The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-12


story, but the codd SEQ the 10 yer par.
have seer II, person about at the time the
nrst person who discovered the 6re.
Thcmas L. Chester testhedhat he secretary OF the
Commonwealth Insurance Company; the insurance on
Shepherds house fret effected the 18th OF July,
lsso was renewed July, 1855 for year first saw an
account OF the IRE In the papers; think must be the
morning OF the are about nine In the morning. that Shep
herd called al my oce in Wall street, Shepherd came in
like crazy man walking up and down. shaking his arms,
saying ut is all gone; my poor vrow;' after time
ealmed him down, without difficulty, and said, SLOW did
his nre take pacef' at took place" said he "in tho
Dom below; when discovered II got up, went 10 the
window, called my wife, she did not come and jumped
out Of the window that about the substance Of what
your loss as soon possible he said m all gone"
meaning his furniture and property the interview astod
half an hour at the conclusion of which he seemed excited
Mr.. Sedgwick, at this juncture, read statement Of
Sy m LOSS wncn was gwen % the com mn
bsEe, furniture and other articles for $500;
swore that all his apparel was consumed,
except one pair Of pantaioons and shirt that the Are
commenced below stairs that his wife walked him up and
f almosf sufocated in trying TO effect his escape
through the hall He gave detailed statement OF the
various articles Of household furniture, which he affirmed
we're destroyed and swore to before Justice Connolly,
signing IL by his own hand.
Mr. Chester cross examined-I think this interview
cured on the morning Of the FIRE; don't know whether
Shepherd applied person for policy think
WAS no survey made Of the premises.
Jane Ball was the next witnessShe said che resided at
80 West Twenty ninth street. knew Mrs. Shepherd for
many years think they were married about four years
ago; don't think they lived very happily together Mrs.
Shepherd had gold watch; think that the watch now
shown is similar in general appearance the she
was in the habit OF wearing; heard that Mr.. and Mrs
shepherd joined the church; was never present when
they had any difficulty, nor did ever hear Shepherd
make any threatening remarks after the gold watch
broken Shepherd met the street. and asked me for
the loan or 50, remarking that Jane has broke the
watch, the poor devil and am sorry for her"
Louisa Hetter deposed that she lived in Fifty second
street. in the Of Mr. Trimers the 9th of June and
next door 10 Mrs Tick who woke her up by knocking at
the door, witness the fire in tho upper part of Shep
herds house looked through the window for few
ments and when she got down the house completely
destroyed
Alfred Baker the Fire Marshal testified thus:-I oh.
tanned the box shown at shepherds residence at Har
lem it contained sundry small articles; when arrived
at the premises the tenement burned down; on my
arrival the ircmen searching IN the ruins for Mrs.
Shepherds body; after the hremen lef remained and
found the body the northeast corner the upper part OF
her body was horribly burned and the arms were
tended assisted in taking her remains to the station
the police; his whskers burned; asking him how
the fire had IT. origin he said that the preceding night
he came eight O'Clock in the evening" when he
met the Dutchmsn, Geyer, who lived down stairs, and
asked him be (Shepherd would close the front door
at twelve O'Clock he woke up by talking down stairs,
recognizing the voice OF Geyer; he soon fell asleep and
afterwards aroused by his wife, who exclaimed my
God JIM the house on re he got up, put on his pan
falcons, and tried 10 get out by the front window
and also by means Of the hall door he then went 70 the
back room window and endeavored TO get his wife out
she said she would kill herself she jumped out he took
hold Of her and endeavored to force her but She being
a strong woman got away from him; after that jumped
into the yard and smoke coming up stairs, but
did not my wife, be said that he and his wife slept
the floor of the front the night OF the fire. In
subsequent conversation he sad that hrs wife property
was burned up and her gold watch destroyed he looked
fer in the ruins, and was informed by little girl that
Dutch woman had picked up the remains Of IT. Shepherd
held down his head considerably kept meaning and ap
pearcd To be very much excited on Mr. Baker saying that
probable that his wife had escaped, Shepherd
Piled, emphatcaly, that he knew-he knew-that she
was burned up.
Mr. sedgwick said that his evidence was exhausted but
would reserve the right OF calling DIR. Carhochan, who
made post mortem examination OF the remains OF Mrs
shepherd.
cAsE T1g Defence.
FxJudge Pearcy then proceeded TO open the for
Shepherd He said he would prove to the Jury that the
building was fired from below and that Il worth
more than II was insured forthat his clothing de-
sroyed in the amcs and that his client did not remove
any property from his house previous to the fire.
John L. Taylor examined by counsel for the prisoner
deposed that he master builder, residing in West
Thirteenth street that he estimated plan and spccca
ton OF Shepherd house submitted to him; the building
was eighteen feet and two stories high the result
read the statement which partcularzed the OF each
article.
To the Court-ft would take single mechanic from so
10 100 days 10 construct such building
Examination resumed1he difference OF cost between
old material and the quality Of stun which estimated
would be very little could not constructs shany cheap
er than have estimated IL would take man thirty
days 10 construct such building supposing the frame
and all the Internal arrangements ready for put
ting up.
To Mr.. Sedgwick.-i never saw Shepherds house.
IL now being hour after the usual time OF adjourn
ment the Court adjourned I'LL this morning at ii O'Clock