New-York tribune., 1869-06-07
THE BURNING OF BmGGSS srIBlEs
TIE CHARGE OF ARSON AGAINST THE PROPRIE-
TOR-NEW DEVELOPMENTS.

TIE CHARGE OF ARSON AGAINST THE PROPRIE-
TOR-NEW DEVELOPMENTS.
This case, already very fully reported in the
columns of TIE TRIBUNE had additional interest lent
TO Saturday by the arrest Of another member Of the
rm Robert Briggs and the foreman OF the establish
meut Henry c. Ross the charge OF arson. The war
rant for the arrest Of these parties based upon the
following affidavit:
Ciiy and Comfy Of Neg York, ss-Jamcs McGonIsal.
present am working the Astor House stables ia Park
thrdst; was night watcher for them know Henry g.
Ross, foreman FOR Briggs Brosi we know him by the
and for about three years and during the whole time
never knew them 10 buy loose hay always used bale
Brggs's stables ! saw load Of loose hay standing In
front of the stable entrance on Twenty iourtst side
stable on Twentyiourth.st; l left Briggs BrOs'
employ somewhere about six weeks or two
fire I was working in tho Flfthaye. stables, in
Tweuty-sIxth-st, between seventh aud Eiglthayes.;
Just prlor 10 my leaving Briggs Bros, night Hank
Ross the foreman, said TO me, jim, II the stable gets on
fire tonight get out fathers horse r that be would
pay as well any other gentleman;" told him would;
ygife tNut II. felt afraid Something was going 10 han
pen concluded 70 look out for another place. the
night Of the burning of Briggs Bros stables tho 3Oth OF
ana 20 o'clock my brother Felix with me; took
a. ~ nv "t as washer M the Fiitayc st@e W.
walked down Twenty thirdst TO Sixthaye, up SXthayc
10 TwCnJy-fOurh-st, went along lWcntyfOuIthbt. on
basement rubbing horse the basement doors at this
time were closed could through the window; aud
nv brother went along Tweuty.fourthst 10 scyenth.
ave. up seyenthave. to TwentysIxthst 10 the Fifth.
a little on a COACH my brother having a lame foot
wanted 70 90 home he was living with at the time
then walked back with him along Twenty fourtl-st. to
Hig,nss liquor store, opposite TO Briggs Brothers sta
bes before going in told my brother 10 hold on as
wanted 70 get some Of the boys knew from Briggs's
stable 10 drink with went across the street my
brother followed he stopped opposite 20 Eglcston
Motifs stable went In front Of Brggs's stable looked
down 70 see II could see any OF the men knew just
a
ment, and Hank Ross. the foreman, right behind
him; not wishing them 10 see me stepped In the
doorway Of the first floor entrance aud stood there
in the shadow Of the door / heard Hank ROss
say 10 Bob, Tho light amt high enough" Bob re
Piled, at high enough 10 would take quick enough
along" Hank Ross then shut the door they both
walked away toward sxhaye.; then looked down into
the basement aud saw great glare Of gaslght; the
loose hay pulled up around the gasght Just you
would puff II up with FORK at tins time did not
any one / and my brother went into Higqnss took
drinks, and parted with him there he left for home
only remained In ggnbs store just long enough to
take the drinks returned back TO the Fithaye stables
Twentysxt-st had but just got back the stables
when heard the frebels ringing, and soon after
informed that Briggs Brothcrss stable was on fire
cannot DO mistaken TO the identity Of Bob Briggs and
Hank Ross knew them well, and when they came out
the faces OF bOth, and also knew their voices
am confident and sure that the two men saw that
occasion were Bob Briggs and Hank Ross /
further stated that during the time 1 worked for
Briggs Brothers they Kept COW In the stable and at the
time left COW was there; she was kept In the base
ment, alongside Of the manurep at the time Of the re-
mOva Of the burned bodies OF the horses from the ruins
was by there every day; asked If they had found the
remains OF COW, and no one had the body OF cow
shortly before left Briggs Brothers employ In the
dungpt at about IL o'clock night; In the dark
could not be DR. Sheldon and his brOther-in-
law, Briggs come down Dr. Sheldon struck a match
against the post Of OF the stalls and put the burning
match 70 bale OF straw, relnaring 10 Briggs, "That
would never dO" they both then walked away they did
not know was there. JAMES NJ GOSIGAL.
sworn to before me- this 4th day OF june 1862 Joseph
D0wling Police Justice.
When arraigned before Judge Bowling at the Tombs,
the prisoners denied their guilt and held each In
$4,000 bail their security being Mr. Francis Palmer, OF
the Broadway Bank Subsequently, Mr. Vim. u. Sheldon,
VINO u confined in the TOmDs on the charge OF being
concerned IN the burning Of the stables made the follow
again repeat and set forth what have stated both be
had been living at Mr. BrgggB house several weeks and
quite sick ut the time about three weeks before the
hre Briggs mean Jebn w Briggs proposed to mo TO fire
diS stables and lie wouldn't forget to give me $1,000
sd nun was not his for that purpose knew that
hSiggs was embarrassed In circumstances told two
persons before the fire wht Briggs had proposed to
s4t soy4t hrlnR the stables one M these men was my
SyIoAef S Gardner L. Sheldon; Htor the fire called op
B Sfie and Informed hiu about Whist Briggs had seked
tne ne 70 no; at that time 1 wss OWING Mr. Earlo
W. borrowed money, for which he held my
hO'e At his interview Mr.. Earle gave me 40;
ne saiu he would take care OF Dlat matter;
aI'eT ne hle Briggs gave me $40 10
~ " DVsYn 70 procure galyanic battery On "hurs-
dGy te ItH Ol march last past Briggs gave me fty fol
lara I9oTe lheh suggested that should then 20 int
New Jersey ah9 remain there for a while Brigcs said
Very BeL ana then 20 home" uneaning Outario conn
ty) One hay When was sick Briggs came to INV room
apd acepeea me oI te1ng something about burning the