The New York herald., 1865-03-28
Tho Hotel Burner


THR DISCHARGE or d. A. M'DoNALD-sTATEMENr
OF ROBERT COBB KENNEDY.
TORONTO G. W., Dec. Is, 1894.
Major General JoHs A. DIX, commanding Department Of
the East
sR-lt having come TO our knowledge that large
number OF persons have bcen placed under arrest by
your order charged with being connected with the re.
cent attempt fire the hotels in the city Of New York.
and among whom is Benjamin A. Mcdonald, We the
undersigned, from or duty to ID. A.
Mcdonald and others innocently accused beg leave
submit your consideration the following statement
hoping may be the Of the speedy release the
said Mcdonald, who, most solemnly attest is wholly
innocent of the charges preferred against h OF oi any
knowledge OF tho intention OF the undersigned TO fire
the hotels In your city.
The entire plan originated and matured in Canada
and all the for phosphorus and other mate
rial necessary for the purpose perfected before
started on the expedition Before starting however,
OF INTRODUCTION to Mcdonald, by his brother In
Canada, simply stating In substance that the
bearers visited New York for business purposes ana
quosted that hc would that they comfortably
qarered they strangers In the city and might
need his advice The Introduction honorcd, and
through HIM two OF the undersigned procured lodgings
with Mrs. -, who occupies the dwelling part Of the
house No Union square, the other part being occupied
BY the briggs Piano MANUFACTURING Company BY whom
lsge Of depositing our funds In the safe OF the
company, and was referred to Mr. Colwcll,
the treasurer OF the concern who permitted ms to do
and afterward whenever we had occasions use some
Of the money we applied 10 Mr. Coweli and never TO
spent In the OF the company In the society Of
Mr. and other members and employees Of tho concern
We almost invariably found Mcdonald busy and seldom
passed more than the time Of day with him. And we
most solemny assert and declare that never TO
positive knowledge, did we, or either Of us
ever communicate said Mcdonald, either by word OF
mouth or in writing the object Of the city
In any way intimate, or by means OF words, signs or
lead him 70 eonecu1c s the object Of our mis-
purely concture but assert that he did not and
could not have known, nothing ever passed between
us the subject upon which he could even base belief
We alone responsible and, we did not fear TO
make the attempt We shall not seek through dishonora
BILE means % evade the consequences
We all strictly enjoned not to hazard word n
10 the object Of VISIT TO Mr. Mcdonald and we all
solemny assert that did not The circumstances OF
shs i n ne q all Mcdonald
very easily explained, and will show how easily he
became & the \, 81 me same and ,s which dsS. =
iSa'ssns NJ SeDanSS PIi' that our n,spoS 10 to ss, HS
po %sS % 'Gs Be- oSs Aoa os
II he would take charge Of II until our return which he
% 1s s.Us ,Ss. would no S ss Or prudent for Us 70
e.; ss hin @:%s sns s 20 s.
ass ss e abrupt Ss@; .r Ss ss
@ sad %.s Is 9 .asss
us but further than this he could have known nosbing
Tbls mos. positively assert Was the Whole u
bis knowledge or participation IL the matter
We had witnessed the devastation OF own homes
and 10 retallae object In visiting New York 10
the absence Of proper ocer before whom 10 verify THU
statement and, deslrous Of investing with all the
soemny Of an oath, we each Of hereby declare that
for the truth q the facts therein We hold our
selves morally responsible, before God and man,
| tho same sworn TO.
hereby certify and solemniy ASSERT that this Il tru,
copy u the statement signed by myself cad others IA
| Toronto, G. w., IN December last
Witness ROBERT O. KENNEDY.
j A H)rKISs, First Lieut., Seventeenth ,nfsn'-~
Juns q YcuSa. Chcf DoAAatIve PoicA