The New York herald., 1869-06-06
The ALLEGED ARSON CASE.

>>~~N>N>~~~~~~~-~~N>~~~~
Two More Arrests on Charge Of Firing the
Briggs Brothers' Stables i'm West Twenty-
Third Street-A Curious Amdavit and More
Curious Scene In Police Court-A Bank
President "a Confiding Bondsman-Interest-
ing Statement of One Of the Accused
Parties.
The mystery surrounding the burning OF the
Briggs Brothers stables, In West Twenty-third
street, on the 30th Of December last by which, IL
win be remembered considerable valuable property
besides some one hundred and thirty horses were
destroyed, isgradually having thrown around IL the
Illuminating power Of additional affidavits and new
arrests In addition TO the recent arrest OF John NJ
Briggs and Or. John p. Childon on charge OF beng
implicated In the firing OF the stables, Robert 1.
Briggs, another member OF the firm OF Briggs
Brothers, and Henry c. Ross were yesterday arrested
on the same charge, or rather the two latter on
charge Of being the principals in the alleged onense
The following is the afiidavt-which from the pecu-
liarity OF the case s OF sufcient interest 70 give
entlre-upon which the last named gentlemen were
arrested
% and c q y Man N SspY
working q the Astor House stables in Park street
.s ss s ss
C Briggs Bros knew him By the name o o. baa hsns
70, As
. bale s in. s ss ii
hay Of stable entrance Twenty foqrh.
= side nh: n:a a d.: $ stable on the
street; I left Briggs Broa' employ somewhere ,SS snr
:ssG. he e q TS Fin ssS
my ass
pay pa rs s s oRsr D's
a e. S
concluded 70 look out for another place; on the nsn,
December left my resdense somewhere between
and ten O'clock my brother Felix was with me; we
going my washer Al the Avenue stables;
ss,h avenue 10 rwsnyrourh street. went along twenty
fourth south side looked into Briggs stable
@ time Ss
s
Avenue stables put on my Iu66e commenced 70 Wash n "a
home. he was living with me At the time; then walked
ssSs s% s2nf rrs a
brother to hold on as wanted 70 get some Of the boys
street my brother followed stopped opposite 70 Erles
ton Motifs stable went in from, Of ssgs stable Looked
g. there Bob $ ssS Ss Of The ans
f
psd fs va: s high snSusd aasE ssoagd
s%as sixth % @ i then looked down into the
basement and saw great glare OF gas hight the Loose @ ea
up With fork Al this time d}d any and
% wsn nS : S%s
store lust long enough TO take drinks returned
S: @ sS r to
ing after informed that Briggs Brothers stable
sn P 0 " Ss . .S sas@
that occasion were Bob Brsg. and Hank
sfiss. Brothers hey fsgs :ssi; time
s o Ss p at the me the The
burned bodies Of The rin, By there
and no % one had seen the body shortly before is
ssss SsSes on: :TSSs In %
seen; saw Dr. sheldon his brother Briggs,
Of the STAN. and The burning match bale straw
did
Sworn to before me this 9Th day Of june sssJosEpH
Upon the above afIldavit warrant for the arrest
of the parties named therein was placed In the
The officer had no d1iculty In finding hts prisoners
and In bringing them before Justice Bowling at two
M Yesterday at ane nom6s @ a,, n pursuance esa OF
to the accused and they were asked what they had
to say to the charge They both said they were not
guilty and wished to give bail for their appearance
.Is any one here willing to 60 bail for you ~
81 propose TO become their ball. answered Mr.
Palmer, President OF the Broadway Bank, at the
me up w mi rSet Se o 1ne
~ shall require $4,000 bail for each OF them, >
answered the Judge.
'Is not that amount q little high 2" interroRatcd
Mr.. Palmer.
ooh, no; 1t is the same amount,n replied the
Judge, "I took yesterday for John w. Briggs. /
think It moderate bail for the enormlty OF the Of
fence They are charged with arson In the first de-
gree wcn b one o ae aGes1 crimes snown 70
away l intend to make you sweat for 1t, Mr..
Palmer"
"well, Judge, viii you permit me to ask these two
parties few questions first ~ further asked Mr..
Palmer.
MIN ~
~ ask you both II you are Innocent, as believe
you are, and VIII appear at court when called
uponS' Mr.. Palmer asked Of the prisoners
al am innocent,n each answered simultaneously,
''and will appear In court when called upon."
..rhen pll go 1t boldly, - exclaimed Mr.. Palmer.
Mr.. Palmer was examined az TO his responsibility,
and, declaring himself TO be the owner OF stock In
the Broadway Bank TO the value OF 100000, on
which there is not a dollar encumbrance, was ac-
cepled as bail. The prisoners then signed the bail
bonds as also did Mr.. Palmer and were then hber-
ated from custody.
fession, statement rather. OF William ?. sheldon,
the first person arrested. who Is still confined in the
Tombs This statement was taken yesterday In the
cell Of the prisoner and Ia az foows:-
again repeat and forth what have stated both be
fore and after the burning OF Briggs Brothers. stables had
sck at The time About three weeks before the rs Briggs
mean John Briggs proposed TO me TO rs bis stables and
him not his Tor that purpose. knew that Briggs
fore the re what Briggs to me sbou, firing the
stables ns &c % ei sss wa My sS. @ T. sSs
about what Brgg. had asked me TO DO A. that time
owing Mr.. Earle thirty dollars, borrowed money for which
he held my note. Al this Interview Nr. Eare gave
dollars. He said he would take care OF hat matter.
After the fire Briggs gave City dollars to
so to Boston TO procure gaIvanc battery. on
Thursday, the ilth of March ss, pas,, Briggs
gave me hfty dollars then suggested that should
20 into New jersey and remain there awhile Briggs
said, "Very well, and then 90 home' (meaning Ontario
county. Ono day when was sick Briggs my room
and accused Of telling something about burning the
bes Itod him had not said anything but the Truth AT
another time Briggs 10 and asted what had
told DR. Berkey said that Reynolds had spoken TO him
(Brggs) about 800 Job. The nert day met Reynolds
and said TO him why did he and tell Briggs that he owed
thousand dollars for certain job. declare that
the above set forth true, which willing
verify under oath Affirmation In any court OF justice
Wh. y. SHELDON.
Witnessed June B. 1852.
BENZ. T. CLAYTON.
The examination In this case, which promises TO
develop some very interesting and curious facts,
aud, from the high character OF the parties alleged
TO be implicated surpass IN interest any similar ex-
animation that been held In this city, Is set
down for ten A. NJ tomorrow. The arrests OF the
accused parties and development OF all the facts
thus far brought 10 light are due TO exFire Marshal