The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-03-05
pity us In our exeiusivenessP Part OF the
work Of the church Is to reach young men
and feed them socially.-Rsr. DR.. fo''isr.
The Ne.es.ryport Fires.

inr, particulars In regard 10 the investiga-
tlon. pursuit and srrest. which we copy
below: ..
1t became necessary to put an end to
the operations of the "Fire-Bug" before he
succeeded In comprising the destruction
of the entire city, involving In all proba.
bility, the loss Of many lives. The people
got restless and uneasy, and very natur-
ally blamed the mayor and city authori-
ties for not Kidding them Of the unknown
rascal who prowled about like q thief In
the night on his merciless mission. The
poor mayor was all the time doing the
best he knew how, but that was not much.
Rewards were offered, the total amount
reaching slO,5OO; but for all that no one
could get on the Bugs" track, and he
was likely to remain at large for ever.
The public demand for the arrest and con-
viction Of some one became so loud aud
angry that, In fortunate moment OF de-
spair, the mayor sent to Boston for the
most skilful detective in that city. Mr..
Moses Sargent, at one time chiet of the
Boston detective force, but now doing an
Independent private business, went to
Newbuyport and had consultation with
the mayor. The result was that the case
was placed in his hands, with instructions
to follow the incendiary to the ends of the
earth, II necessary, and regardless of ex-
pense.
Mr.. Sargent Immediately began to In
vestigate matters. He found that the fires
had been occurring at Interval for the last
seventeen years, but grew more frequent
within two years past. In 1861 suspicious
of an incendiary were aroused, and have
since remained unexplained. Everything
that could possibly throw light on the sub
ject was looked into, and every particle OF
evidence lying around loose was collected
but there were no connecting links! moth
Ing even TO fix suspicion on any partlcu-
lar person. Mr.. Sargent himself was Mt
sea for the time being, but did not long
remain there. Assuming name, he took
a private apartment and. with the aid OF
the mayor and Mr.. Colby, editor of the
Newburyport Herald, n vigilance COM
mittee was appointed. The city was then
divided into wards and the names OF all
the inhabitants taken. These were pre-
scented at the meetings Of the committee
and canvassed. Any name that could not
be vouched for by the committee was re-
served by Mr.. Sargent, who inquired into
the circumstances and character of the
owner thereof. This was tedious work,
hut finally had its reward. Hundreds Of
names were gone over and properly vouch-
ed tor. The name of Leonard Choate
was Mt length reached. He was vouched
for by every member Of the committee,
and, as he was the son of one Of the veal
thiest and most prominent citizens of the
city, ii was not supposed that he who was
largely interested in the welfare of the
place could be guilty Of attempting to de-
stroy IL. The committee was willing to
pass the name. but the detective made n
decided stand and declined to take up
any other while there was any doubt In
his mind as to the innocence of Choatc.
The issue proves that he was correct. 1t
was remembered thatthc house of Choate's
father was unaccountably burned In 1852;
that brother OF his oyer-workcd himself
Mt the fire, and, taking cold, died; and
that the origin of the fire was never salts
factorily explained.
The detective logged Choate and found
that he worked ut carpentcring, but,
strange to say, the windows of his work.
shop were always closely blinded, and
the doors locked. On examining the fire.
boxes that had been rescued from burn
ing buildings, and which were in possess
ion of the city marshal, II was found that
they bore certain marks that must have
been made by "nicked' tools. Sargent
secretly obtained admission to Choate's
workshop, and found tools corresponding
exactly to the marks In the boxes. This
was one link In the chain. The next was
also on hand. One of the boxes found
was wrapped in part of st. Paul Week.
" Press newspaper. IL was found March
n, 1868, around one Of the boxes placed
in church, one of two that were set fire
to that night. The next thing to do was
to find who in Newburyport subscribed
for the st. Paul Press.
Choate was never lost sight of until the
22d Of January last, when he left for Min
nesota. The facts and details Of the case
were laid before the Governor of Massa-
chusetts, and requlsltlon upon Governor
Marshall of Minnesota was obtained for
the delivery of Choate, and on Saturday
week last Mr.. Sargent and Mr.. VIM. Fits,
City Marshal OF Newburyport, left for st.
Paul to make the arrest. On reaching
there they went to the Press Office and
found that Leonard Choate was n subscib-
er TO that journal, and, what was strong
err evidence, that he was the only subscrib-
er In Newburyport. That done. the OIL
GERS waited upon the Governor and OBJ
tanned the necessary papers. They then
had n conference with Mr.. j. p. Mcllrath,
Chief of Police of st. Paul, and Mr.. ID. "A.
Day, Chief of the Minneapolis Police, the
result of which was that they made mp
their minds that the prisoner was about
fifty miles from ST. Paul, In Wright Coun-
~. The four officers started the same
aftcrnoo, m and, after dlllgent search and
many hours travelling, reached a log cab
In, where they stopped to light their cigars
and found the man they were after. He
did not know who they were, and went
out of the house to the well to get some
water, the officers accompanying him.
Mr.. Sargent commenced dialoguewth
him, rs follows:
Sargent-"well, my friend, you don't
look to me like western man."
Choate-'.I amt"
Saryent-"I should take you for a
Down-Easter."
Choate-'.I am, and haven't been out
here only four weeks"
Sargent-"wherc do you hail from@'
Choate-.'I am from Newburyport,n near
Boston,"
sargent-"what may call your name
sirs.,