The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-03-14
Fire Marshal's Office,
INVESTIGATION OF FIRES.


FIRE IN Broadway On Sunday morning. the 20 III OF
February ERE was discovered the premises of S.
Strabhicm Co., No. 90 Broadway importers of lace
goods &c They occupied the whole Of the upper part
Of the premises The fire first by officer Comfy,
of the First ward after the private Waterman had left
1t then daylight. The fire evidently originated in
the counting office, part Of the second noor and
was burning through the noor above when II check
ed and ext,nguished by the fremen -
Mr. simon Strahheim testified to leaving the premises
the Saturday evening ut about half past O'Clock,
in the company Of his partner three OF their clerks ana
he cid into the store again until sunday morning.
after the fire. lie alss procured the keys of the premises
from the Office o. Adams Express, where he supposed
the porter had lett them the before under his in
structoos In reference TO the origin OH the fire, Mr.
srohihien says be cannot believe II oecurea from me
result accident but thinks that II has been desgnedy
set le BY some person, which to him appears the
most lkc'y way Mr.. trahihem testides 10 the stock
the store being valued at $l2s, 600 on which they
Dad an insurance. OF S97, 000
AntoIe Becher the porter testified that he has been
In the employ Of the said firm for nearly Ave years past
On ea'My OF 80 week that on Saturday evening ir
question he lett the premises with the members Q, tue
he locked the doors and deposited tde keys in the Office
Adams Express, he then went directly home to his
evening and went TO bed at about 10 O'Clock He says
he did not hear anything about the fire urtil it had
taken place
The eyoecc ..her showed that the doors we're lock.
ed at the time the fire sas dscosered.
John Hyde private Waterman, testified to coming on
his post usual at about O'Clock the evening in
question that he around and about the premises
AL night; his post extends from Rector street dow
broadway TO Morris street. west side, and also the
Of said stores Trinity place; that evening he did
not see he porter take the keys to the express Office he
knew the Keys deposited there did ne see the
premaea locked up; but after the doors cosei he
tried the doors and FOUND them fastened he also tried
Them several other during the night he left
at O'Clock in the morning. he did not know anything
about the ere until about O'Clock On Sunday morning
Omeer Sullivan informed him about H. he has been pri
vste Waterman that pos for four Years past
John Debour, private Waterman in Adams express of.
nee testified to the best Of hls belief that ON the Sar
Dag evening in question he saw 8. strahlhiems porter
bring in the keys as usual, but he cannot be certain
npto five minutes past ak O'Clock Sunday morning
ut which time he went home one TO his kno vladge
came In for the said keys Nthey had he feels
he must have known IT, He further testified that he
would not have permitted any stranger to have taken
fhe keys from the Office There evidence show.
ing the existence Of than set q keys. II Il
Abe impression the Gre the work Of iucendiary
bat BY whom, in what the premises en.
ssred, the Investigation did not develope.