic] not guilty to all three charges.
When fire was discovered in the store a few minutes before midnight on July 23 the firemen found a heavy shoe rack against the front door and on the floors were rags, stockings and a carpet runner soaked in oil. The flames were checked before making much headway. None of the members of the Morris family was at home when the fire broke out. They were at the seashore and did not return until the following morning when Morris was placed under arrest. He states that he went away early on the morning of the day of the fire and that he has no knowledge of the cause of the blaze. He also denies the presence of the oil-soaked rags in the store. The rags and other articles which had been bathed in kerosene were shown to the jury, on which there are five women. Fire Chief Carter, Police Chief Hyde and several firemen testified to the oil fumes in the store. The State also contended that Morris carried $10,000 insurance on a $7000 stock.
