The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-18
The AVENUE A ARSON CASE.

The Testimony OF the Witnesses--0Be OF the
Prisoners DisclyirRed-The Other Held TO
Answer-The Evidence for the Defence Very
Conflicting.
1t win be remembered that on Sunday night last a
nre was discovered in small dry goods store on
avenue A, between Eleventh and Twelfth streets,
and that, owing TO suspicious circumstances two
brothers, named Philip and julius Knopf, were ar.
rested on charge Of having fred the premises
The men were taken before Justice Mansfield, at the
Essex Market Police Court, and by him committed
TO JAIL IN order TO give. Fire Marshal Brackett an
opportunity TO work up the case. A young lawyer
undertook the Defence aud had certiorasa issued
py Judge Clerke, returnable before Judge Cardozo
on Wednesday last, requiring Justice Mansfield TO
show why the prisoners were held. Judge Cardoz0
dismissed the writ on the statement OF the Fire Mar.
shal that his testimony would be ready on Saturday.
According TO his promise the Fire Marshal
appeared at Essex Market Police Court
yesterday and announced his readiness to
proceed with the hearing. Before any affidayits
were put in he asked that Philip Knopf might
be discharged, as the evidence did not connect him
in any way with the alleged arson. This prisoner
was at once discharged, and the following andavlts
were made in the case:---
TESTIMONY OF OFFICER GOULD.
am an officer OF the seventeenth precinct police;
was on post avenue at time OF the fire at No. $50
avenue A; stood at the corner of Eleventh street
and heard the cry Of fire; broke in the door with
the AID OF citizens and tired put the fire. after
the are was down looked around and saw that the
nre appeared to have started in dry goods box
the partition aud at the end OF the coInter the
door between the store and back room
was locked and no Key in 1t; Inc
was also locked and had no key IN IT. kicked open
both these DOORS in the back room found bed
the hoor; In the bedroom between the store and the
back room was another bed; Kerosene mad been
spilled Oh it, IL was quite wet found small TIN fUll
oil Kerosene on the mantel in the back room; there
was a piece Of candle there aiso and two sorts OF
patches kerosene had also been spilled the par
tltion Just where the fire occurred and also the
opposite side by order OF sergeant Mckinney / re-
NAMED at the place, and the mother, daughter and
two sons Knopf came TO the store from the dlrec-
ton OF Eleventh street. up avenue A: the two sons
were Phllp and Louis; l arrested Phiiip, and then
went TO Essex street and arrested julius KnOpf;
there ls gas IN the store; did not notice gas burn
ing IN the store after 1t was closed.
TESTIMONY or OFFICER MILLER.
Harvey Miller, being duly sworn, deposes and
says:-I am police oficer attached to the Office OF
OF The Metropolitan Fire Marshal; was on duty on
Sunday night last; attended the Are at $50 avenue
A; the fire was extinguished when arrived there,
ABOUT half-past twelve O'Clock r. NJ; as soon as [
entered the store smelt Kerosene very distinctly;
on examination ! found kerosene had been split
partition beside the bed and there was also kero-
sene split the other side Of the partition, IN the
store, between the shelves and near the door
leading to the bedroom: this was In the
immediate vicinity or where The fire originated;
The partition and beds were wet with kerosene
put 10Y hand on II and srnet IL.
TESTIMONY or OSCAR HOGAN.
Oscar Hogan, being duly sworn deposes and says
that he hves at 27s Grand street; I know Julius
knopI saw hun on Friday, 1Oth inst at Essex
Market Court; had conversation with MIN; he
stated TO that he had something IN view whereby
he expected TO make at least s20O few days Just
as easily as hs brother Caspar made in the last
week or two, Uut In another way he told me- further
| that he wanted my assistance and desired me TO
meet biIn by the synagogue in Riyngton street be-
tween ten anu eleven A. NJ next day; lie was about
informing me as to the nature OF tine service lie re-
CURED OF me, but as refused to swear not TO d.
vuge tue same, he said he would wait until SaLnr.
DAY morning, when he would furnish me win the
! particulars.
! TESTIMONY or HERMAN SIMON.
Herman Simon, being duly sworn, deposes ana
says live at No. 2l4 seventh street, Know Julius
| knopf; have known him three years; saw him last
FRIDAY afternoon about four O'Clock Ia Essex street
| between Broome and Delaney streets. and he told
! me could make some money! said would ike to
| make some, and he SAID i conld make fifty dollars
! with one match; taat II I would meet him at romp-
klns square on Saturday night he would show me
where 10 20; tDat would ma box with shaylnRs
| all liked, and some other boxes around there, anu
all | woulo have TO do would no to light the match
he asked Rie IL was acquainted In avenue A, near
Eleventh sireet, and said no; and he SAID that the
place was in that vicinity; ! asked him, sis Is 81
| tenement housep' and he said yes" told Dm
| had done good many things for HIM, but
| would not do such thlng; ami tnen
he asked me 70 say nothing about It: the place where
I
SIDE; IL was W be 10 the evening; he did not men
! ton tie houG; did not zee INN again until since
! his arrest; JHiius knopf once before arrested
and taken 10 The United States Court ON charge OF
Hauduent transactions az a cigar dealer; his brother
| ran away about two weeks ago with stOcs Of dry
goods WA.ch he had In i,s store on Third avenue
TESTIMONY or BERNARD AROSsoN.
Bernard ArOnsOn, being duly sworn deposed and
snid:-i was at kBOpfs house last evening; he Is my
half SISTERS chid; went there to get ten dollars
| which knOpi owes me lOr shirts there was no one
| there bat julius hnopt, don't know where Hrscn
! was: ! was there from eIgnt 70 eleven z. NJ; he
| wanted me 10 wat tia his vie came home.
TESTIMONY pF rltE PRISONER
Juliu- kDpl testlheu;-i i've Mt 95 Essex street
/ and an peder 10y occupation; VAS home at inv
house sunday night aud went TO bed about eleven
o'c'ock. ! did not get up again until the onlcer
caued me; ne i0ld me 10 20 along with him: that i
~ know; my lather Keeps asiore at 1850 avenue A
me officer TOOK me along and when he rot me 10
Tue hrc 10 nave me dentifed was identified by
! anybody; have not been good terms With my
tatl!er. RatO mia money aud board when he first
came 10 liis country ana ne hi. not paid me: I
nave no kn0A ledge OF Ine origin of the are az nv
1atlicf's store aud Know nothing OF the value OF
the stock IN me store
IN aud0On 10 inns testimony several members of
She hB0pi family were examined, hut tnelr evidence
was very conflicting, aud did not Introduce ANYTHING
new. nIrscD knop, the iatlier OF tao prisoner and
The proprietor OF The store, deposed that his stock
in the store was worth $1,000 Whine Mr.. Dreschsel.
The appraiser, who made an inventory OF the goods
acIualiy the premises the total valns only
amounted To 500 no The premises in
surcd Tor $4,000.
buer the testimony vac IN the prisoner gave bal