The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-31


standing the enormous dram mace upon IT, The sub
stantals attacked with like vigor and the work
demolition going bravely when made come.
Four O'Clock in the morning found the thousand guests
OF the Metropolitan dispersed.
Police Intelligence.
CONSPIRACY, ARSON, PERJURY AND MURDER-Ey-
TRAoRDINARY NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF ONE
OF THE ACCUSED PARTIES IN NEW YORK.
1t will be recoected by many Of our readers that
three Or four weeks ago. account given Of certain
astounding devel6 pements made at Cincinnati Ohio re-
speeding the burning Of the steamboat Martha Washing
ton, on the Mississippi, about year ago. causing the
death OF thirteen passengers and the destruction Of all
the cargo alleged to have been board at the time
In order that the reader may understand the matter
we give below brief sketch of the odas opeandi by
which the gigantic conspiracy carried into effect In
the first place the of the parties said to constitute
the conspraors set forth in the warrant of arrest
issued by p Wilcox, the United States Commissioner
for that district, follows Lyman Cole, Lewis
Choae, John Cummings VIM. Kssane, G. P. Stevens,
James g. Nicholson, Amasa Chaplin, Rufus Chaplin,
Lorenzo Chaplin James Chandler, and William H. Holland
charged and accused in the said OF arrest on
the oath of Sidney c. Burton and others, with forming
conspiracy for the purpose of burning up the steamboat
Martha WaslDgton-thereby causing the death of thrs
teen human lives; and also defrauding the insurance
companies out Of upwards of hundred thousand dol
lars.
1t that in the of january 1852 these par
ties combined together and purchased the steamboat in
question, and commenced putting freight board, as
alleged, to be transported to New Orleans. This
freight consisted principally of boots and shoes dry goods
&C., in cases. As the first lots Of goods were shipped
others of the gang would convey the same goods
from the boat, have them re-packed and again
shipped on board the same steamboat; in this
made OUT and on these fictitious bis purpor Tias
to exhibit large amount of property board the boat
the same were shown to the Insurance companies, and
insurance effected each shipment of merchandise
when in truth and in fact there but lot Of goods
In this way very heavy insurance was made and the
transaction:-Phanix Insurance Company Of ST. Louis
Missouri; Firemans Insurance Company, OF Cincinnati
al Insurance Company ofCincinnati Firemans and Me-
chanics Insurance Company, of Madison, Indiana to-
$3.50 oO0 When all the assurances were made,
the boat started for New Orleans, and on the
night of the th of January 1852 the boat found
be on fire. and rapidly did the flames progress that
thirteen out of the sixteen passengers consumed The
captain and all the hands Of escaped in their boat
and were saved subsequently the parties commenced
suit against the insurance pancs for the amount in
sured the goods and the boat up to about month
ago, the companies had paid up to within about ten
thousand dollars Much excitement and suspicion were
manifested in Cincinnati in consequence of the destruc
ton Of this boat, and during the last two months, q
young named Filly, who had been employed BY the
of the said boat acting confidential clerk,
during the time the freight was put on board made GER
began to find its through the city that all not right
in the recent burning of the Martha Washington
The parties implicated Immediately informed Flly that il
he did not forthwith desst from any further disclosures
his life would be taken This threat alarmed Filly who
was taken sick died very sudenysupposed to have
been poisoned Prior his DEATH however, made
sures to the pnblic authorities which them to
the whole matter and warrants were issued for their
Several arrested in Cincinnati and held to bail in
the sums Of five and ten thousand dollars. Others
cerned, on hearing of the arrests moved of other
States The captain Of the boat arrested in New
erns and conveyed back to Cincinnati The clerk of the
boat James G. Nicholson supposed have made his
way to New York, and Mr. Joseph Bruen Deputy United
States Marshal proceeded to this city in search him.
Bruen Went to Jersey City and there with the aid Of Mr.
Pollard Captain of the Watch obtained trace of the ac
cused At the Hudson Hotel Nicholson had been putting
under the assumed of JAS Godfrey and at the Amer-
Hotel, by the of G. Godfrey from Pennsylvania
That day the baggage of Nicholson traced through
street and Broadway, in this city Messrs Bruen and
Pollard visited the latter hotel about nine that
evening" and the register the Of Mr. James,
and from his description they felt satisfied that he was
the Nicholson and informed the landlord that they
u and 10 e him sa @ ms sent % see ne
Jersey wanted to see him but instead Of the fol-
lowing close after the porter in order to their
man, they remained in the until the porter
turned with message from Mr. James, saying -"TelI
the gentlemen to walk uf stairs They did but on
they at first took to be Nicholson said well
old fellow, We have caught you at last" .Caugat
ssweIl," said the officers, 'you must go with us~
who do you wantS" said Mr.. Gage: Why Nicholson
lowed down stairs after the porter he told me he would
go down stairs and what the gentlemen wanted
1t appears that Nicholson suspected the to be off,
choson stood side in q recess and in that way
passed them and escaped, since which time he has not
been by the police After the escape Nicholson
Mr. Bruen applied TO Justice Stuart who has taken the
matter in hand and caused the arrest of Mr. Gage the
charge Of being accessory after the fact in aiding and
abeng the escape Of Nicholson with the knowledge that
Nicholson fugitive from justice in Ohio Mr.. Gage
was taken into custody by Deputy U. $. Marshal De
Angels, and yesterday taken before the magistrate who
has ordered him 10 be kept in custody until the is
further investigated In the of Mr. Gage hearing
will be had this day. 1t Is believed that on the hearing
Mr.. Gage will be DISCHARGED from custody.
StaJJing svith KnicThe police OF the First ward
Saturday night arrested George Cornell charge OF
violently essaulting John Dunn that evening, with
knife, incting wound in the left side The in
jured man conveyed to the City Hospital