Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 June 1915 — Items From the State Fire Marshall's Office. [ARTICLE]

Items From the State Fire Marshall's Office.

The motive lurking ever in the crime-creased mind of the fire bug is as varied as the hues of the chameleon. A comparatively new plot has been, unraveled as a result of the fire that destroyed the drug store of W. A. Dodge, on the west outskirts of. Indianapolis. The State Fire Marshal found on the morning following the fire, unburned empty boxes that had contained the entire stock of narcotics of the store. The hoxes had been cast aside in the rear after being emptied of their contents, apparently bv the dope fiend incendiaries. The crime is one of several perpetrated by users of drugs made desperate because of the recent prohibitive federal legislation. Incidental to the fire Mr. Dodge, who lived in rooms over his store, Was carried out by firemen when his escape was cut off by the flames. I nder a new fire marshal act passed recently the state of Tennessee is to have a fire commissioner's department modeled after the Indiana fire marshal’s department.', Charles W. Schuyler, appointed state commissioner under the new law, was in Indianapolis this week and spent a day in study of the Indiana department. Commissioner Schuyler stated that he regarded the Indiana law as being the most modern and probably the most effective in the country, lie expected to install similiar operating methods In Tennessee.

It was an expensive sky rocket that was a part of the Labor Day celebration in Bloomington, in 1906. That city must pay approximately $9,000 to Miss Josephine Moore., according to a decision of the supreme court because of injuries inflicted by a sky rocket on the night of the celebration. Miss Moore, who was then sixteen years of age, was disfigured ,for life by the acfcident. The county court refused her damages. The case was appealed and the supreme court has held the city responsible, after nine years-of lit-iga-tion, and rendered judgment for SS,OOO plus interest and costs. The following table compiled by the Journal of the American Medical Association shows by years the steady progress of the safe and sane idea in the celebration of Independence Day: ear Dead Injured Total 1903 . . 466 3,983 4,449 1904 ...183 3,986 4,169 1 905 182 4,994 5,176 1 906 158 5,398 5,466 1907 164 4,249 4,413 1908 163 5,460 5,623 1909 .215 5,092 5,3071910 .131 2,792 JD)23' 1911 57 trS-tfiy 1/603 1 912 ..41 947 988 1913 32 3,131 1,163 1914 .......... 40 1,466 . 1,506 Total 12 years 1,832 40,954 42,786 The Democrat keeps in stock blank statements for the Ideal Account Files, and there Is no need In your sending out of town for them.