The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-12
COURT or GENERAL SeSslOls.

Alleged ArsOn-A Question Raised ms 10 tho
Validity Of the lndictment-Judso Bedford
10 Render Hi0 Decision To-day.
Before Cunning s. Bedford, City Judge.
the trial OF Anthony o. JONES' Jointly indicted
with William Ceski for the alleged wilful firing oil
the house situated at I'll East Sixty street.
February last was resumed In this Court yesterday
morning
Ursula Cieski the wife OF the codefendant, was
TONED the various places where she and her husband
lived, and stated that while they were living in
Clinton street their furniture upon which
there was an insurance OF $500, was burned;
and when living In Elizabeth street. N. Y, and
up The money was Collected upon th ms 9nree
insurance policies Jones, the prisoner, accompany
ing ner husband every time when ne went 70 collect
money; the defendant would say that her husband
was greenhorn and did not understand business
aeS Sc asr tine nancy s Tas received lone, would
ana an ner family were going TO Haverstraw on the
Mary CiesKi, the daughter of the previous Witness
testified 10 seeing Jones at their house In Sixty
second street some time before the fire, and saw
into a Key hole; she also swore that when IN the
prisoners house alter returning from Haverstraw,
told vsss and her II family they to n thas they
were In his house he would kill them.
was entered BY the District Attorney. testied TO
knowing Jones, VINO accompanied MS wife on the
btn Oh JANUARY Wnen Sne Obtained pOllcV OF lnSur-
ance from an agent OF the star Insurance Company;
the witness told Jones that he did not want to take
out policy but the prisoner said he (the witness)
must take one out; while Cteskt was at jones'
house, which proved by certain circumstances to be
the morning after the attempt 10 fire the place
discovered, he asked him (the witness), ado you
know anything bad about your house p" the wit
ness SAID that Jones remarked to him that he
wanted him to burn him out and make money by 1t,
whereapon CiesKt replied, "DO not do II; you are
tnlel.b
In reply to question put by the counsel for the
prisoner Us to what coun: OF the Indictment the
District Attorney proposed TO ask q conviction upon,
that officer replied that he would abandon the
Charge OF arson In the first degree and go TO the
jury upon the count charging Jones with an intent
10 delraud the star Fire Insurance Company, when
would make 1t arson In the third degree.
Counsel then asked the Court to direct the Jury
to acqut, upon the ground that the prosecution
Jailed 10 show that there was any valid existing
policy OF Insurance upon the property IN question.
dscurslve argument followed, after which, Judge
Bedford said he would adjourn Tor the day as TO
examine the decisions and rule upon the point after
mature elaboration.
The Alleged Female Hla chmuiler.
bench warrant having been issued this week for
the arrest OF Emma Couch, indicted for writing
blackmailing letters to clergyman she was brought
into court yesterday afternoon by the officer who
arrested her. On motion OF District Attorney Sulli-
van she was committed TO the TOmbS. The accused
pleaded not gully when arralgned by the Clerk,
ana stated that f. Delaled Smith was ner counsel.