The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-04-06
Arson Case I'm Greenwich Street.
DEATH BED CONFESSION OF AN INCENDIARY--TERRI
BLE SCENE In THE HOSPITAL.


DEATH BED CONFESSION OF AN INCENDIARY--TERRl
BILE SCENE IN THE HOSPITAL.
il will be recoleced that about two weeks ago Fire
MAJ Shall Baker caused the arrest Of two men, named De
dace Norrsse and Come Norresett, brothers, on the
charge of puTrosey setting fire TO their crockery store
No. 233 Greenwich street. The third man susp!coned
was named Jean Bsptiste Ii Rochelle, who was badly
burned at the time, and sent to the New York hos
ptal for surgical treatment.
The facts in the case appearsby the testimony heor
Justice Connolly, shows that the two Morriseets kept
crockery store at the above named place. Adjoaing
them was Joseph Morton, also q crockery dealer
their stores being only separated by board partition.
Aorrssett bad been informed By the landlord that ne
could have the year for the crockery
ppsness hence an unpleasant feeling existed against
Morton on the part OF the Moryisseis they sroutpg
the iosn OF The store to Morton Moirsset had stock OF
the value OF about $780, and insured for 81 Oo therefore
in the event Of fire he would be exposed much oss
The IRE occurred a. about seven O'Clock In evening
Just az NorTsset Was closing his store, and the
Ia Rochelle was seen to come from the store the side
yak enveoped IN hsmes The bystauders ender.d eli
the sstahce they could by stripping off his burning
Clio hes HIS boots saturated with camphsne and !.
was found necessary 10 cut them from ms feet The
wretched man veyed to the New York Eosp; a.
grooming with agony Els legs to toe knees were 10 On
10 be very extensively burned and his hands arms and
side OF bis were in the same condition The 10
vestgafon Of the Fro kaIshal mace out strong case
sganst the Norrissetts, sad the magistrate held
Or. Bel, house surgeon, that Ia Rochelle was very
eeoe and about to die and wanted 10 make confession
Mastered 10 the Hospital There he found this unfortunate
man very low and apparently 10 q dying condition
Inc confession was taken down in writing. Justice
Connolly then ordered the prisoners Morrissetts to
be brought to the Hospital for deD cation and TO have
TIE accusation and confession read their p esence ana
IN the hearing OF the lying man. A scene here took
aee which can more easily be imagined than described
man the latter, with quiveripg lips, pointing them
me persons to when he owed his presen. position They
h1th rpct fhafr sfaA
CONCESSION
Jean Baptist La Rochelle, IN the New York Hos
Bell and Believing that am abou. to a;s 40 ,a.rc a.
lohwsA about three weeks prior the occurrence of
the re IN the c,ockery store Of Dedace Come Aorres
sett, situated at No 233 Greenwich street. Dedsce Nor
ressen suggested TO me that be wanted to burn out h
store, as the man pex door was doing better business
and causing him 70 move away. This contemplated
burning hIted 8. from time 70 time ON the weet nri,r
to the occurrence OF the fire. pedace Morresse..
asked ne to get some campheue. he gave
me glass jar and aiy six cents get gallon Of can
ptene ! went 70 a store 70 West Broadway, on the
wet side Thomas street took THE camphene TO the
" the store somewhere The day after
pecace sent me for another gallon Of camphene,
giving me the money and similar jar To bviug i,
IN. went 20 The same store for the gallon OF
campbere. took j; to The store and gave /, to
Dedace horressstt' He took II from and put
away IN the store. On the day OF the Are Morresse
stat 10 that the are was come or tina. night
was in and out OF The store that aiernoop MP 10 the
time OF the Ere At the time the match was aoo);ad
another man and myself In the store No other
person Vas there Isaw the other man apply the match
Swhose name do not reooect 70 the camohene and he
heh sn away as sop as be applied the match. Morres
se' to'c me 10 throw my coat the fire. did 30, and
uo'ng carsized one OF the jars OF campheue, which
a.s' nave spread the csmphene over my bcoH
ana u was that which SO saturated me with
canphepe 80 badly took are ran out of the store
OF tne ste~sls II a blaze ~ fire. Before my escape
TOE tne store recolec that Dedace Morrisse pushed
M eaeE against me IRE think his object was 10 burn
me aiorg wib the store. Dedace Morrmse., an An in
doce MELT for me to assist him The matter pr,ised 10
start me IN little place to mysef have been &C.
qosn'ea Nnb ueoace Aorrisset. about ten or eleven
reai cspada. ! am sure Of my own knowledge tina,
Deesce Horrssett his brother, Come Morreset and the
other man we're concerned together the uf,l 0rnS
of 'be said store The e done the purpose OF OH
air ne the Insurance. and also to get satisfaction on, ~
he man who sept the crockery store al joinipg
JEAN BAPr.STE LA ROCHELLE
Witnessed by
Alex. BELL, ~ D House Surgeon N. Y Hospital.
TBoase WARo, N. D., New York Hospital,
April 3, 1850