The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-03

tall John w Garrish and John Mckee witnesses
ON that subject they viii testify to placing clothing on
To Juror was not informed Of any danger OF the
building; viii state, however, that was informed by
and believing to be So refused TO allow any men TO
enter; have been IN the Fire Department Tor about
sudden manner this did after the of the
fire. except in cases OF explosion
did he run with? A. ! don't know
O. The boy Christman2 A, don't know.
O. The deceased MoranS A. have been informed he
O. Is Il the law to allow boys to with fire engnes9
A. believe 1t rs against the law but some companies do
allow them is contrary to my orders to permit Them
and il il understood against the rule to allow boys to
congregae around engine houses or run with any fire
10 Mr. Genn-I did not notice any boys ia the building
on this occasion; in the course of my experience
] have often seen boys at fires; boys can easily
be at q fire without coming with engine; We
have great difficulty in keeping them away; have
to break up the practice of allowing boys
fires; have generally found that when the officers Of
company are determined to get rid of the boys that
congregate about their engine house they
we always turn boys from the rope when they take
hold; contend that no boys necessary at res the
tenders, think, greater number Of boys to
to fires they are, in fact usually dragged by boys Of
smaller class the larger boys generally go with the en-
CINE.
Juror have boys present numbers or badges
given to them by the FIRE companies, who exhibit them
to the police to pass through the lines at the fires
Do you Mr.. Carson, allow such badges to be given
ii
badges they do very wrong suppose the object of get
ting up these badges for member to show in case
he vas without his cap to him through the line Of
Coroner-I would here remark that the gentlemen
present will net converse with any of the jury is for
them to understand the proceedings, and not to be
spoken to.
Mr.. Carson--I consider these badges good thing If
they could only used by the remen but any one can
buy them and exhibit them the object is Of to
pass the police hence them for bad
poses don't think there is any law to prevent any one
A we ma at emntpd
to correct this matter and believe the law has passed
the Legislature to only allow fremen to wear badges OF
By Mr.. Genn-Do you know there is gang of men I'M
der the garb OF hremen who run to fires for the purpose
Mr.. Carson-I do; believe there is a gang Of men who
run to fires for that purpose.
Question-Can you, under the present system Of the
department, recommend any plan whereby the evil
be remedied9
Al suppose the police could by doing their duty;
have known the police to point out and say heres
theft now If they know that why don't they arrest
them9
Mr.. Genin and remarked, believe speak the
sentiments Of the jury, Mr.. Coroner when allude to
the evil practices Of permitting boys to frequent fires
Flynn of not than fifteen sixteen years OF age
was taken dead from the ruins; this Mr. Coroner is
amentabie fact and some method ought to be adopted
whereby this evil which exists could be corrected
Mr.. Genin-Mr. Carson, where do you 20 for redress
when you want to remedy those evisY
Mr.. Carson-To the Common Council.
Juror Cook-Do the Common Council usually give you
the required reliefp
Mr. Carson-No they have not for several past.
Juror Cook-Do the reformed Common Council?
Mr.. Carson-They do much as they have done on
other matters. Qaughter)
Department to be caught stealing?
Mr.. Carson-Yes have and in enc case, after be-
ing expelled by the department The Common Council
Juror-Mr. Carson, is there not at present q fore
man OF an engine company who had been expelled for
stealing9
Mr. Carson-I believe there Isl the pass
ed resolution erasing the expulsion from the book
tent.
Coroner-Mr Carson doyou know Of any persons going
AL have often heard of such things
To Juror don't know that the origin OF any Of the
fires during the last year has been ascertained don't
know whose special duty IL is to attend to it.
By Mr.. GeninMr Carson, what proportion of the fires
in New York are the work Of the incendiary?
Mr.. Carson-I should say half the work of
By Mr.. Genn-How may buildings have been reported
to the Department unsafe in Of fret A. don't
know; but know there great many reported.
Mr. Carson here stated that all the time trial
during that period and he felt satisfied that if
law was passed compelling thorough investigation into
the cause OF all res-f that was done-not one half the
TO Juror-I should think the twelve Fire wardens
seua % the duty ,hsy occupied al their a %s but
If they got they would be enabled to devote their
whole time; you can get good men for that salary.
TESTIMONY OF DAVID WEAVER.
David Weaver being sworn, said:-I am . carpenter,
residing at No IS Elizabeth street. assisted 10 putting
the fixtures in the store of Mr. Jennings. when he
first moved into this store about the 1S41 AZ
think carpenter named Calvin Pollard made the altera
tions in the American Hotel at that Time and at the
same time lowered the beams of Mr.. Jennings store
floor about three feet the hall partition and the stairs
in this story taken down. this partition from
where the s.rs running up to tbe second sorr
taken down, they were morticed into trimmer for
distance OF eleven or twelve feet this did not afford
them sufficient support for the purposes for which the
building was used at the time.
TESTIMONY OF c. r. MEADE.
c. R. Meade, beng sworn, deposed as folows-I am
done business there during the last four years
at home when this fire took place. left my Office about
theatre while was there one Of the usSers informed
me that my building was on fire. then came down; this
was about ten minutes after eight went into my room
up stairs, the fourth floor ascertaued, going up
stairs that the FIRE had broken out in Jennngs which
fire at this time; did not know that the fire
in jennings before this too far back for to see;
the fire seemed to be in the extension Of the build
ing staid in my building till heard the crash of
the wall falling during the FIRE in the second and
fourth stories of my building we occupy the second,
fourth and fifth stories don't know anything about the
the building that was informed Of the FIRE; have not
heard any person how they supposed caught fire.
To Juror was at Burton's theatre the night of the
fire. was informed OF 1t by Of the ushers there.
To the CoroDer-WhenI got there the iremen had
lines Of hose up through building person would
building so as to get the roof there is window
opening from the fourth story that opens the rear
extension Of Mr. Jennings building
TESTIMONY OF J. G. HAMILTON.
John c. Hamilton deposed a. follsws:-I reside at No
II West Twentieth street; own the building called the
American Hotel, the Of Barclay street and
Broadway; received note through the u Post ONCE,
in the early part Of November threatening that the
American Hotel would be burned; showed the note to
the Chief Of Police last November written extrene
ly WELL and evidently by scholar; had any
to suspect any person of setting this building on
fire. mentioned the fact of having received the letter
to Mr. Richardson the partner Of Mr. Jennings, but he
took no particular notice Of it.
TESTIMONY OF GEORGE scHwALLI
George Schwali deposed A. follows:-I live at No 81
Elm street. of the cutters of Mr. Jennings and
worked in the back Of the third story was there
all day last Tuesday from O'Clock in the morning till
the evening" with the exception of dinner time did
not leave the store nobody could 60 mp down stairs
without my seeing them one Of my left there
while went TO dinner and he always goes to dinner be-
tween land O'Clock; don't know anything about the