The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-13
THE BROOKLYN INCENDIaRIES.
Burning Dwellings for RObbery-The
Accused Held for tho Action Of the
Grand jury,

Burning Dwellings for RObbery-Ths
Accused Held for tho Action OF the
Grand Jury.
Last week, as published in the HERALD, David
Dowd end Eugene Small, two young men nineteen
years OF age, were arrested on a charge OF arson
they having burned several dwellings in the Eigh
teenth and Twentieth wards AS soon as the &C.
cused were arrested they were taken before the
Chief Of Police and made a partial confession OF
their acts. Yesterday the prisoners were ar.
raigned before Justice Riley for examination.
Uriah Ellis testified that on the night of the 4th
OF November last portion Of his premises, 16 Dod-
worth street. was burned; knew the prisoner,
but did not see him before the fire. but saw him at
the fire.
Jacob MUIR testified that two young men came to
his place and procured some Matches and in fifteen
minutes after he saw Mr.. Ellis place on fire; he
could not identify the accused.
Sergeant Campbell testined-Am sergeant OF the
Fourth precinct police l ordered the detention OF
Dowd in the station house, and from Information
received, made the complaint against him took
him before the Chief OF Police and Dowd was there
questioned in relation to the fire at IS Dodworth
street. and he finally admitted that he was there
present with Eugene Small, and assisted in firing
the place; he declined to go into the details OF the
affair; he first denied all knowledge OF the fire.
Eugene Small, one Of the prisoners, testified that
he and Dowd set fire to the barn OF Mr.. Ellis; he
went to Murrs store and got the matches and
Dowd crawed up to the loft and set the place on
fire; they then ran up to Bushwick avenue but re-
started for home Dowd said the next time they set
place on fire he would have the places planned
out; there were some houses, he said, on Lafayette
avenue which they could burn; one OF the houses
was burned few weeks after, but witness was
home and in bed the night of the fire; met Dowd
the next morning and ne said ne burned the
house and described how 1t was done; he also
acknowledged having set fire to several other
places.
Irwin Smith testihed-Live in De Kalb avenue,
just above the stables; am acquainted with Dowd !;
have known him about eight years; Dowd told me
alter the fire that he and Small set place on fire
he told me that be climbed up into the hayoft set
the place on fire, ran around the block and then
went back to help get the horses out; he did not
tell me anything about any other fire Dowd asked
me to 60 with him to burn buildings he asked me
about six weeks ago; he said he wanted to burn
buildings Tor q ''spec.n CrOss-examined-Had a
conversation with him about the stable fire In front
of Smas door; stole pin from Dowd and Small
and pawned 1t; was arrested and pleaded guilty
20 the charges Small was arrested on account OF
the pin; Small and myself are in the same cell in
the jail; we have not had any conversation to-
gether about this case; we were In cell No. 8: a
man named Mccormick was in the same cell with
US; he was taken out to-day; Small never said to
me, "We'l put this on Dowd and get clear our
selves"
Justice Riley held the accused to await the action
OF the Grand Jury.