The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1860-03-06


Jesse HoweN and Joseph T Parsons, charg-
ed with setting fire to the frame building
on the corner of Church and Cove streets
Our readers will remember that we men
toned some four or Eve weeks ago the ar
restef these young men, together with the
fact that they had been examined by thu
Mayor, aud sent to the Corporation Court
for futher examination. Howell was, we
think, raised in this city, is lame, aad has
been engaged in selling fish, &C., in tht
market house; he is about twenty-five or
three years OF age, aad has been considered
'fast." Parsons is apparently about TWEEN
ty-one years old, short in stature, thick set,
halls from Baltimore, and is cigar maker;
had only been in this city Moe or ten days
when the crime with which he is charged
was committed.
Howelllook.d slightly pale, which was
no doubt the effect of long confinement,
while Parsons looked as though he had not
been much effected by his Imprisonment. -
The first witness called was
Wn, Messic-I am one of the City Watch.
On the night of the I'D of January was on
the second wat oh ward, between the hours
of eleven an d twelve was passing Mr.. Port
locks bar room when overheard something
about the fire opposite St. PauPs Church
Counsel for HOwell--Stop, sir, don't tell
US what you heard, tell US what you know
and nothing else.
Messic-l am telling all known about it..
On the night of the fire | was passing Mr..
Portlock's bar room and heard some thing
said about the fire, looked in and saw Mr..
McElroy.
Counsel for, HoweU- Mr.. Messic, we only
want you to tell US if there was fire that
night, and what you know about the prison
ers connected with it.
Messic-I know there was an alarm of fire
that night, but know nothing of it further
than what have heard-Mr. Howell was
not in Mr.. Portleck's that could see when
looked in. te
John McElroy-I was coming up Cove
street the night of the fire-have forgotten
what night it was--when saw young man
trying to get over the fence at the corner
near the house which was set on fire; asked
him what he was getting over there for land
told him he could get in the lot without
climbing the fence if be would 60 lower
down. ! then passed along and he got over;
in short while be overlook me, asked me
to say nothing about it, and that they were
going to have some fun, that they were 60
ing to touch that house off | also heard
some one in. the lot when passed.
This witness was sure that Parsons, one
of the prisoners, was the young man who
overlook him and asked him not to say any.
thing about it.
Robert Altriend-On the night OF the fire
was in Mehegan's Segar store, near the cor
ner .of Church and Cove streets, a young
man came in and bought two segars, and
asked for two matches which were given
him; while in there he spoke to some one at
the door; after getting the matches, he put
them in his pocket and went out don't
know who the young man was, bat know it
was not Jesse Howell, who saw afterward
in company with youag man, who was, 1
think, the same young man who purchased
the segars-think it was about " O'Clock
when they bought the segars--l live on Fen
Church street, but did not go home from
Mehegan's, | went from there to Mr.. Port
locks, saw Howell before the purchase of
the segars--l cannot be sure that the young
man whom saw with Howell Is the same
one who purchased the segars.
MaD Brinsmer-I was passing up Church
street the Sunday night of the fire, between
seven and eight O'Clock, and met Howell at
or near Cannon's-there was another man
with him when met him-l walked up as
far as Cove street, when the alarm offire was
given-heaId two negro girls say, "that
house is on fire." | was nearly opposite
when the alarm was given.
Henry CARROLL was going up Church
street the night OF the tre-met Howell and
Parsons together between Cannon's and
Smiths, Mr.. Brimmer then overlook me and
we passed on up the street to Cove; when we
reached the corner of Cove street, two ne
gro girls ran over and SAID "that house is on
fire." we ran over and | was, think, the
2nd in the house-the fire was ON the right
hand side of the door, on Cove street.-the
house wasn't burnt great deal--the house
was set on fire behind the door, (here the
witness, at the request of the Common
wealths Attorney described the position OF
the door, )-cannot say that the house was
occupied but we moved some benches, tubs,
&C., into the street-IaknOw Parsons we'll,
he boarded with me when he first came here
some eight Or nine days am sure saw
Howell and Parsons together on Church
street Just before the alarm of fire.
Ensaset Gray-I live with MIR. Michigan;
on the night OF the fire saw Howell and Par
sons come from Cove street, stand near the
awning post, and commence talking to Hen
ry Blanks; l heard Howell ask negro boy
to get him a block of matches; it was ~
to d to 8o'clock, Sunday nights Henry Alb
del, Henry Blanks and myself walked around
the square; when we returned, saw How
ell and Parsons come up Church street and
pass our door.
Henry Btanks-l and Gray and Abdel,w were
at Mehegan's corner, in the door of the store
on the corner of Cove and Church street,
between and s o'clock, on the Sunday
night of the fire, when Parsons came up and
called me two or three times; he said, Come
here Boney;" | said, "Nary time" How
ell then said, "Com here, he amt going to
hurt you." They both told me that they
were going to set the house on fire at the
corner, and said if l told they would kill
me, when asked them why they told me !;
that was N to ~ O'clock; Abdel, Gray
and myself then walked around the square !;
we passed down Church to Main, down Maia
to Bank, down Bank to Cove, and up Cove
80, anh -tz,. -