Looking back: Man found guilty of second-degree arson and car collides with fire hydrant
Published at
IDAHO FALLS — EastIdahoNews.com is looking back at what life was like during the week of Dec. 9 to Dec. 15 in east Idaho history.
1900-1925
BLACKFOOT — Two thieves entered a local pharmacy and stole $15 in gold, The Blackfoot Optimist reported on Dec. 9, 1915.
The incident happened at Dustin’s Pharmacy in Blackfoot. One of the thieves started talking to the owner while the other thief grabbed the punch board and with $15 in gold, ran out of the store.
“Dusty” started chasing after him and was joined by night policeman Drew, who fired two shots at the fleeing thief.
“(He) was captured some time later, and the stolen coin less $2.50 was found in the street where it had been thrown by the thief,” the article reads.
The robbers were James Wilson and W.G. Beverely. They were described as having “all the indications of professional grafters.”
They were transferred from the city prison to the county jail for safe-keeping.
1926-1950
RIGBY — A local man was found guilty of second-degree arson after a three-hour jury deliberation, The Rigby Star reported on Dec. 11, 1932.
James Brown was charged with an attempt to start the Riverside Gardens dance hall in Jefferson County on fire the pervious summer.
He was a former owner of a dance hall which burned down. It was eventually rebuilt and another dance hall under the management of Brown was built and operated in the neighborhood.
“Brown is said to have attempted to buy out the Riverside Gardens place without success,” the article states. “He was charged with having employed several young men to set fire to the rival dance hall.”
The young men who were charged with trying burn the dance hall were stopped by the watchman in charge the night of the incident. Shots were exchanged between the young men and the watchman.
State prison sentences were given to “Hy” Burke and three brothers — Jack, Ed and Theodore Casey. After serving a short sentence, several of the men were given a parole and were used as witnesses in the case for the state.
Jack Casey, who was still serving a sentence on the arson charge, was brought from the state penitentiary to act as the principal witness for the state during Brown’s trial.
1951-1975
RIGBY — A car crashed into a fire hydrant in Rigby and nearly flooded businesses nearby, The Rigby Star reported on Dec. 13, 1951.
A car was making a U-turn on Main Street when it collided with a fire hydrant. It broke the hydrant and a column of water gushed out around the area.
“The water ran down the north side of Main Street, forming a coat of ice to the bank corner,” The Rigby Star wrote. “The hurried driver failed to notify the officers of the mishap, but left a portion of his front bumper at the hydrant.”
Managers of nearby businesses on the north side of Main Street were notified of the incident and warned their buildings might receive flood damage.
“Dams were hastily thrown up to keep the water out,” the article states.
A group of people, including city engineer Fred Hutchens, worked in temperatures ranging to -12 degrees from 1:30 a.m. to 5 a.m. to repair the break.
1976-2000
POCATELLO — Vandals stole a plywood Santa Clause figure outside a post office that was part of a local group’s holiday project, the Idaho State Journal reported on Dec. 13, 1976.
The Santa figure was holding a mailbox and was attached to a wooden frame. The thieves ripped him off the frame, took the Santa figure and left the mailbox and stand behind.
He had been propped up outside a post office building at Pine and Pershing by the Pocatello Lions Club as part of the civic group’s Letter to Santa project.
Virgil Tinker, first vice president of the Lions Club, announced a $50 reward was being offered for the recovery, arrest and conviction of suspects involved in the theft.