New-York tribune., 1869-06-03
CRIME IN THE CITY.

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DEFENDANT
On Friday last VIM. 2. Sheldon, guest at
the National Hotel in COurandst caused the arrest oi
Wm W. Magonige, lawyer. residing at No. Roosevelt
St. on charge Of forgery and false pretenses. The COM
panant made oath that in the month OF January 1866
MsgOngle informed him that man named Francis had
circulated reports derOgatOry the character OF Shell
don and that the latter would authorize him. he would
commence action for damages against Francis he
agonige TO receive the Of s7oO for his services
He received the assent Of Sheldon and after repre-
sented to the latter that he had commenced
suit against Francis. From time to time
Magonigle. it is alleged, procured from sheldon
sums amounting IN the aggregate TO 5000 and
finally produced what purported to be record Of the
Judgment OF the Court in the issued from the County
Clerks Office Sheldon subsequently ascertained that no
proceedings had been had in the and that the
record purporting be from the County Clerks ONCE
forgery. He therefore caused the arrest OF Ma
golge and the latter committed by Justice Downing
examination. Yesterday the case was ciIeu
up. Counsel for the accused was about TO respond on
behalf OF his client the charges preferred against
HIM, when the magistrate stopped him, ana
stated that the proceedings IN the case were
limitation, aud dismissed the case. The magistrate
then turned Mr. sheldon and Informed that gentleman
that he should order him under arrest very much
more serious chargethat OF arson. in having been con
cerned in firing the extensive livery stable OF brggs
Bros Nos lIg West Twenty thrdst on the night
Of the SOth Of December last causing the loss OF horses
large number Of carriages aud wagons OF various Kpo
and the total destruction Of the building the total loss
being over $4,000 The mpainantso suddenly trans
formed into defendant seemed dumbfounded at this
turn OF affairs, and could only stammer out denial OF
having actually fired the building He was commlited
TO the Tombs TO await an examination which mas been
set down for Monday next al 10 o'clock A. N. The aihda.
Wit on which the charge against sheldon Is based
was made by William Reynolds OF No. 5 Bondst Di-
Reynolds special business but practices OCCASION
ally with gavanc battery for the cure OF consumption
In October last be became acquainted with Sheldon and
that individual in poor health praciced his elec'
tric process on him. Through sheldon he became &C
ter Of Sheldon He learned that Mr. Briggs
the verge OF financial ruin, and mnst fail The am
SIG 10 Sheldon and about this time commenced 10 press
payment At one OF his dunning interviews sheldon
told him he would soon have money, when the ataut
asked him where II was TO come from He said he had
offer Of 5000 II ne would burn certain DudIhg but
was holding Of for 800 he knew that its must
either fail get the insurance On being asked whether
there was not other property thAt would surf 10Y the
would prevent the spread Of the flames At all events,
the property was probably insured Having gone so Tar
in ms condolences Sheldon resolved 20 make clean
breast OF the matter and told Reynolds that the building
was Briggs Brothers stables Nos. n5 ana ~ Nest @
sheldon ard Briggs had arranged bogus couhagratl0u
Ia carT o the paB BsPs absGue6ty discharged one
Of his After the stable had been burned Reynolds
called on sheldon and asked when Briggs proposed %
settle for the Job" and answered Out Of the first
become weary Of duDniug aud deLy called on
briggs aud asked hm whether he had paid sheldon or
whether be would pay him Reyuold out OF any money
on the day following Reynolds again sheldon,
asked for his money and was again disappointed. With
our giving any further particulars, he closes ms affidavit
with assertion that he believes WIN,
p sheldon TO be guilty OF firing the stables.
and John IT, Briggs an accessory 70 the crime
The rm owning the buildings and stock destroyed CON
sisted Of John UndeTm Briggs, who owned one-half;
his brother Elias D. G. Briggs who owned onefourtn
and nephew. Robert l. Briggs who owned the remain.
the building and ground Nos il5 and III West Twenty
me 6adngs Ld on 81 boe o5ed by the Ann
number OF carriages ana harness 5 anu SOM ~,
$4,000 on running stock s22oo building aud t2ooo on
the lease the lots Twenty fourhs The nrin
ceeded over 100000 In addition, there were 50 horses
owned by various parties. including several hotel pro
The stable when re broke out but two or three we're
Got ont in safety. II believed at the time the e
AZ once employed e1 Fire-Marshal Baker 10 work
up the case. Fire. Marshal Bracket also inst
examined, among them Mr. John V. Briggs Tne latter
testified that he believed the fire Of nceudary or
g7l several holders OF mortgages the buildings aud
lease put claims and they were allowed by tho eopa
mes aud paid. The 5000 insurance on STOCK bed Dy
been paid E1-Fire Marshal Baker, the course OF his
investigation sscertaned that on the nght c the nre
nine carriages and eighteen horses belonging
20 .U Nv ~, RrSs tbat tberr eas p the rear base
ment OF the stable gasppe, the lower portion OF which
had been unscrrwed and carried of by some one
by a private watchman, owing 70 the escape OF
gas and s for pPe a pisss, me- ,drpr 'gSl ssT
this pipe was allowed remain IN this insecure cOud
hay were brought into the stabea very unusual
reiice-and LETT directly under this defective gasppe
The ire first discovered among tins loose hay All
these facts and statements deemed suspicious, aud
Sir Baker after long search, finally had interview
trc win MI nefyeSs sfyhSS otaned from SnS'0 him the
facts mentioned above and finally, on March Reynolds
made mis- affidavit Owing the absence from the city
OF the parties accused. and IN order 20 obtain te
imony bearing the no arrest was made until
yesterday warrant has been issued Tor the arrest OF A
John V Brggs and lie will probably be taken into
tody today several other parties are alleged 70 be I'M
picated the transaction and other arrests may follow
RAID on A BANK.
Sometime between Saturday night and Mon
day morning party of burglars forced into
the office OF Mr. Samuel T. Lockwood, on the second
Aoor OF No 90 walIt and then broke open the heavy
safe In the ROOM and took from II about 500 worth O
revenue and postage stamps The thieves were evidently
carefully removed books and papers from the afe
and placed them carefully table near by It's cOuJec
bebiHd them an their tools consisting of drills wedges
sedges small hammers lockpcks, two rope ladders,
each co feet length, and some miscellaneous articles
Tic noce are OF the opinion that the burglars intended
10 operate either on the Gaatn National Bank on the
rst floor Of No &C. or else on the Union Bank next door
is belief IA strengthened by the fact that the thieves
did not need lch heavy tools they left behind 10 op
one OF the gang locked IN the building when u was
closed on saturday night and late hour he admitted
his confederaes No clue TO the parties has YET been
ANOTHER BANK CHECK FORGERY.
On the 10th of January last, Mr.. George c..
soren OF 2Rectors made oath before Justice Hogan
that on October TO- 1885, Thomas j. Radcliffe called on
him and presented draft for $685. purpornS to have
been drawn by McClun, Holden & Co, bankers, on the
Home Bank Of Bloomington, Illinois aud made payable
10 the order OF Samuel Strauss at the PARK Bank IN ts
| city. The draft bore what purported TO be the
certlAeatiOn OF the Park Bank, and the IN
| dorsement Of Samuel strauss. supposlhg u
! genuine, Mr.. soren cashed II without cues, %
tOn He subsequently aseertained that the cethcatOn
aud Endorsement forged. warrant for the arrest
/ Of Radcliffe issued, and for several months past
Oficer Barrett OF the TOmbs Police Court squad mas
been the lookout for the prisoner. once he came
upon Radcliffe, but the latter denied his denu and was