The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-09-16
IHE FIRE AT wills SONS CRACKER BAKERY
Arrest Of the Proprietor and Several others
Oh Suspicion Of Arson
lntsrs sting proceedings Before Jus-
tlce Bowling,
A. De. 20.

o. New Years evening 1t viii be remembered, the ex.
tensive cracker bakery John Wilson No 70 Fulton
street. took fire and wholly consumed, involving a
loss of $4,000 and the OF negro workman named
Goss The affair been under investigation before Fire
Marshal BaSer for several months anu resulted yestcr
day in the arrest Of Mr. wilson the proprietor of the
bakery exander simpson, tie foreman, David H. Brown
William Cameron and George A. Cameron, workmen, to-
gether with Mrs. jeanette Cameron, Mrs Mary Welsh and
Miss Lizzie Welsh. The prisoners were taken into Gus
tody by Sergeant Kelly Of the Second precinct, and
brought before Justice Downing at the Tombs where an
examination gone into at nine O'Clock A. M. The
principal witness IN the case Mrs Margaret Larkin, is
widow with two children, Catherine and James, aged
respectively fourteen and eleven years These chill
dren also Ggure as witnesses, and corroborate Tho
statement of their mother in all its ossenta
points. The charge against MIR. Wilson ant
his employees somewh hat ridiculous but we mus
confess the statements ohe witnesses for the prosecution
well connected, and worthy of careful coasdera
ton. Mrs. Iarkin underwent rigid examination
at the hands Of Mr. the counsel for the defence
but appears stand the pretty we'll she lost
her temper several times during the investigation how
ever, confessed that the complaint chiefly nst
tuted against Mr.. Wilson because refused to pay her
for the loss she sustained by the conasraton The de-
PENDANT takes the matter pleasantly and has not The
slightest doubt OF his ultimate ac4uitta.
MRS. LARKINs' STATEMENT.
Margaret Lsrkin bong duly sworn, Opposes ana says
reside nj No 500 Cherry street; am widow az the
time OF the DIRE at Mr.. Wilson's bakery, No ~ Fulton
street, lived at No. So Fulton street; my husband ana
OF my worked Tor Mir wilson; two evenings pc
fore the lire Mrs Cameron Who lived on tae top oof
the bakery into my place and tod me 70 gel
RICH; up, Mr. Wilson coming TO see me soon atef
Mr.. Wilson came in and SAID he wanted 10 have tax
with me, he said he wanted me to DO nm favor sau,
"What it, WILSON," lie SAID 'lhs bakery that we
hav here IS too small orders for the government,
and b. giving this place match and burning i down
might be sble to get lot each side, then build up
and have room enough work - he said il would as
ssl Mrs Cameron to do it he would give mo 300 io my
eeryices aud have the building up again IN six weeks
said "Mr Wilson, could not stand it my health Is very
poor, and besides ! do not wish TO die IN the state
Prison. Mr. Wilson said son. pshaW, you need not DO
afraid Of the state Prison any suspicion should be
against you have enough TO redeem YOU we have
Jealousy between the gangs OF men, and the suspicion
viii lie on tnem my husband then in; Mr.. wilson
said "Owen. what brings You iny my husband replied,
.sometimes come IN or drink Mr. wilson SEM one
street and told the boy that It was for him Wison and
gave him forty cents 20 pay for IL my husband TOOK
glass of ale MIR. Wilson did not drink any; Mr.. Wilson
told my husband that he wanted me to do MIN favor,
wished him to sanction IL my husband said, What
Is its he replied Two evenings from now give match
to the place and burn down. to help Mrs Cameron, and
that he would build up again in six weeks my husband
that could do us liked my husband had not been away
long before Terrence came running stairs look
has oeen chasing youY'No one, replied my son "but
you OF here; don't want YOU TO try to make
children il Mrs Camel on wants 70 do IL she can but my
mother WON'T he snapped his fingers at Mir. Wilson,
could ITO barrels OF Hour day anu C0uQ
get work anywhere. and did not for his work Mr.
Wilson then put his hat and said he hoped We would
keep tho thing STILL Mrs. Cameron said to me after Mr..
Wilson mad left that was blamed fool that did not
take the S7O0 that nobody woad have the least suspicion
OF US; on New Years day saw Mr. Simpson aud Mr..
Mr.. simpson had his wagon with him; l saw
three or four cans taken into the store from
Mr.. simpsons wagon they appeared TO be heavy
l MIR. Simpson short time before dark 90 into the
bakehouse, Mr. Farmer was with him at one time saw
Dave ana George Cameron the wagon between seven
rne and Irnes Into Mrs. Camerons house to know
what tiuc my son Terrence aud his friends be
back from BrooSyn. there were good many of his
friends la my house waiting for him, in short time my
daughter returned exclaimng and screaming, "0h mo
merons house. and into the bakery from the piazza
the first pesson saw was Mr. simpson he saii-.Mrs
sNo sir did mott they were just starting the fire by
Gre, saw Mrs Welsh and her daughter running over
lot Of small wood and paper Mrs Welsh caught
bold OF my clothes and said. lome along Mrs Larkin,
bear hand you have got bread out OF this bake
house than have Mrs. Cameron came up, put her hand
my mouth, saying, "keep still and do not haloa"
and lot OF young came up stairs after next
morning saw Mr. Wilson he to the door he asked
me Il husband was in told him no. he asked
inc what was gong TO do, when tod him was going
TO report him for burning the bakehouse he then said,
t'Come up stairs and tell me all You lost, when we went
up stairs told him lost i've hundred dollars and thirty
eight dollars had III my som, and ali our clothing my
Clothing was worth two hundred dollars well sad
MIR. Wilson, "includng all your loss 1t would make II
about thousand dollars that same morning Mr. Will
sent for my husband and gave him a note tor one
thousand dollars, payable IN sixty days. ana promised TO
pay his wages until the ovens would be ready TO
work, when the sixty days we're up my husband
asked Mr.. Wilson for the money-so my husband
told my husband informed me that Mr.. Wilson asked
him TO leave the note and he would pay him. but when
Mr. Wilson got possession OF the note he kept putting him
OIL from time TO time, aud never did pay him. was pre-
sent, and Mr. Wilson write this note; he sent my
boy for penDys worth Of paper no handed the note to
my husband and he handed II 10 me- put II INTO my
Bons desk that day the note given Mr. Wilson
said TO my husband and myself Don't You think II
WI
Johnny BakerYp said I" No; don't know them know
going towards the ferry ABOUT half an hour before the
Cross examned~Mr wilson's bakery burned down on
New evening FIRST the fire about eight O'Clock,
have known Mr. john T. Wilson about eight years have
eeen Mr. simpson around there about three years saw
him the day OF the ire, he BACKWARDS and FOR
wards good many times, when | hrst saw him on New
Years day he was getting olt OF wagon al the bake
into tho door No 10 Fulton street together saw Mr. imp
Bon take tin from tho wagon u looked like kero.
oil can, and very heavy, they we're not long In
my sight and Just had time TO put the into the store
and then drove OF again saw Mr., simpson again aoou,
she had SEN in the bakehouse pretty much
in the same language as detailed in her direct
ming the building Mrs. Cameron came up
and put her hand my mouth, aud told me not 10
David Brown ard George and William Cameron, Mrs.
Welsh and Mary Ann Welsh, who had some wood and
20 me- Sa, cd Jerry Sps was there toe did moi
know that Mrs Creighton there they were ell work
1ng, aud setting the place on rn saw Mr simpson with
light IL seemed 10 me Ike straw with tar it ne was
running about the place setting fire. he told not
20 close the door, aud said "No sr' Mrs Cameron
heping Mr.. simpson Mrs wesh bad her dress up with
che cbipe and papers IL she started the blaze in
eome lumber. Mrs. Creighton was at the door to
Keep people out, but abe so drunk thai I
passed over her; Il occurred to mo tina, they
wore committing very great crime; Mrs. Welsh said
ptonc Iend hand you have got more bread Of II
bsery than have referring 10 mo; then went down
Your lights 81 stairs holioong IRE occasionally when
n, to nv house met my son, aud told him the bake.
IN So
a., ferry and suspected much Mr.. Kchoe Are,
policeman met; saw some nrcmen there, told the
Eirls who live In the house underneath that Mrs.
Eaneron and others hsd set the place Ere | was
ScAed because Lost my things and got them broken
also told Mr. Kehoe that was Mrs Cameron who burned
kbe bakehouse but he did not appear 10 listen 20 me
also told my husband and son, they are dead the
names OF the girls whom told Dean they scrub out
Abe post once did not make any complaint before the
- ~. ni.,rtcf did 80