Worcester daily spy., 1859-08-11
I5ErsAIE IscnNp1An1sM IN PRnsroN,

-The series Of incendiary fires which oc-
rturred in Preston CT, Monday night, consti-
tuted one of the most daring outrages ever
perpetrated in that vicinity, and have natural
ly excited great indignation The Norwich
Bulletin gives detailed occount of the circum-
stances, from which it appears that the incen-
diary was a man named Henry Chapman;
and that he was actuated solely by a spirit of
revenge. Ten years ago he was married to a
daughter of Mr.. Eleazer Wheeler, but on ac-
count of his vicious disposition and intemper-
ate habits they had not lived together for the
last five years. On Saturday last he obtained
possession of one of his children, aged years,
and kept him till Monday when an officer
found him in Noank, recovered the boy who
had undergone much cruel treatment, and
served upon the father petition for divorce,
his wife having taken this first step towards
final separation. Chapman returned to
Preston that night, overfowing with rage,
and Immediately commenced his work of
destruction. Henry Harvey lost a barn
and stock worth $500 or $500. Russell
Fitch, mile beyond, lost a barn, from
fifteen to twenty tons of hay, and other
property, valued at $500. The barn of
Henry Haskell, nearly new and filed with hay
and grain, was totally destroyed. Loss $1,000,
insured for $3.50 in the Windham County Mu-
tual. The barn and store of Daniel L. Rich
ards, in the village of Preston City, were de-
stroyed, together with large quantity of
goods. Loss upwards of $2500, partially in.
sured. Still farther on upon the North Ston-
ington Road, the barns of Daniel Brown, Will
liam H. Prentice, Noyes T. Mech, and Rob-
ert Y. Latham, were set on fire and burned to
the ground-valued altogether at about $2500.
In some cases the escape of the adjoining
houses was very narrow.
The closing scenes in this drama of desola-
ton were enacted at the house of Mr.. Wheel
er, his father-in-law, which the Bulletin relates
as follows:
Thefamily were awakened by the son of
MIR. Latham, who came for assistance to ex-
tinguish the fire on his fathers premises. MIR.
Wheeler's son Charles, about Is years of age,
told his father as soon as tie family were
aroused, that this was "some of Henry Chap
mans work." and they had better not leave
the house unprotected. Before they could get
ready to go to the assistance of their neigh
bors, they discovered the flames issuing from
their own barn across the road Charles's sus-
picions were confirmed by this, and he instruct
ed his younger brother to draw water and fill
the tubs in the house, as he felt assured that
the house would be fired next While they
were carrying water to extinguish the fire in
the barn, one of the boys discovered Chap
..,ft
set fire to some dry brush lying against the
house. He Immediately gave the alarm. Mr.
Wheeler ran into the house, and took down a
loaded fowling-piece; Ch rles seized an ak,
and both rushed to the back door. Chapman
was at a little distance off, cursing and utter.
ing threats against the whole family. Charles
took the gun from his fathers hand and fired at
him, but the cap only exploded. Chapman
then said, 'there, your guns missed, now by
G. I've got you" Charles Immediately ran
in and primed the gun, and Chapman went
round i'll front of the house Mr. Wheeler fol- :
lowed him, and Chapman then drew pistol
on him. By this time Charles had got his gun
ready, and punching out light Of glass in the
second-story window, fired at Chapman, and
he supposes lodged a charge OF shot in his
thigh, as he staggered and almost fell down.
Chapman then snapped his pistol twice at the
head Of Mr. Wheeler, but missed fire both
times, and then turned and ran off. Mr..
Wheeler struck at him with the AK when he
fired, but just missed him. He followed him
twenty or thirty rods, but Chapman was too
fleet Of foot for him and escaped through a
corn field into the woods. Mr.. Wheeler lost
hay and grain and farming tools, and one hog,
in the barn, all valued at about $500. No in
surance.
Search was made for the incendiary, with
much vigilance, which resulted, as we are in
formed, in the discovery of his dead body in
the woods not far from the scene of his crime
He was found Wednesday morning, and had
apparently been dead many hours.