The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-07-03
THE ANN.STREET TRAGEDY.
OoRONER'S INQUEsT-TEsTIMoNY-
MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR.
The Governor Requested to Offer q Re-
ward for the Arrest OF the Ficndish
Murderer.

month published reg arding the fiendsh at
tempt to DESTROY Mrs. Sarah f. Calder and her
four children. which resulted in the death OF
two of the children, are fresh in the minds OF
our readers. who will remember that about
two o'clock on the morning of the 21st, Mrs. Col
der, residing with her father, Mr.. E. q. Prince,
was aroused by o light in her chamber, in
which she. with her four children, one an in
fant four months old, slept. She Immediately
jumped up and discovered that the bed was on
fire. burning from the bottom. She gave the
alarm, and her father and brother, Mr.. J.'E.
Prince came to her assistance. They rescued
the children from the fames which, with some
difficulty, and after two beds were burnt, were
extlnguished Mrs. Calder was badly burnt
ON the arm, and Mr.. e. G. Prince on the hand
aud feet. One OF the children died that night
and another the next morning. Coroner Whit
ing summoned jury on the 22d, and had
them sworn lin the presence OF the bodies,
after which he gave on order for burial. On
the Saturday following he took some testimony,
but the principal witness, Mrs. Calder. being
too unwell to testify, the jury adjourned until
yesterday.
sly THE HOUSE
Is located on the south side Of Ann, second
door from Elizabeth-street. At the front
entrance IS gate, after passing through which
and ascending short flight Of steps there is
q door opening on the porch which runs tho
full length OF the side Of the house. Midway
ON the porch is door to be known as the
front door. which let's the visitor in the house.
A flight OF steps commencing at the threshold
OF this door leads to the upper rooms, in one
Of which the fire occurred. At the rear end Of
the house is the back door, leading into the
yard. We have been thus particular in des-
cribing the house in order to prevent repeti-
ton in the testimony, and also to render it
clearer.
THE TETIMoNY.
The members of the jury were James Cald-
we'll, foreman: A. Johnson, j. N. Johnson, J.
II. Darcy, F. r. Dupree, 4. w. Bolger, j. J.
Beasley, James Duffus, P. l.. Oleapor, 1hos.
B. Pohl, O. Williams, j. W. Campbell, and
Lawrence Pinkman. At their first meeting
Messrs. e. G. Prince, John E. Prince, and II.
Wohlku testified.
MIR. q. Q. Prince testified: That on the night
| in question he put out his lamp and paced it
on the m Lntleplece whom he retired, about
twelve O'Clock; about two O'clock he was
aroused by a scream from his daughter (Mrs
Calder who, with her four children, slept in an
adjoining room; he arose and rushed into the
| room; found the floor in blaze. as was also
dren, but got burnt himself; two Of the chill
dren were also burnt; when he first entered
the room the children were laying on the bed
in natural POSITIONS; small brass lamp which
his daughter kept dimly burning tor use if the
children needed anything during the night was
burning on the mantelpiece; he noticed after
wards that his daughter seemed to be perfect
ly stupe6ed; when he rushed down stairs with
the children he found the back door open; he
let Abram Huger in at the front door; he stated
Gn answer to question from the jury}
that there was some property coming to the
the children in case Of the death Of Mrs. Cal
der (mother of Mrs. Sarah +. Calder's hus-
band, and that he had applied to a lawyer to
learn something about the property; that he
and his daughter were on the best Of terms, as
she was with all the family; after the fire was
put out he found that the lamp under the bed
was the one he two hours before had put out
and placed upon his mantelpiece.
Mr.. John r. Prince testified: That on the
nigh. of the fire. about half-past o',lock. he
heard noise up stairs as If some one was
walking about; but after listening awhile at
tributed 1T to the horses in stable near by:
and rushed to her room: that he helped to ex-
| tlnguish the fire. and also tore the bur ling
clothes rom bis sister; that he found the
to pieces in his hand; he recognized it as a
lamp belonging to he house.
Mr. b: Wohikln. who lives next door, testi-
fed: That he was aroused by the screams OF
dre and aided in ext,nguiShlng it. .,s
Mr.. VIM. Rawlinski came to the assistance
Of the family, but knew nothing OF the origin
Of the fire. =
Yesterday, Abram Huger, colored, testified:
On the night OF the fire was sitting in my
room. which ls near MIR. Princes house. holdl
ing my baby; saw light and flames gushing
out of Mr.. Princes windows. and gave the
house; the gate was open and also the door at
the head OF the steps; I ran through them and
along the porch to the front door; it was
fastened; I pressed, against it and it sud
VAS opened from the inside I cannot say;
I saw the whole family coming down the
steps, Mr.. E. 9. Prince ahead with q baby
in his arms; the ladies', too, had children; the
about; Mrs. Calder was also crying out; Mr..
Prince SAID: 'sFOr Gods safe, come and help
us: there's fire up stairs; go up and put it out;
o ., up and saw d"or the ae then rush
to put out the FIRE with young MIR. Prince; in
front OF the door to the bedstead was on fire
and the bedstead too; appeared to me as if
some burning material was on the floor; after
thu fire was out went down stairs and helped
the burnt cnes; after awhile young MFR. Prince
asked me # wouldn's 20 up stairs and help
him wipe up the water and remove the burnt
bedding; went up with him. and after relaov-
ing the bedding noticed pretty good sized
pile. OF burnt cloth or hair or something Of the
kind; pulled it away and found q lamp with
out wick; as l picked it up fell to pieces; it
| there was clothing on the floor; both Mrs. Gal.
der's and Mr.. Princes room we're burning; the
bed was hush mp against the wall; the
| lamp was close agalust the walnscot-
ing, which had 9 great hole burnt in It.
Mrs. Sarah F. Calder sworn: On the nighs Of
] the fire was awakened by . light at the right
looked saw dark form STOPPING ct the side
OF the bod; screamed and the torm vanished:
| have two children now; all four Of my chill
| could not tell whether the form saw was Of
| white or colored person, male or female:
when saw the form it was about two O'Clock;
my ciothing did not catch fire at all, but was
| from the Il mes; as soon saw the fire rushed
lnto my fathers room; did not know that I
was burnt until got down stars; l had on no
sleeves; after giving the alarm I must have
tainted. as l do not recollect anything that oc-
CURED fos short while after. The lamp
found under t Q bed as the same one that nv
| father used. and the same one saw him put
out and place upon the mantelpieee when he