Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-06-07

HE BURNING OF AYER-ARREsT OF THE In
CENDIARIEs-Ihe community of Aver is great
ly exercised by the arrest of Samuel Reed and
L. b. futile, alleged ncendiares of the fire on
the 18th oil April which resulted in the destrue-
u0n OF quarter of Il million dollars worth of
property, rendered some twenty-five families
homeless, and destroyed forty buildings of this
once prosperous town, This eOnfagIation fol-
lowed SO closely upon other fires that the Gill
zens demanded an investigation Consequently
ON the complaint of Constable Pembroke y
Rich, u fire inquest was called and James a
Parker, Orrn M. Bennett, Samuel Longley of
Shirley, Luther Prescott of Westord, and vii
lard Iorrey OF GrOtol composed the iurv com
mencug the inquest on the goth OF The same
month The sessions of the Jury have been
long aud secret, sitting fourteen DAYS and ex-
aiming itty-nine witnesses The regult is a
verdict That the fire was caused by design. SET
III the building OF samuel Reed on Main Street
that Lew b. futile is either guilty OF setting
the fre or being accessory to the act; that five
out Of SIX OF the jurors certify that Samuel
Reed is also guilty as principal or accessory to
the incendiary." W
In accordance with the instructions both par>
ties were arrested and taken before Trial Jnstice
Samuel W, Rowe OF GrotOn. A postponemeut
was asked for and granted until the 18Th inst
Reed recognized in the sum Of $40 600 for fur
Their appearance. Some of the best nltiaens arc
keed Dondsmen, At this time ii is impossihle
10 learn tho defence TO the charge. beyond n opn-
eral denial. The jury have been most tboronob
ana thelr mass of testimony will ure,ent a
speedy termination Of the affair. First. thew
ma tlie origin Of the fire incendiary, and have
abundance OF testimony supporting il. showing
tnat an explosion took place which shattered
MihuoWs III adjacent buildings; that il was Of
inc nature oil one caused by turpentine. Tbev
Slai ~ eAcesslYe insurance as the inducements
ttee9 hlHilg on buildings and fixtures S4600 in
tne Ieopie insurance company of Worcester
tile N0rtn American of Philadelphia, the Enuit,
my pba. VI IfoYlqe9ce and the Union of BANGOR.
stoel f u; ha9 Sl2OO on his furniture aud
StocA III Inc Union and Merchants of proyi
uence. This is estimated at double their loss
aug lhe agents at Fitchburg refuse to settle.
INC jury consider the testimony on each noint
very strong, but details will not he nuhlished
untll the trial. Tho investigation has been sueh
mat IL VIII he impossible for either marty to
PROVE IN aIlDl and the network of circumstances
nrisod 1' -, ehtahgles them, Many are sur
ptlseu W tue result, and great symnathy is mani
rested toward their families. futile has Mean
III inc town three or four years, ia thlrty-three
| years OF age has wife but no children and
nas owned furniture mandatory in Reeds
nuiiulhg' financially and socially he stood
well keed IS one of the prOprietors of the
1 1 nouSei liaS VINE, and she two children
| OIL age, and has been for 0ng time n resident
~ aver; aust Just prior 10 the fire he attempted 10
| notFoW sdOuh, saying he must have H. II IL in
Tue testimony that he had used threats or a
character not to help his case, but that was soma
| tlhle since after seizure had been made nj his
iotc' ny Mr. KEN Several Of the previous fires
nefe originated in buildings owned and nccn
pied by Reed. One known as Worcesters hotoi
anolher A. tho hotel in Merchants row. in July
| leto, are me principal ones. The records of ia
| inquest VIII he deposited tha week with liza
eieih OIL inc MddleaeN superior court