Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-02-24
q b E 10 a lip 8 Pr.
FRIDAY. FEBRUARY "a. 1854.
Police Court.
THURSDAY, Feb. %.
TRTAL FOR ARSON

case oil Abigail Temple, spinster, charged with SET.
ting hre oihe house Of Taft Gleason, North
vile, on Sunday evening" 18th ins,. Geo. F. Hoar
Esq for the prosecution, Harley Williams ESQ., for
defendant.
Thomas Wright testified that be was board.
er with Miss Temple, and slept in the attic
Alter he was in he'd on Sunday evening, and asleep
Miss Temple walked him up, and asked for the KEY
Of dark closet, about three feet from The bed Of
witness, in which various articles slowed away
She then unlocked the closet door, and remained in
il Tor an hour hour and a halt. Witness at
t forwards heard the noise of trunk being drawn
down stairs, and also of straw bed. In about hall
an hour afterwards, John Crowley got up and gave
the alarm Of FIRE.
The trunk aud clothes of witness, kept in this
closet, were burnt up. All the other things were
taken out. Witness could not get into the closet on
account Of the fire, which was on the roof. The
door open Witness saw Miss T. in the klch-
en- about ten minutes after he got down stairs. She
then asked him to help her the stove.
She dressed she was the day previous. Heard
Miss Temple say, Saturday, that TAFT and
Gleason had used her badly, and that /" she would
be revenged-uhey should have their pay" Two
other boarders present, when she said
Cross examined by Hartley Williams, Esq. Had
ias boarded in the house six weeks The fire broke out
ssa Sunday night, about twenty-five minutes past
twelve. First heard Mr. TAFT speak OF Miss TEN.
PIE burning the house, Monday morning Saw
spiruous liquor in the house Sunday. The
boarders passed round bottle of cold water, and
made the old woman believe they intoxicated.
smoked pipe Sunday evening, about O'Clock,
P. NJ, which made sick, and caused me to lay
down in OF the boarders beds. One boarder
and the old lady smoke. On Saturday night, the old
lady said that Taft had paid her up for the last
quarters board, and when they settled up, she would
see If they did not owe her something She said
she would be revenged, and that Taft and Gleason
would have thelrpay. 6A r M
Jameu W. Coffin testified. Is employed to finish
wrenches at the factory Worthwhile. Slept in the
house Of William Black. Was awakened about
twenty minutes past twelve, Sunday night by the
e alarm Of Gre. Saw the fire the roof Of the burn
ing house coming through from the dark closet with
which witness is we'll acquainted. Saw Miss Tenn
pie in Mr.. Blacks house Monday =
R7 Witness enqured how long it as, previous to the
alarm Of FIRE being given, that she in the dark
closet. She thought for some seconds, then said
.ssggg 'Abom hall hour" Said there get
some pieces Of cloth to mend Frederic Goddard's
panaioons- She said she found the cloth in her
.sAf trunk. She then said Il might have set FIRE it,
s5Ta aud might Ii l did. God knows, it
~ intentional" She asked witness il show ed great
discerrment in her o set FIRE to that house, when
her property was distributed all over the build
ing. She said al mig hi have dropt spark into
my trunk bu, then took it down with rne.'' She
said she did carry he'd down stairs She took
the pieces Of cloth out OF her trunk, turned round
and took down her cloak and dress, and carried her
trunk and these things down stairs aud
mehding Goddards pants. She said there oth-
er clothing hanging up in the closet, said she
ried her trunk down at that time because she
81 going FIRST thing ia the morning, and she
thought she would have all ready TO start early. On
Wednesday oreno talked with Miss Temple
She then said, in question put TO her by
witness. that she aware that any suspicion
rested on her. 1t likely she would set fire
to the house with her property all about it. Wit
ness told her she be arrested. She then
said .'very WE'LL viii stand my trial and prove my
self innocent She then exclaimed "Oh God
Oh God might have it Oh FIRE but, God
knows, am Innocen. of any malice evil in,en.
49, ton"
The Court adjourned to O'clock P. NJ.
AFTERKooH-The Court resumed at O'Clock
John Crowley slept in the attic. Was awakened
BY the fire cracking and bursting around him.
Gave The alarm and ran down stairs. Saw Miss
Temple dressed she the day previous
asked what the was and did not seem much
excited when told that il was FIRE. Saw Miss
Temples goods packed up down stairs. Helped
her 10 throw beds from the window.
t Henry Hammond was awoke by the alarm ofre.
He ian down stairs with clothes IN his arms.
Met Miss Temple at the foot Of the stairs, dressed
Told her 10 get Of the way, which she did with
out saying a word. Ran out Of the house, and de-
posted the clothes he had and ran back for
Al half past eleven O'Clock, when going to bed faw
s-sss a feather bed, trunk and yase down stairs On
Sunday was down cellar and saw butter, lard, beef
and provision there Never them la the wash
house. TThey were in the wash Sunday
nrghLl Mas d
beer William Appleton. Saw Miss Temple Sun.
go day night about half past eleven O'Clock Saw
"a trunk that belonged TO Charles Fay, also,
lise and feather bed, in the wash house,.
VIM. NJ. Hall boarded at Miss Temples Saw
her at the bottom Of the stairs, when he down
on Sunday night, on the alarm Of fire. Found DISH
10 es packed up, and lard butter &c., from the cellar,
ti8s all in the sink room. On Sunday, heard Miss Tenn
pe say that the boatders and Taft md Gleason had
80 used her mean, and she would have revenge.
Crossexamined by H. Williams, Esq. Was down
street on Sunday. Was in the U.s. Hotel. and
ba stopped there about Eve minutes Drank some in
toxicaiing liquor. Drank once for certain. Might
ssg have drank A, g. 6, dozen times; there is
knowing for certain Got home about O'Clock, T.
nj. Did not drink nythng after he got home.
Stephen s Fay. Went to bed abont II O'Clock, in
the attic Inc door That leo INTO the umoer ciose
was shut, when he TO bed. It was partly
open when he saw the fire. Heard Miss Temple
say on Sunday, that she had paid up her rent to the