Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-09-20
A CURIOUS nEvrlopMENr
THE HURNING or THE CkrALtNE At ron
fRESs MONROE

THE NIRNlNG OF Tux 0NIAlINE AT lOK-
fRESs MONROE
AuuHsr oP l.gH cLHHK F,u AnsuN--fSrrnRsrfNa r.crs
REsrtcuNo nEW cHAHrnn--rUouGEDiNUs - A
rOLick couHr.
Very interesting disclosures respecting the chatter
aud burning of the steamer fatdtHe At Fnufess Mon
roc, on the evening n the "a NJ July last have come
before the criminal authorities n this City within the
past few days person named James Iatfin, VIM
employed tho steamer at the tme ~ her dsstfuctnn
Is n custody en- suspicion ~ having sct her on ire aud
yesiefdA, an examination " the
the matter commenced Mt the Jefferson Market
Police Court, before Justice Quackenbush.
Ia April last IL Is said the Cafaae purchased by
Charles a, stetson, Jf, for the of $1,000, from
the firm " Mr. NJ Freeman X Co No. % south street.
The purchase, however appeared to be only name
these gentlemen aimed possession u the steamer
acted A. her agents short time after the alleged sale
the boat was chartered by the Government for three
n"nhs to ay on the waters n the Chesapeake in The
vrnty " Fortress Monroe Tor which service her own
crs were 10 receive $40. OOl per month.
She accordingly wa, di.patchcdt the Fortress under
nc command of Capt. Isaac o. Phillip, resident N
hinokyn who was paid by Mrssrs freeman y Co. the
sum Of 81 800 month for the runhng cxpensrs--hus
grabbing he owners to pocket the h,ndsone balance Of
| f2OO Tor the use Of their property.
] ON the 81 Of July, n Butler and staff had been In
the boat 10 Viewpoints News, whence they returned in
'hr evening. lunding NJ the Foftcss between and
uc!ork he boat, aher landing her passengers, mmc-
dsy eft the wha but before She had gone POI yards
from shore flames burst fcfcry from around HE smoke.
stack aud TO very short time the vessel WAS utterly
consumed.
The hr, wa, s., sudden that Il wa, at once surmied TO
have been thu work N design, ard the fact u there Ne
ALONE strengthened the suspicion The matter has been
frequently before the public, aud recently was under cx
animation by the Congressional Investigating Commit
tee. of which Mr. Van WICK is Chairman in connection
With frauds upon the Government in relation TO con-
tracts, but The result ~ the investigation has not yet
| been made public
Meanwhile information. respecting tho burning NJ the
steamer, came a. Mr.. Baker, The Fire Marshal through
yong lti,hmal named Labor, intimate associate II
James Lafkin, The clerk To whom auson has been
I made
Labor having been taken bciote Justice Quackcnbush
made statement " which the following b, the SUBJ
stance He had long known James Larkin and was on
Intimate terms with him Iarkin had boarded at the
Astor House since his return from Fortress Monroe
lie had lived in good style and seemed 20 have money
bad received for burning the Catline lie said that
he could destroy any vessel n similar way. An that be
dd was 10 pour quantities Of uprntne around the day
/ easing pt smoke pipe and set fire Go H.
Upon This affidavit, Larkin's arrest was effected On
Saturday last and the magistrate committed him fot exc
/ animation. The again called mp yesterday
afternoon wh'n John Scdgvck, E.q, appeared Tor the
prosecution, and Mr. Hughes for tho dofchcc
| Two Witnesses puly were cNRmined--kN Councilman
EA"l inc aud Capt Phillips late II the Catahnc. Mr.
Nanlmn testified that the prisoner, Capt Phillips. and
Tailor we're together IN his drinking saloon in Dcysttce
few days since, when lac overheard conversation be-
tween them Larkn then threatened Capt. Phillips by
saying that he had him In tight place. and could send
nun 10 Auburn " The Capis testimony referred to the
chaterg NJ the boat aud the terms upon which the own
crs obtained his services. To also that he knew
nothing " the mrnncr IN which the fire originated aud
that he did not know the prisoner as the confident %
clerk d" me owners of the boat but looked upon him
/ passenger