New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-04-27
local Intelligence.

-..#I
ocaL Intelligence.
3aAsS Assp EaSs ---s-e-s-
!. ~ u lo o. THE 6rEAMB0Ar BELLE OF
His boat vas burned between the
16l{4 of sthree and four o'clock, on
moxling Of the twenty-eighth Of
garek acolonel Badger, Superintendent OF
p1li1s, dstniled Special Officer Robert Harris
Il iavessixste the case Harris proceeded!
u NJ wreck, which was lying at the head Of
Washington street. He learned from par
tics not employed ON the. boat that there
Wege, only, two men on board Ut the boat at
: tbs time abe took fire; these were the mate,
Jsssph Nixon, and . man, named John Stan
tod. who was watchman and on duty at the
time ~ the burning. twas reported that
fhs mate, Nixon, said the Waterman had
eone. to aleep, and was ssleep when Nixon
rushed down stairs and had barely time to
txvS himself, and had to kick the watchman
tVB Or three times before he could
awaken him.. Harris went in search of
The. mate, Nixon, and found him on
thes 1svee near the Chattanooga Railroad
dspoe Harris approached Nixon and rep
x6sented himself 80 river man. He con-
ffSStlated Nixon on lis escape from burn
iae, up, With The boat; when Nixon replied,
yea he had . narrow escape, that the DID
wabchma4 lad gone to sleep and would have
been burned up, had he, Nixonpnot walked
I'm up. Harris left Nixon and went in
4esfch Of the Waterman, John Stanton; he
alsa apprQached him in tho character of
sixx ns1 and questioned him very closely
49, Ahis carelesaness in going to sleep
~ u watch and in charge Of a steamboat.
The watchpan, who is . very intelligent
eslorsd man, positively denied having closed
aneye that night, and gave very clear
- Satisfactory statement to the detective,
whose whole suspicion was now directed to
Nxon.:
IL Wa known that Nixon did not have<a
AelIax before tho morning the boat was
burned, and after she was burned he was
seen spending money very freely. Detect
116Harris kept close ON his tracks to see
that h did mot leave the city. A man was
seat to Captain Bruner, Of the Belle of
Alton, to inquire for Nixon, the mate.
Captn Bruner positively Gid Nixon had
fpns, % ST Louia That was said on the
StgAth ofs April, and on the ninth of April
Captain Brnner and Joseph Nixon were
500 taking near the Chattanooga railroad
depot. The captain handed Nixon q roll of
bills. The next day an affidavit was made
against Nixon, charging him with the burning
81 tia boat. The next day the strong hand
Of Detective J. L. Smith was laid ON the
xh0ulder Of Nixon, and warrant shown
him f6f his arrest.
Nixon had only been under arrest q short
4imewhe1k he requested to be brought be-
fore the Superintendent of Police, that he
desired - mako . clear and voluntary
atatement Of the whole facts in connection
with the burning OF the steamer Belle of
Alton. He stated that William Marsh, an
engineer, and said he was part owner Of the
U06f.s approached him. and said II
wiish thissboat was burned up; she is eating
6etsslf mp, and have some money in her,
46dsh y the only way / can get it,
Qapeh asked Nixon to do the work, stating
that the old man, meaning the Captain,
Mants it dome and 20 does the rest Of them,
meaning the otbcrowners. Nixon declined,
saying that was iobhe did not like, that he
bod better get somebody else. Marsh re-
Piled no, that he had known Nixon many
years and had full confidence in him, and
tllst ne would pay him $500 as soon as the
work was done. Nixon agreed.
u The next day the captain had his effects
9loSed OF the boat, and the next day the
books were carried ashore out of the steam
beet Office. Then Mr.. Marsh said to Nixon:
<tIset hsssge tonight" That night, between
3hfee and four "A. NJ, Nixon set the boat on
fre abaft Of the ladies' cabin. The fire
spread rapidly. Nixon ran to the texas to
got some clothing. Then he ran and got
bucket and throw some water on the fire,
to mako aShow IS If trying to put out the
fire. He th6n went down stairs, where he
mot the vatchnsn, who, he says, was
awake and ON duty. The next morning, at
ten O'Clock, the captain visited the wreck
Of the boat, and said, " She is gone, is she
Where did she catch I" After making these
scenarios he walked Of. The next day
Marsh gave Nixon one hundred dollars,
ard told hin he would give him the other
two hundred very soon; but Marsh went off
To- St. Louis; Detective Smith followed
March to St. Louis, and arrested him. Cap
tain Bruner made fast time to st. Louis
also. He was there time enough to have
= tbt4rview with Marsh as soon as Marsh
MAS harvested.
4s