Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-11-03

sociate justices
The case Of Thomas Parsons, charged with
the night of the 5th Of September last was ex-
emiDed.
Charles E. Stuart appeared for the Common
wealth, and 8. r. Beach for the accused Wit
nesses were called and examined as follows:
George Philips, sworn .-Knows the prisoner;
about eight O'Clock on the night the house was
burned, witness went down Union street and saw
Parsons come running up the alley, near Masters
warehouse, and spoke to him; Parsons some
way down Union street, and then when fire was
cr1ed, turned, came back, and asked witness
where the fre was; witness told him he (Par-
sons) knew; and Parsons then said Oh, hell
that's not much, let her rip;" Parsons had then
on light cap; witness Is on good terms with
him.
Fascis Church, sworn Was at Halls tavern,
corner Of Union street and Janieson's alley, on
the night of the fire; Parsons came in with his
cap drawn over bis eyes; witness asked him
what was the NATTER he answered, " nothing;''
Parsons looked scared when he came in; witness
heard Parsons ask George Philips where the fire
was; saw Philips point il out to him. and heard
Parsons then say g Let her rip"
Francis MiIS, worn-Parson's was In Halls
tavern Opposite the hTe) two or three minutes
before the fire; he had his cap down over his
eyes, looked Hurried, and when asked what was
the matter, he said nothing" and went out; Par
soBs seldom came to Halls tavern; he does not
live In that nPig hborhOOd.
JoSeph Pddgsn, sworn Heard the alarm while
on Fairfax street, and hurried to the fire; the
see Parsons until he was arrested, and then did
not search him
Edo. W. Daris, sworn Was near the market
house when the alarm was given; started towards
ne; saw Philips, who said he wanted Parsons
arrested when witness arrested Parsons Parsons
| wanted 10 know what he was taken for; told him
| on suspicion OF having fred the building; Par
| sons was s.arched, to which he made no obiec-
ton, and watch and pocket-knife were found
| upon him.
| Charles z. Dudley, sworn-Rnows Parsons
| well, and is on good terms with him; about \
O'Clock on the evening of the fire was at the Sun
| engine house corner; VIM. Price came up and
| said he had some food for Parsons, whom Price
said had not eaten anything since the night be-
| lore last Parsons did not come; witness and
| Price walked up King street, and at Bradley's
| corner met Parsons coming down the street; Par
| sons went with Price and witness to the engine
| house, where Price gave him the food witness
then went to the other side OF the street and re-
turning in four or FIVE minutes found Parsons
| gone; witness does not know which way Parsons
went when he left the corner; Price told witness
that Parsons had gone to obey natural call;
| after the alarm OF fire. Parsons came I'D Gamer on
street, and as soon the bell struck assisted
ness and Price TO carry the reel TO the ife; wit
| ness did not know there was going to be a fire
| that night; did not learn that Parsons was ar
rested until next morning; never asked any one
| to come up and swear for Parsons
| AT the conclusion Of the examination the Com
| nonwealth and accused having been heard by
counsel, the Court Temanded the prisoner to Jail
Tor hnal trial at the Circuit Court, which opens
The Stars readers will remember that this is
| the cOnhagration which caused an alarm in this
| city, and that the Metropolitan Hook and Ladder
| Company and the Columbia and Franklin Fl G
| companies went down to assist our neig b bOrs
| Parsons was arrested at the FIRE whilst workinp
| upon an engine.
| NEW LIFK PREsERyER.-An invention re.
Gently ! a'ented, which in Its constructions en-
braces two-fold purpose, viz that Of a vest
| and life preserYer, was exhibited yesterday az
| ternoon at the Washington Navy Yard in the
| presence OF a board of naval officers appointed
| for the purpose by the Secretary of the Navy,
| and of large number of gentlemen who la 4
been attracted thither by the announcement that
| the experiments We're 10 be made
| The experiments were conducted by Mr. j II
| Ames, who placed life preserving vests upon
| two young men. who thereupon jumped into the
water ana Heated In security upon its surface,
| perfectly well demonstrating the fact, that when
| properly encased in one of these garments Il
| would be- impossible to sink, and that no discom.
| fort would be experienced in wearing IT, Tie
| Young men stood uprigh in the water, fQated on
| their backs with crossed feet and hands elias ped
| under their heads lay Oh their chests and piac-
| ing their bands behind them clasped the feet
| unbu'tont d the vest. and still! its buoyant quail
| ties were unimpdirtd, and its great Superiority
| over every other invention Of the kind most sat
isfactorily demonstrated. so well is the vest ar
| ranged that when simply buttoned around the
| wearer, il IL sufficiently well Inflated TO suDport
| him In the water and should circumstances re-
Qure additional buoyancy sufficient 10 suppOrt n
| friend not provided with one all the wearer has
to do Is to throw the vest open and bow sig htly
into tube attached to the inside and the reuui-
| site Hating property is secured
| The vest Is made OF COARSE or fine material, To
| suit the means OF the wearer, and may be worn
| In the drawing room without attracting unusual
notice Ii is peculiarly adapt, to persons wear
| Ing large amounts Of coin about their persons
| This was tested by placing heavy stone uoon
| the breast Of one Of the Young men without caus-
| ing him to sink in the water. Its great strenp III
| was shown by two heavy gentlemen placing their
feet upon Il and sPringing up and down, without,
| In the sli2 hest degree, i'm pairing its qualities
| Pass this life preservar round.
| The FIRE IL FIRST WARD -The property
burned in the First Ward, on Monday nj ht, be-
| longed to Mrs. Mary Bevan-Mr. Lewis being
/ her aSent-and the houses going under the name
Of "Lewis's row - IL is pretty certain that thew
| were set on fire, the II q having been communi-
| Gated over small alley connecting two of the
easternmost tenements. The flames spread with
great Tapidity barely leaving time to the inmates
| To get themselves and some few articles out of
| the way. The roofs OF these building. were Gov
/ cred with pebblng set in bituminOus com
/ pound, the effect of which to invite the
/ flames irresistibiy throughout the whole length
| Of the row, ensaring its speedy destruction.
After the wood frame work had burnt down
| the nery material that had fallen from, the roof
kept strongly burning till all was consumed or
oyerpowered by the water ON the engines at
| hand Before the ioOts fell in this melted mate
/ rial hOwed on in streams OF liquid ire, suggest
| ing the danger of too near approach This
| property was partly insured, but one of the ten
ants represented himself Ia have lost $500 In mo-
| ney deposited in a bureau upstairs, which could
| not be reached oil account OF the fire
FESTIVITIES POsTPONED.-The drenchny ra n
OF to-day las daInPed the festive spirits of our
4 young liow-citlZens. The Ball announced by
the Liberty Club for mig lat IL postponed until
| Monday night next, aud that OF the Mount Yer.
non Association until to morrow night.
| TRIALS AT THE GUARDHOUSE WIN. FitZSer-
| aid, disordeTly In the market fine and costs
IS 90. l.. Lavatt, drunk; 81 Is Elizabeth
Jones, colOTed, drunk and disOIdeIly, 81 Is.
To The LADIES OE WAsHINGrON.-FOr cheap DRY
FOODS you must go To ISAAC BARS che 10 Ca
street, between 7th and IN. Navy Yard.
nos 6t
| FAIRS. Balls, and Festivals fu nished with Ice
cream, ofthe test quality, at 81 per gallon, and
Confectionery Of al Kinds. at reduced prices fresh
made every day, at the Phi!IdS!phta CoHfecttOntTv
aud lcs Cream Depot, corner I2!h and F streets.
90 IS I'm
| The DRUGS commonly nstered to Fever and
Ague patleLts are nera ~ ruluOus to tbs system,
lnst cad OF curative and stTeDy yet the nos
trums devised by sell suileeIt Old women are not