The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-11-20
Fire Mar shal's Office.
Before Justice Wood.
ARREST on SUSPICION OF ARSON.

ARREST ON SUSPICION OF ARSON.
II will be recolected that the morning Of the ist
inst, shortly before O'Clock, fire broke out in the
liquor store occupied by James GaGney, No. 30 Gold
street. but through the timely arrival of assistant
eineer Baulch, and the aremen, it extinguishcd
before extending much beyond its place of origin. The
circumstances of the fire being found burning from the
inside of standing casks a. the ba X part of the
store together with the fact OF the bar tender Michael
McGure, and Mr. Gafney not having lett the premises
much fifteen minutes before the FIRE dis
covered led to the belief that the fire the result
Of accident Evidence has been taken in this mater by
the Fire Marshal before Justice Wood who, the facts
set FORTH issued warrant for the arrest Of young
suspicion of setting the said store fire. On Friday
night Captain Dtchett, of the Fourth ward police took
the young man into custody The following ia synOp
sis of the testimony
Alexander Marcel testiGed-I am private Waterman ;
the night of In fire was passing Gafney store, be-
tween quarter and haltpast O'Clock, When Gaffnsy
and his clerk, Michael Mcclure ont of the
they both appeaIe! under the influence of liquor the
clerk went back and tried the door it not locked
GsTney then returned and locked it they both off
together was talking with Mr., Lyons vi en- GaiIney
and his cleik out Of the store passed along
Cold street 10 TIE corner Of Beehman stood there
few minutes when hea I'D woman calling out I then
heard the alarm rap OF the pcice ran down to Cali
ney store and the light Of fire through the shut
1t not over Is 20 minutes fronn the time
Ceiney laaye the store until heard the alarm Of
ire.
Bridget Constantine tes,Ged--I reside in the back
Of No 80 Cold streei ON the light Of he fir,
had been in bed about half hour, but had not been
asleep when heard aisle Of voices taisios in Mr.. Ga
ley store Then heard the door locked la sbou.
aHeep minutes after smelt something hke pine wood
fire, heard cracking sound Ike fire burning In the
store vent into the street and looked through the
OK Of tie window shutters and the light of fire:
called Mrs BARLEY, aud said there was hre ia the stora
ofcer McDcrald heard me cali aud gave the alarm.
John Pauloh, assistan. engineer OF the Fire nepstt
ment, iestihec1hat when be turst open the door he
See aie ssaipg from the inside II two liquor casks;
there was appearance OF fire on the outside only what
had spt cad the board pattiusu frcsu the casks that
a smell! ~ and in
opinion from examination Of the premises after the
FIRE he thinks II was the work Of design Of to
Copisin rchet Of the Fourth ward police, testified
thar he examined the PIE nises after The fire, with M
Paulch and the Fire hal, and that he the two
casks that burnt the inside, that he smelt cam
rhene and called The Fire Matsbas attention TO II the
lime: soon after he sent officer BARLEY after Michael Nc
Gure, Mr. GaiIney's bar tender but he could not be
found Captain ritchett Mr. GafTney pick up can
said TO contain small quantity Of camphene the
was about eight feet from where the casks stood.
Mrs. Honora Ryan, testi6eo-I keep boarders and
.de at No. - Vaudewater street; know Michael Nc
tuire he boards with me; the night Of the FIRE let
him in II quite late; he went up stairs to his bed
room; he appeared Perfect sober shortly after when
was IN bed, Il think heard the fire bells ring; the first
about il at breakfast.
RobertO Glover, Secretary Of the Harmony Insurance
Company testified that Mr. Gafaey was insured at the
sine OF the fire in that company to the amount OF 5000
that upon examining The premises after the FIRE he found
but 'ciy little stock, and Mr. Gafn,y admitted having
but very ht stock at the tine IL the fire but said that
in a few days he intended to have GO. some in
Michael McGuirc, testiGcdI reside at % yandewater
street; am druggists clerk have been out of en-
po for about six weeks about ten days previous 10
Tie Ere acted o. bar tender for Mr.. Ganey was In
lie store from about O'Clock til closing on the night oil
the IRE; was sober that night; Mr.. Robert Lyon,
was in the store just before closing; there Was a cam
fhepe lamp burning in the store at the time of closing
put my coat and stood in the doorway: Mr. Gafney
vent in the back room apparently TO the door was
fastened; Mr.. Lyons was standing the stoop; saw
Mr. Gspcy blow out the light; he remained in the store
which dssk, about minute n minute and half
when Mr. Carney out, take the KEY out OF
the door, AID found IL not locked Mr.. GafYnsy
then locked the door and gave the key; Mr. Lyons
wanted Mr. Gsnsy to open the store again. he wanted
to treat but he would not II too late Mr. Gs6.
nsy and parted the corner Of Frankfort and Gold
streets; went home and 10 bed Mrs. Ryan let me In
have not received any pay from Mr. Carney for ny
vices, except my board.
Robert Ly tesiHed-I am q cutter by trade and re-
zoe ~ NO $40 Pearl street; Istood the sidewalk when
Carney came out Of his the night of the fire.
vsnn him to go back again, AZ wished to treat Mr.
Mace out he would not open h store sRain that pirht
borrowed quarter dollar OF him. Mr. Marcel and nv
sell went on towards Bcekman street In verv abort
time aer heard an alarm Of Are ran down the street
and saw Gre burning In Mr. Gafney q store
Mr.. Carney testified 10 about The .sms fat. . .,~.
by the above witnesses. Wv"
On Sunday afternoon the fuiy inve.ti~~, "a n.
ffe Justice Wood but the evidence cid not subt.ntst
be guilt u the party under arrest he therefore 1.-The
latd fttm custody.