Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-06-02

O8O - 0Os~'Oe
Dur reaasrs are faspr'liar with the fact
tlst within a very sest, time two diff
faSeut Sttempss ha1e BEEN made to fire
the city Of Keuosha end entirely dcs.
troy it. The attempts we're only partial
y successful; though the business part
of the city was destroyed. A third At
tempt was made on Sunday night last,
and the Infamous scoupdrel was captured
in the very act. One Of the most ex pert
Chicago detectives has been working ap
the case for some time. The local Of
the Milwaukee News went down to
Kenosha on Monday, and in Tuesdays
paper we find graphic description Of
the naodus operand;, from which We ex-
tract the following:
On Saturday night the villain was ar
rested. His name 10 George Shepard,
and he has been for some time past the
landlord Of the fremont House in that
city. The method employed for his de-
lection was, We are informed, as fol-
lows:
For long time past, suspicion has
rested upon Shepard, and he has been
closely watched. During The past six
weeks detective OF the Chicago Po-
lice, whose name we hsd not learned,
has been in the city Of Kenosha under
the disguise of an Irish laborer, and
after much skilifal manGuvering, sue
ceeded in gaining the confidence Of
Shepard, with whom after short lapse
Of time, a proposition 10 again fire the
city for the purpose of plumber met with
favor. 1t was agreed that the attempts
should be made on Sunday night, and
the officers knowing the scheme, were
consequently on the watch. We are
also informed that Shepard gave tae
detective information as to the manner
in which they had fired the city on
previous occasions, and what were bis
reasons for SO doug.
Yesterday morning, about o'clock,
Shepard in company with the detective,
proceeded to an old dilapidsted and un-
occupied building in the rear of the
American House, and made preparations
for firing it by saturating the wall with
turpentine, and heaping straw upon the
floor. All this time the Mayor of the
city, in company with officers, was in
the adjoining room watching their pro-
ceedings. Shepard lighted a match,
which went out. He then lighted an
other, with which he set the straw on
fire, when he was seized by the officers,
and after a sharp resistance was over
powered and taken to jail, where he is
now confined under guard. The
officers then proceeded to his house,
which they searched, but without find
ing anything to add to the evide1 ce
they had already accumulated.
We have seldom seen people more ex-
cited than were the people of Kenosha
yesterday. 1t was feared by several
that lie would be taken from the Jail by
force and lynched. Even the ladies' Of
the city strongly advocated the adoption
Of this method, 10 rid the world OF the
villain who had destroyed so great
portion of their city. 1t was hoped,
however, that moderation would pre-
vail, and the law be permitted to take
its course. Another proposition, we
heard discusscd,was to take him from the
Jail and duck" him in the lake until he
was compelled to reveal the names of
his accomplices, but wiser counsel pre-
vailed and he did not meet with the pro-
! posed baptism.
Shepard at ono time lived in Racine,
where he was noted as hard case, and
keeper of house no better than him
SELF Some time since our readers will
remember we gave an account of fire
thcre,which fire it is thought he kindled.
Since his residence in Kenosha, he has
kept the fremont House, very popu-
lar place of resort for shoulder hitters
and their followers.
GOODNESS OF A RAILROAD ENGINEER.
The Augusta Cbnstitut;onaliss, Of
Sunday last, records the following
instance of GOODNESS and self-posses.
sion:
The train from Charleston, due at
IL l-2 p. NJ, yesterday, did not arrive