The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-10-04
City Intelligence.

ARSON CASE IN SIxTy.sEcoSp STREEr-CoSrysssoN on OF
GUILTY PAaTY-A RExAaKABIE AsFAIR.0n Moniay last
ncendiary fire occurred in two story frame dwelling
owned by George Allen located in Sxty-second rect
near Lexington The flames discovered un-
der the stairs and rapidly ascending when
and extinguished by the neghbors Fire Marshal aker
notified and al Investigation was gone into aslsted
by Captain Bryan Of the Nineteenth precinct number
OF persons were summoned and examined. The
pec Of the affair appeared TO point with suspicion usa
MIR. Allen; there being sufficient Insurance the build
ing 10 fully the loss, this alleged Tho
motives TO instigate the burning. Mr. Alien, it secns
lived in tho lower part ard at home when the fire
Cured, and Mr.. MecAs and family lived In The
upper part Of the house. Tho examination Of burned
rubbish showed that preparation had been male by
using champagne basket dried grass and straw.
The boy, Charles f. Moeks was, about half hour
before the fire 20 carry some straw from the let into
his gate, and go towards the house. With this oge
ther with other circumstances and the boys own oatra
dictory story, the Fire Marshal placed the suspicion
him. and accordingly Captain Bryan, at ten O'Clock on
Wednesday night detained the boy in the station olse.
The following day the Fire Marshal saw tie b.. ngn,
and he then confessed his guilt in the following
away from that house for time past. Tla whea
the wind blew he AFRAID the house would boN down.
That tie made the fire under the stairs 10 burn The
house down. but to his mother that sAc would
move away. That he put the dried grass and some 81
into the champagne basket and placed the basket undcr
the stairs before he went to the butchers On his rotlrn
from the butchers he took the meat up stairs then
down, struck match and set fire to the straw, then
went nto the street, and that in about ivc inmates after
the alarm was given. 1t SO happened that the fire was
sabdued by the quick action of Mr.. bfcicn, Of tic
neighbors. Mrs. Mecks, her sister and three Or four
children up stairs at the time, and In order cscie
su.location compelled 70 get out at The sccod story
windows on the piazza roof and from,hesce they were
extrcated by means OF ladder This me thod % scsrag
his mother was considered JOKE, rJobab On Ae part
Of the boy but IL came very near cosliDg thtIf lpei
The moment the alarm given, the boy ran l'Ineii-
ncly to Fifty ninth street and helped TO drg up th nre
engne-a fayorile machine, which he felt arNsois, no
doubt TO see work. The prisoner viii be taken before
the police court, at Yorkville, this morning.
ColussA CoILEoE-Tbe annual term Of the law school
of Coum bia College, No. 81 Lafayette place, commenced
on Wednesday afternoon, as announced in the HERALD
with about sixty students, many Of whom already
praconers Out Of the fty nine students Of years
Junior Glass; only thirty had reported Themselves the
rest having gono TO the wars that considering the
times the number Of the present applicants Is evil
den, that the institutions registering ninety students the
very hs day Of tho ternl is growing 10 aarity and
its usef alness has become fui accomP The law de-
par,ment Is conducted by Prof. T. w. Dwight, LID,
who IL highly accomplished IN his iepar tmcHt and
seems to be very popular with the voung gentlemen
Prof Lieber lectures also political scenco Prof.
Marine On ethics and Prof OrAronanx medical juris
prudence Prof Dwight announced to the students that
there win be three prizes in his department to contend
for at tho close o. tho Tho red will be
$3.50 $3.50 and s00 Another prize also Of 5000 will be
given 10 the stunt who shall attain tho hi hest
lence in political science.