New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-06-13
WORKING UP AN ARSON CASE
norman WHITNEY ACCUSED
TIE BIEEVILLE STREET FIRE
CREDIT TO METROPOLITAN DETECTIVES


locked up in the third precinct stationhouse
charged with the crime of arson. in setting
fire to his store on the tenth OF May. The
charge is made by detectives Jerry Dono
van and A. Pecora. This was rather
startling. as the prisoner has stood well toI
full twenty years in the estimation OF many
ci:izens He has also held responsible pos:
tisns in our city corporation, and his credi;
az a merchant was considered very sound
Little was said or done about the fire
until several days attes it occurred, al
though the loss was heavy. The stores de-
stroyed were No. 50, Norman Whitney; No.
60, L. Michaelis: No. g.. A. S. Kottwitz-all
furniture dealers on large scale. By
some chance suspicion was aroused, and
the belief gained ground that the fire was
the work Of an incendiary. Mr.. Iouennes,
fire warden for under .iters, began to
push an investigation, aud called on the
Metropolitan Police for assistance. This
was readily and quickly furnished. De
tectives Donovan and Pecora were de-
tailed. and Immediately began their labors.
Incident was piled on incident and compari-
sons silently made, for the case was kept
very secret as was necessary.
The officers, through some means, learned
that Whitney had for years been intimate
with a woman named Mrs. c. Baker. re
siding at No $40 Rampant street, and of
course she was interviewed. She proved a
willing witness, and Ou: OF her testimony
comes the downfall OF one NJ ans Veputa-
ton.
She stated that some time ago Whitney
had proposed to her to set fire to his store.
and furnished her with incendiary articles.
promising her large reward FOX the deed;
but hes testimony below will speak for
itself.
Mr.. Whitney's stock o: furniture was
insured for $4,000; $4,000 in the Imperial
office. London. and $4,000 in the Phoenix.
Brooklyn. New York. Immediately after
the ire. Mr. Dashiel. adiuster FOX both
offices. arrived here on the twelfth Of May
and saw Mr.. Whitney, the latter asserting
his loss amounted to over 81, 900. and was
sworn 10. However, some discrepancy aris-
ing, tue sum was decreased to Sl7 800. The
adjustee agreed to pay one-half that sum
in cash. the remainder later by an order
from New York. The cash was paid. and
Mr.. Whitney put it IN the Citizens Bank.
Before the draft arrived from New York
Mr.. Dashiei was advised not to pay the re-
mainier. and if possible to regain posses
-: h, y
ney. An inquiry disclosed the fact that the
money had been taken ou. of the bank. but
i, became known that Whitney had a tin
box ir the Germania National Bank. and
the box was legally seized. Previous to
this Whitney had made repeated requests
FOX the balance due him. but his requests
were not needed. On the ninth of May an
injunction was issued for the Superior Court
restraining Whitney from disposing Of his
property Mr. Dashie! demanded the re-.
turn o: tne money he had paid. Whitney
finally consented to return the $3.50, and
delivered it up.
On the tenth Of MAY an investigation was
quietly commenced before Justice OF the
Peace Laresche. and much evidence taken.
The evidence of Mrs. Baker is as follows:
Mrs. C. Baker sworn-l reside at No. $40 Rampant
street. about two years ago, IN 1871, Mr.. Whitney
cam. 10 my house and aske. me il I was to be
trusted: asked him how in what way; he said
never miad, III tell you that after have some
work for you to do, he said ana asked him what
the work was he told me there night
work and some walking to be done. Then asked
him couldn't lie tell Inc now, and he said no, come
up TO the store tomorrow evening at halfpast six
o'clock and he would wait for me; went up and
found him waiting Tor me, and said. here am.
He said, well, an glad you came; he stood up
straight before me and said what 90 you think
OF in general! l sad, I think you are
pretty good sort of fellow; he said that was all
SO had lately that he could hardly pay expenses;
that he was losing money every dav and that he
was pretty heavily insured, and there
he could trust except me; that from his long ac-
quaintance with me he knew he could depend
upon me; he then went p-stairs with me, and SAID
that he was going away to kentucky to his
brother, and that while he was away he wanted
TO set tiIe to the store and burn il up; he
showed me how was to do it; showed me the
sh.viugs and rubbish on the third floor which he
SAID could scatter around. throw varnish on and
set on fire he gave me then pound of candles,
and explained how I vas to experiment with
them, TO find out how much they
would burn in hour. He stated was
to dress in mans clothes and 90 in the
store as not to be noticed, some night after he
had gone. He gave me . key OF the front door
which would enable me to enter. and said he
would write me letter that would wait until
received that letter before burned the store. He
e Explained now | was to close the door after I
should set the fire, so as to make poleall against
the door and prevent the hremen from getting in
readily. He didn't want it half done, he wanted il
well done. He stated furthel that he was insured
SIX for one; that he was insured in foreign nsur-
aucs company for $4,000. He promised that if
would do this and get through with it safely he
would take good care of me the balance of my life
that co uld sither live in his house anywhere I
wished.
On the Sunday before ne left the ci.v ne got me
ia ha stp md shn nyyaIy a
again how TO sat the fire he gave me a lot of cid
linen for my own use, and aid he would have
he was afraid il m sh; create suspicion and fern a
connecting link. He was careful to show me how
{" lei down trap door SD that the light would not
show through the windows
When lie wss away he wrote me- the following
letters
vIKsr LE-rRE.
Ma.. BAKsR-rou vii! carey OF: the plan as
agreed upp0n and be sure .ha. nothing is omitted
to make il compieat abousht the 20 TO 25 of this
-destrOy 1ai. after Ieadlng it aud
pbiige J. BENSON
ITh. above letter was pos:narked at CINCINNATI
dated August D. 1851. and addressed 70 Mrs. C.
Baker, No. $40 Rampant street.
SECOND LETTER.
Ars &. Baker, No. so Rampar. street:
BuRa.r Hor.sl
Cincinnati. August %, 1871
Mr.. EaH.s-Yon wal: unit. you see ME befor
rOu do any thing as have changed nv place since
last write YOU shall bs il New orleans in
Jew days. ). BENSON.
This lettey was postmarked Lexin gtOn. Ken.
uck. date: August %, and add dressed to Mrs c,
Baker No SO Rampant street. II has been ascer-
aimed beyond q persdvenfure that Mr.. Whitney
was at Cincinnati and Lexington or the dates
shove mentioned and there is striking similarity
a the handwriting Several parties have recoS
lized the handwriting as that OF Mr.. Whitney
always pretended to be willing to DO as he
wished, but was never ready.
He returned, think about the middle Of Sep.
ember. 1871, and came to see me, and when |
S sked him WHY he wrote the second letter he said
ie had changed his mi and had to study over
lis insurance policy. told him thought he had
written it because he thought l had burned the
tore or either that woHld not do it,
Every time his insurance would be due ne would
ome and see and talk about burning the store.
hat Va 1>x..