The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-04-13
Trial Of John Dor1inger for Arson.
COURT OF OYER AND TERMINER.

COURT OF OYER AND TERMINER.
Before Hon. Judge Roosevelt.
APRIL l2-The trial of the elder Dorringer pro-
ceeded with this morning. Young Dorringer, who
acquitted of the charge Tuesday, the FIRST witness
examined on the part Of the defence.
John Dorringer sworn-Q Are you any relative of the
prisoner A. No. q. Are you tailory A. Yes. z.
How old youS A. Twenty-Five years; at the time the
fire occurred in Prince street boarding with prison
@ How long before this Are did you go therey A.
About five weeks before; the basement partitioned
The other bed and boards, the bar fur
nished with stove, oiclob, brandy, gin whskey
and other liquors. think the furniture worth $780,
on the night of the fire went to bed about fifteen min
utes after To- in the back room carpet one sofa,
and sometimes six chairs, table, and looking
glass; nothing had been removed from the house before
the fire; Thursday, about o'clock, wentthrough all
the rooms, to show lady and gentleman who
wished to board the prisoner was not in;
went through all the rooms but the garnet rooms;
when went to lock the barroom on the night of the
fire. heard the prisoner go up to bed after me What
of an hour. O. What clothes did you wearr A. The
same clothes wear now; my bed was big box be-
longing to me; did not leave light burning when
went to bed; put my candle the mantelpiece, in
candlestck Q. How did you put it OUT A. wetted
my fingers, and put it out so; about O'Clock in the
morning felt sensation as if somebody had me by the
throat: that awakened me; then went to the window
the full of smoke could not see any fire.
O. How did you open the Window A. raised the sash
then saw smoke issuing from the barroom below saw
the prisoner who cried fire from out his room; did
not go into his room, but the prisoner into mine
the prisoner dressed mniSeu IN ureSSeu az
the same time; slept feather bed; the feather bed
belonged to me. O. Who did that chest belong to that
found at the head of the starsY A. 1t belonged to
me- and held all my clothes and my bed i put in the
bed the box FULL and could not be shut tried to
bring it down. but the smoke heavy that had to
leave il the PLATFORM the prisoner behind don't
know how he got down when got in the street
officer and another grabbed me, and took us next
door to get water there is yard in the of
No 40 Prince street, with fence around ii; anybody
could get the fence; l understand good many
words Of English and speak little O. DO you recol
seven days before the re A. Yes both in the day and
evening" it made by loafers around the
heard them make of threats toward the prisoner;
] have heard them say: cd, Qptchmen-in eight
days wen get them out;' that Thursday week be.
fore the fire.
The witness on his CROSSE examination said the room
when he got up very dark lie did not light lamp
did the prisoner how the prisoner dressed
in the evening there is no lamp in front OF the house
but very often the reflection of light there Is
house on each side Of the fence; wore boots at the
time don't know whether the prisoner wore boots or
shoes in the morning. in the police Office sa he wore
to me two days after the fire. first getting up the
morning of the fire, after dressing put my bed in the
box; when ] heard these people say Cd d--n all
Dutchmen," was standing on the door step; the
cause of these loafers saying this was because
hny would mot 1y for ,,o yht snsy had
through the front door and basement there shut
tiers to the front windows; don't know whether there
were at the back or not the rear yard could be entered
through the alleyway.
Patrick Mcvey recaled--Q At the time you heard the
alarm oil IRE, did you see any around the house.
A. Yes the front gate fastened the shutter
side closed, but not the other the
closed; there were no marks of footsteps the
snow where the fence
Cross examinedThere had not been for three or
four days prevous there foot marks for four
five feet persons might jump this distance from the
fence
Two hours were occupied by the summing up of coun
sell after which his Honor charged the jury He said
that of these two young one had been pronounced
not guilty 1t for them 10 determine whether the
prisoner to be consigned to the gallows the State
prison These young men had sustained fair characters
previous TO this II appeared that the frame building
accessible three sides and IL seemed difficult to
convey articles therefrom without being In the
the prisoners rushing from the door to be
considered whether 1t the consciousness of guilt
whether it the danger of the fire. In order to make
it object for the party TO set fire to the building it
necessary that the furniture be removed but in
stead of this only bottles worth few cents
removed. After reviewing the evidence at some length
his Honor said the crime common one in this coun
try and admonshed the jury to the points of law in
the
The jury then RETIRED and after remaining out about
an hour returned a verdict of not guilty.