New-York tribune., 1874-01-29
THE COURTS.
INCENDIARIES PUNISHED.
AN EXTRAORDINARY VERDICT IN AN ARSON CAsR-


IMPRISONMENT FOR LIFE.
William DrOswell, jointly indicted with Ed
ward Madlinger for arson, was tried In the Generai
Sessons yesterday before Judge Sutherland Assistant
Attorney Rollins appearing for tho people and
John c. Mott for the prisoner Tue case occupied tho
entire day and by the evdencen 1t disclosed that the
prisoner Droswell and his partner. Madnger rented
apartments Of Mrs. Helen Courtney at No. GO East
Twelfth-st. for business purposes a. tailOrs. The
prisoner occupied the front paro and tho remainder
of the house tensnted as q residence IL appeared
that on the night 2 the prisoner and his partner
left the at and during the night following
an inmate OF the house. Alice G. Barnswell. was
awakened when almost stned by smoke which proceeded
from tho apartments occupied by the tailors On going
to the street she discovered that contrary 70
custom the curtains OF tho front WINDOWS
were lowered, and she subsequently called
policeman who forced open the front door and gave an
alarm. The smell Of turpentne had been noticed IN the
house during tho day. and after the fire was extngushed
articles OF ncendary nature wero discovered In df
foren parts OF the such portions OF burnt cloh
that had evidently saturated with turpentine and
benzne, fragments OF candles prepared to burn
slowly with several boxes OF matches. That the pris
and his partner left the house at p NJ with the
keys clearly shown and 1t was evident that no one
else could have Obtained to these apartments
although the fire not discovered until after II p m
There evidence that either OF the taors visited
the house during the interval.
The trial begun at the nstigaton Of Fire Marshal
Sheldon and the indictment contained three counts
charging the prisoner with in the first, second
and third degrees, respectively The prosecution, how
ever claimed q conviction only On the first and third
counts-ether the wilful setting fire to and the burn
ing In the night OF building inhabited as resi-
dence or else the attempt to prejudice an insurance
company with intent to defraud twas shown that the
taors were insured the German American Insurance
Company of this city for 5000, while the value OF tne
stock and fixtures IN me store before ,ne nre, as %
Gated by "A subsequent estimate could not have Deeh
more than 800 or $500. motive was shown In Dros-
wells nf syt before the FireM Marshal that his losses
were between 1920 and $500 The testimony on wncn
the prosecution claimed n conviction was chieny the
aidayits OF the accused made before the FIredrsha
and the defeUse OFT red no testimony e8cept
few to prove the previous good Character Oh
the prisoner. Mr. Mott asked the jury for enency IN
their finding rather than an acquti me i ,
torney was brief but to the point IN ms argd M
charge The principal point oI he delese, ~hiG Gu h me
for the prisoner asked ~ be Incorporated In te
only person alleged in the indictment to have been Nv
ing the house. must have been absent wheh the hrH
was kndled, though present &C the burning the Jury
could not lind verdict the first count Judge SUN
erland refused to charge this and the jury whlch re-
tired about o'clock, returned with Vcrdct Oh
arson the first degree, ana DrosWe was 9euehVeo !"
Imprisonment for lie.
AN ExTRADfTIOS CASE.
Assistant District Attorney Allen will loave this city
tonight for Montreal to appear tomorrow IN the Court
Queens Bench there in the exradtion case OF Rosen
baum. Roseubaun the partner OF Aaron Harris
They kept cigar at No. 10 Hesterst which they
set on fire on the evening OF Sept order to obtain
the Of $1,000 Harris arrested and Rosen
T. tried Dec. and found guilty and sentenced on
Dec. imprisonment IN the State Prison at sing sing
for 10 years About week It was discovered that
RosenDaum was Canada. Papers for his extradltiOn
were immediately sent. and upon them the ponce OF
ings transfer to this city has been discovered
and calls tor Mr. Aliens presence IN Canada.