New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-12-17

INSURANCE vs. ARsoN-Ttro Ladies Ac
c,tsed On the night of the twenty-Iourth al
November the fine dwelling house No. 23}e
Magazine street, between Melpomene and
Terpsichore streets. was found to be Oh fire
When officers and fireman went to the res
cue, no person was found on the premises
and the first men who entered declare that
they distinctly saw that such preparations
had been made as to convince them that
the flames had been started by an incen-
diary. The dwelling was owned and occu
pied by Misses Eliza and Emma Dixon,
who have an excellant position in good so
oiety The house was badly damaged, and
there were signs that fire had been started
in two or more places. There has been an
Informal investigation before Justice La
resche, which brought out columns Of testi-
mony. and as it is problb that the same
will be repeated before Justice Gernon
before many days we give portion:
Miss Eliza DiXOn's declaration was to the
effect that, having intended to repair to her
plantation at Shreveport, she determined
to give up her house in the city. Her ser
wants, two in number left her on the day
of the twenty-fourth of November. and she
and her sister concluded upon staying at the
house of their friend, G. W SeEtell, corner
of Second ard Chestnut streets IS they in
tended leaving for Shreveport the next day.
They left the house at eight o'clock in the
evening. in Company with Messrs. Barstow
and K. Mcdowell, and at the time of their
leaving there was no fire in the house.
They locked up the doors and placed Oil
cloths behind. Previous to this they had
their trunks removed, together with furnl-
ture belonging to their married sister, Mrs.
Pillow to the House of G )od Shepherd.
She had purchased some pine wood during
the dav of the twenty fourth In Septem-
Der her house was insured for 5000 in the
Lafayette Insurance Company.
Mr. Robert Mcdowell, who is agent for
the Misses Dixon, said that he and Mr..
Barstow accompanied the ladies from
their house, at eight in the evening, to 60
to Mr. Sentel's. In leaving the house, he
locked the door and put the key in his
pocket, but when they had gone short
distance, Miss Emma asked him for the
key, as she had forgotten something. He
gave it and she went back alone, returning
in few minutes. aud giving him the key,
which he put in his pocket, where he kept
it.
On discovering that the fire was at Mrs.
Dixon's house, he went there and saw
hole burned under the stairs IN the hall
way, where wood had been placed.
He said that the house ana furniture had
been insured for $25 900. and that the Misses
Dixon would have been greatly benefited
by the fire, as they had a mortgage of $l0,
900 and owed him as much more.
Mr.. W. L. BarstOw testified that he ac-
cOmpanied the ladies when they left the
house with Mr.. Mcdowell, and corrobo-
rated the fact of one of the ladies going
back to the house alone. He said they then
went to Mrs. Barker's, where they remained
for some time, when thew repaired to a res
taurant for oysters. While in the restau-
rant the alarm sounded for fire. and upon |
inquiry from the restaurateur, learned that |
the fire was in the direction of Camp street. |
Subsequent inquiry, however, developed |
the actual place of the fire, and he then re- |
turned with the ladies to Mr.. Sentells, |
while Mr. Mcdowell went to the fire. In |
every respect he corrooorated the previous |
witness testimony.
The evidence Of Mr.. George Mather was |
to the effect that he entered the house on |
the night of the fire. and found bottle |
containing alcohol on the floor. This was |
By second witness, Mr.. M. S. |
Brin gier, who further stated that there was |
a fire under the stairway aud the centre |
table; that there was no connection between |
these two fires, and evidently they were in !
dependent ones.
Mr.. John Bane entered the house during |
the progress OF the fire, and underneath the |
sofa he found quantity of pine wood and |
bottle Of oil or spirits. Pine was also under |
meath the hall steps and the centre table.