The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-12-16
Police Intelligence.

CHARGE OF ARsoN-ExTRAoRDINARY EvIDENcE-AN
AFFECTING SCENE IN COURT.
A few days ago, man by the name Of John Watson,
and his wife Sarah 8. Watson, arrested war
rants Issued by Justice Osborn wherein they we're
charged with setting fire to their store of ancy dry
goods situated at No 90, Sd Avenue on the night Of
the 4th Of July The upper part Of this store was
occupied dwelling, and, therefore. the crime Is,
under the statute law, arson in the nrst degree"
which, on conviction, would be punishable by death
--i~~----=-s.---.s -----. A. - h--- $4,000
in the city prison, awaiting an examination the Nus
band in department, and the wife In another,
strictly prohibited TO communicate with each other
Saturday afternoon set down for the investigation
But before We give the proceedings OF that nvestga
tioD, We win relate, briefly, outline Of the whole
case from the tine Of the fire. down to the present e-
gal proceedings. The facts startling they
are horrible, and not for many years past, have
the police authorities been compelled GO record the
this csse. In the first place, rs the narrative Is
told John Watson, the prisoner, gave his wife $500
20 at up the fancy dry goods store in question Soon
after insurance effected on the property In the
Broadway Fire Insurance Company, 70 the amount OF
81 900. The revenue derived from the sales In the
did not appear to be according to the expecta
lions OF Mrs. watson, and proportion made 60
burn MP the stock and obtain the insurance.. Watson
alleges that his wife was the rst to propose the pro
told her to do It, and by burning the store she only
carried cut the requests Of her husband BE that as
Nd y,
sight ofthe 4th OF July was the time designated for
the deed to be done and on the day before, watson
ieit tnih cry anu w.n' W Soi,.y
then returned TO New York, and ascertained that
the store had been fred during his absence.
On the Insurance paDy the cause Of
fire. circumstance exhibited Themselves which sho we'd
that improper hsa been resorted to- and that In
fact the obstruction OF the said amount OF property
wss the work OF design; yet ,t the evidence OF
such nature as would not justify mt that time a
criminal charge, although the suspicion was very
n. a al ~ IA thaf n4n
rance compsny promised the amount OF Insurance
ara paid 20 Watson 5000. Now that the money was
paid, disco nts ntmsnt sroee between WATSON and his
wife she cls inning the whole amount Of the money nc
her own Wstson finally TO keep peace gave her $500,
ms, bank or AT least W. believe slse Matters passed
for fbort time, until Watton Uncovered tht
his vie vas intriguing vith man In tue seven
tenth vsrd. with whom Watson accused her
with having improper Intercourse. she ultimately
lett or husband ano took with her theii little boz
fpe child Of about six years 81 age rhs chil the
fstl,r wss passionately attaehed 10 and, the Sc
qud will show -as one Of the principal means 81 the
vhtle nrfarieus operations becoming EnoSn, sna
wsbug TO obtain possetsion OF hts child, ana also
mere OF The money, employed a lawyer. ana pan
then devised 20 bring the wife 70 terms ~rit OF
bebsas corpus aimed the wife arrested and con
vsyed 60 n lawyers once I'm Nassau street whtre
che TO give up the custody OF the Guild
sud 20 be Auarced $50 oi the money then IA bans
ar the tasnoe TO be given up g. Watson. her nus
Lapd The money vas accordingly, that afternoon
draw hom the tank by the consent o. all parties
aud divided shove stated The counsel IN the case
only retaining siU6 for lie services Again matters
psssed along until disagreement ntess b-tSeea
william Watson. brother Of the John Watson ~ho
n under arrest on charge OF arson Ana Tor
some cause uhe motives sre not yet thoroughly
Lrders,oodJ william q Waffon called on the presi
dent Of the Brosd~ay Iuturance Conpany, and a.
rsctly sccused b. brother John Of acknowledging 20
that be Get Ire 70 the store 81 goods fot The pur
poe Of dtfraudrg tie ttcckhcloerf o. the lnsuanre
Company The story Appearing 90 plsusiole' and cor
ftfpt nding With the ysevtous ruepicions, watson
vas reauekted 10 20 to the police suthortie aud make
oath 10 the facts 20 the confessions OF bis brother
John ktcg, The first Of hGss@Sr me smSs' rss a
Hayward charging directly the commission OF the
crime en- John watson. aud warrant was issued ior
his arrest the charge Prior to these
the accufed had left the city ard was residing at
place called Gloucester situated Ia New jersey
Ihs wife c'sbips to Isssip pSise,s.a ., .Sarsra
her sen from the father, and brought him on
60 this city and placed hsrseh under the protection
a. her former psramour Watson en- his return home,
and finding his child sbductes, became almost dis
utctsd, and Immediately went IN pursuit lie pro.
ssr' - 5r Ne. Yos he folio we'd after, ana on hi.
arrival I'm this cty he proceeded at once TO the rest
dsrce ei HE wifes parsmour, whom ne found aud tax
vie The paramour denied the fact, but sntsrei nta
sn srrAp cement with ason TO md his child for him
ra.ts sseu,ity ssss him bis cold s.teS which he
vas TO keep on producing the child The psramour
took the watch end promised 70 ascertain tne
sbouts Of the chd by o'clock that evening sna ~
pointed Green Point a. place Of meeting ".
vss maze by this ndi,idusl TO arrest Wsison m.nousn
n, tr,w full vsl that warrant wa 70, nv
On tieh cfimscn the contrary, Waton sneges thst
re ns ted 10 quit the city and keep out OF the way OF
ffhe didn't he would surely Be arrested lhere VEN.
cert the statute Law on the concesment et ohenusIs
as atrrctrate rim this and our readers vii see
4 n. danrsr incurred, and the punishment smxsd on
1 q ccnvicttn - .,x.-,.- -.
e..I.d A. offender eittr the commission OF any ~
Iorv az ~ havrR given such offender any other aid
| knowing that be has committed tlony' Win lnteh
srd 70 order that he may avoid or escape fsm aries
NJ trial ~ conviction or puniehment, and no other
shall be deemed an accesssry s.tr the fact and ppol