Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1870-04-28
MARKET HOUSE BURNT.
The Pelies Prison Destroyed,
and q Colored HAN Burnt with
IL.

Our people were aroused IRON
their beds, abont I O'Clock Thurs
day morning, by the startling cry Of
fire. 1t proved to be the Market.
house and the Police prison attach.
ed. In a short time the whole
structure was enveloped in flames
and rapidly destroyed. 1t was rain
ing at the time, as it had been doing
for three days previous, otherwise we
fear we should have to report the
destruction of many surrounding
buildings. AS it is. the loss in dol
lars and cents was not large, and
being the property of the city it is
notfelt III Gsa
But we have a much sadder re-
suit of the fire to report than the
mere loss of the property. That is
the loss of a human life. In the
west end of the Market-house was
the city prison. David Viney, a
colored man, was arrested for dis
orderly conduct and taken to the
lock up about II O'Clock. He was
the sole inmate Of the prison. He
was very drunk, and Marshal LANG
LEY prepared him a bed in one cor
ner Of the room, which Yiney i'm
mediately occupied. The Marshal
then started the fire in the CRATE,
locked the prison and left. After
the fire was over this man was found
lying as the Marshal left him, ex-
cept that he was dead and horribly
burned. 1t is probable that Yiney
never realized his perilous situation
that he never awoke after getting
asleep. The common and most
plausible theory is, that he was suf-
located by the smoke, and after
wards burnt. 1t is certain that the
FIRE did not originate in the prison,
rs those who first reached the scene
IF disaster say that there was no
Jign of fire in the prison at that
lime, although it was then breaking
.hrough the roof of the Market.
house, q few feet east of the wall
which divided the Market-house
from the prison. Had the parties
known that the prison contained an
innate, Viney could have been
'aved, but the prison showed no
Iigns of life, and of course they
udged that it was empty.
The fire was undoubtedly the |
york of an incendiary. All the
acts point in that direction. The
INVESTIGATION before the Coroner,
which commenced Thursday, point
d SO Enthusiastically in that drrec-
ion, that's warrant was issued for
he arrest of the supposed guilty
'arty, and the examination adjourn
d to Saturday. 1t was placed in
he hands of Police officer A. W.
and on Friday night
.olored man by the name Of Jesse
Warwick was arrested near Harris
,urg, in this county. He was
,rought before the Coroner on
and the examination was
The evidence showed
hat he was in the city the night of
he fire, had fight with Viney be-
ore the arrest of the latter, and
ubsequently made threats to take
lis life before morning. Other
acts were also developed, in the
curse of the investigation, which
onnected him with the burning,
nd the result was that he was held
Or trial.
AS usual in all such cases, the oc-
urrence has given rise to number
ess stories, most of which have no
oundation in truth. The fire and
is sad results are chargeable alone
o the incendiary,. whoever he may
'e, and as the matter is to undergo
judicial investigation, we should
wait the evidence in the case before
We make up our judgment.
-. GA ~ FEsF