Litchfield enquirer., 1837-01-05
TR1A1 OF RICHARD WHITE FOR ARSON.

TR1A1. OF RICHARD WHITE FOR ARSON.
 This case has closed, and the National In- .ellipencer has published the testimony en- fire The prisoner was born in New England -the son of a respectable New England far mer The principal witnesses against him were William Hicks and Charles Croft. His brother, Harry White, was also upon the stand. Hicks says, White told him that large sum of money had been offered II ne would destroy the Treasury, because certain persons had overdrawn upon government to alarge amount, and by burning the treasury these claims against them would all be de- stroved. White said that he would undertake it. Witness had several conversations with White afterwards upon the same subject, late fin the fall of 1882. White said he would go to Washington and take house, and pass for a gentleman: no suspicious would be enter tained, for there were often gentlemen in Washington who went to pass some time there, and no questions were asked; he (White) intended to send on furniture by wa ter, he himself would go by land. All this was said in New.York. White went on to Washington, and did pass off for a gentleman, though he had just escaped from the State- prison. After the burning of the Treasury Department, and upon his return New-York in Feb., his wife came to witness's house in New-York; she said they were just from Washington; this was in the spring of 1853. On the Eth or 9th of the same month, Rich- ard l.. White himself arrived from Washing ton,and talked with witness about the burning of the Treasury; he said he had succeeded in destroying the Treasury, and had cleared enough to pay his expenses. ,,,,
 Croft testified that he had heard K. White tell his brother not to tell him (Crott that he x1, fire. Hicks also testified that he had gath cred from general conversation, that the buil- ding was entered by means of false keys, and that the desks had been opened to put fire into them. White had told witness that he understood chemistry enough to place a hre which should burn when he pleased; he told witness, also, that he knew man who would commit murder for him for l5 dollars. This man White said he could command. He told witness he had been introduced to treat many gentlemen and members at Washing ion, who were very friendly, and that, the day before he left he had seen General Jack son. He said he had not quite accomplished his object, and had only been paid in propor. tion, but he had made enough to pay all his expenses.
 Azariah Fisk testified that when in New York in the spring of 1888, White had some ASyS HI HIS han0, ana Sal0 lt was aem tCRlch done the business 0t Washington" MT. Kelly, the Deputy Marshal of Ohio, testified that receiving, in Cleveland, Ohio, information from Hicks & Croft that White was the man who burnt the Treasury, he wrote on to Washington, when Hicks was sent for. Going there hinnself he was then sent with Hicks to New-York, to arrest White. Mr. Blaney, High Constable of Philadelphia. went with him to Whites Boarding House. "Blaney walked on before witness, and going in hur. ry passed by the house; witness came up and went into it. Witness met White, but did not know it was him: he, however, ad dressed him as if he knew him. & said, Goo morning Mr. White;'' asked him if he woult take walk with him. as he had line fo nm. Prisoner said to witness he had the ad vantage of him; upon which witness sske' nm II he had not known him at Washingto Cay! Prisoner asked witness's name. but h
 did not give it. They started from the hous together, and as soon as Blaney came up. vii
 ness laid his hand upon Whites shoulde
 and said he was his prisoner, in the name ( . khe United States. Prisoner asked Wh fr" Witness asked him if he did not know
 Upon which White said he could prove tn
 to was twelve miles from Washington tl night the Treasury was burnt. No one ha foId prfsones any thing about the Tfeasoy CT that that was she sdbject of his arrest. !"