Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1849-01-27
5cIcrteo tilisfellanrn.
From IIolden's Dollar Magazine.
REcoLLEcTIoNs OF THE TINES OF
GENERAL ANDREW JACKSON.
Trial of the Supposed Incendiaries.

That the United States Treasury Build
ing was sacrificed by the hand Of an incen-
diary, there could be no doubt. When the
flame was first discovered, it was confined
to room in which there was no other com.
bustible than single desk and its contents
and these had been ignited by applying q
slow match to the papers and, II any de-
sire had existed on the part of the dlscov-
err, the building might have been saved with
out the smallest difficulty. No effort was
made to suppress the flames, till il was quite
too late to arrest their progress. The bull
ding with most of its contents, were destroy
ed, and party--the fell monster and curse oil
all ountres--rejoiced over the desolation.
Congress took no efficient steps to discov-
or the incendiary, the whole affair was rap
idly sinking into oblivion, when General
jackson, while glancing at the story, one
day, said to friend that he would pay ten
thousand dollars il he could only detect the
wretch who committed the outrage.
This remark was simply incidental and
common-pla but IL was repeated and re-
ported abroad, and finally, after General
Jacksons term had expired, reached the
ears of a man named Kelley, who had oc-
casionally ofliciated as Deputy United
States Marshall in the Stute OF Ohio.
Kelley had spent the earlier part of bis life
as a horse Jockey gambler, and tavern-keep-
err, and in the way of business, had became
acquainted with the gangs Of counterfelters
aud horse thieves who Turk round the borders
and the shores Of Lake Erie and Ontario I;
and among them he had picked up scoun-
drel named Hicks, fellow who had been a
tenant of half the penitentiaries Of the
Union, and who always stood ready TO COM
init any crime for pay, that lay anywhere in
the range between arson and murder.
To Hicks, Kelley communicated what
General jackson had said and he speedily
agreedto fasten the crime of firing the Urea
sury Building on two men IN the CITY oil
New York-the one named Richard, and
the other named Henry White, who were
brothers, and who had not il Afterwards ap-
peared, always led lives of the strictest pro-
priety.
Hicks was perfectly confident that he
could convict them, for he said he could
produce any number Of witnesses tO-estab-
iish their guilt. He had his men Al hand,
who would swear TO anything and every
thing that he might desire, or that might
be necessary to accomplish kelley's objects.
Hicks was 2, the time in the Penitentiary
u Pennsylvania, charged with robbing
hank but, so important was his testimony
20 the Government, that az the instance OF
Mr.. Secretary Woodbury., be was released,
and returned 10 society TO act the part If
informor and prosecutor, ~ the legal affair
IN question.
As soon as Hicks was az large, be came
on to New York and caused the arrest OF
Henry White, who was keeping stable 10
the Bowery. Richard was not 10 be found.
He had migrated 20 the Western country,
and no positive intelligence Of him could be
obtained, TIL Kelley was one day informed
that he was in the Valley Of the Mississippi,
and had been seen on board Of New Or
leans steamer.
Accompanied By Hicks, Kelley started
for New Orleans, where he found 2 man
that Hicks said was named Richard White,
although the individual stoutly denied any
such IDENTITY; and, clapping him ~ IRONS
brought him on, and lodged him 10 the jail ~
the city Of Washington. Il subsequently
proved thar Hicks was right 10 the matter