, 1874-09-24
ARSON.
Trial Of hron Anderson In tho Crinl-
illal Court,
The Testimony for the Prosecution
All In.
Policy OF tho Dcfcnsc.


moflt charging lin With arson, began yeaterlny
morning in tho Csimunl Court, Judge Rogors
proaialng. Tho caao for tho prosecution waB
conducted by Stato'a Attorney Reed md Ills as-
eistant, afr. Lircl, while tito defendant WAS rep
resented by Leonard Bwctt, l1irnm N. Chase,
and J. 9. Crookor. Ihore woro prosons quito n
number Of spectators. including several 1adiea,
among tl.em tho prisoners wife and little girl
about yoara Of agc.
THE INDICTMENT
found By tho Grand Jury Mt tho July term
charges that AroD Anderson OIL tho Goth Of July
unlawfully wilfully, maliciollaly, and felon-
iouply did Rot fire to certain building, etc..
which eaid building was then nnl thoro used
rs and for q dwolling-houso, aud VAS thon mud
tloro tho property Of George L. Nfnll'ngor, with
tho intont then and thoro to doBtroy tllo gamo."
THE Juny.
The first step In tho proceedings was tho I'M
pnuoling Of tho jury. III examining tho jlrors
Nlr. Swott agkod eacll ono tho question whotlier,
In viow Of tho recent fires In Chicago, ho had
nny projudfccs on tic subject OF arson which
would 10 likely to warp his judgment III wo1gh-
lug tho oyilenco iii d trial Of this kind also
wlAc.hcr they Ind over bc0n burned out and II
70, had thoy any sreeinl prejudice against in-
ccudtarios; also, wlothor thoy had rcad tho
newspapers, and had formed my opinion also,
whether tlloy wore or lad bcon connected with
any insurance company. Tloro woro compara-
lively few challenges, poremptorY or for callso,
md tile jury, as finally agroed upon WAS as fol-
lows: Thomas Powell, K. r. Williams, Stoplon
Ilaco, O. A. Worcester, a. T. Wilcox, August
Daumant, Charles r. Race, J. G. Savage, 1ntnes
Pine, A. H. Urhon, 11osog Hook, ". 8. Swan.
SIDNEY =. WALKER
was tho first witness called by tue prosecution.
uo testified that 10 was Secretary Of tho Globe
Insurance Company, and that policy for 560U
WAS issued 10 Anderson, covering Lbs household
ftfnituTe.
Deputy snperntondont Of Police, II. 9.
Hickey, testified Tint llo had been police o1ll-
cor since 1854. Uo visited Andcrson'B promises
July 23, 1S74, i'll tho morning, nt No. 217 Port
ln,'tl ayonuc, formerly Duddan street; wont and
hole was found burned In tho floor hear bod
updor tho front Of tic building tho
basa boards. Ind boom taken away, evidently
q short time boforo; this was under the front
stops, aud from tncro person. would hnse to
crawl on all-fours to got Sbero tho fire was. 11o
snw some tracks leading to wioro tho candio WAS
placed. Anderson saa arrested the Bnme eTcn-
ing; he admitted that tho ovornlls, sleepors.
cont, aud hat, found under thcbnildiug, belonged
to him. ftrha clothes woro lnro exhibited. nnd
admitted By defendants counsel to belong to
C,.oss-e10mtucd 1y N". tS,ceN: Anderson
nlndo no denial that tho clothoH WorU bis. a
dingra,n Of tho promises was hero shown to tho
witncaB. md tho poation Of ailairs was explained
to tho jury.
Assistant Tro-AIarHlnl, testified tint llo Was
called to No. BIT Portland avenue on the oyon-
ms Of July 27, arriving there about 7Ao o'clock.
called to holo under tho building; also to d
candle, somo brown papcr, aud pine chips direct
ly below the hole burned through tho floor, aud
piled up against post.
roLsoE-sEnaEAsT DENNIS r1rzrArn1cK
toatiitcd that lo wont to tho building at 10
o'clock in tho morning. md found tho place
where tho 1src was; saw some paper, chips, aud
rubbish piled up against post. bosoW whore q
hole was burned In tho iloor. Ho arrested An
derson at Coruoll. Afterwards two officers wont
under tho house and paeHca 1ip Bomo kindling-
wood; u Doard with hole bored in 1t to hold
tho can1lo; portion Of letter writton by Au-
dcrson to lis wifo, the otlsor portion of which
waH found In n drawer up stairs; In tho wood
SHED u piece Of board was found, from which the
canalo-holacr Was split, also eo1ne kindling-wooa
corresponding to that under tho house.
Cross-exnMiaed ty 4Mr. Stcctt: lilo letter ms
signed 'Aron - it fitted TO thopnrt found under
tho house. Tho windows Of tho house were
about feet from tho ground, aud they could
nut hayo hoen entered Without first cutting or
breaking the blinds.
Q.--Conid not u man get in that housp ,7ithir.
i've seconds !? Al oxamiucdtho windows, mid
am satisfied q nun could lot got iu i'll ono mill
ute.
Q.-Cou3lnt. get in, With my long legs
A. i should think not; I couldn't cot III my
self.
mir. swctt-Wcl got In without any trouble,
Alr. Keel--Thia was afterwards; 1t Wns all
Axod for YOU to got iu easily.
could not open tho blinds from tho outside, aud
got in at tlo window. Al swear TINT | tried
It. at1d couldn't do it without brcaking tho Blinds
Tho insurance policy was found III d bureas,-
drawer in tho house; Anderson told mo whore
to find II. Tho lindling was piled up around the
been dug in tho ground for tho candle to 8ot iu.
To' Mr, Heed; in insurance agent made IN
estimate with mo OF tho ynfue Of Andersou'a
household furniture; it iliycntorled about ai90,
which was far moro than wot,ld llayo paid fol
To EEr. Swett: arreatol Anderson ak furni-
turo factory in Cornell where l,o rus at work
this is or 10 miles from tho city.
pdLtCE OFFICER JAMES BELL
testified that ho 'ront to Anleraon's house at s
o'clock on tho morning Of tho fire; found Tic
QUO In tlio lowor part Of tho hollso; tho blinds
aud doors 'soro all closed; got the key from Mrs
Tnlltnadge, who lived upstairs, and unlocked
the door; all tho doors wcro loclsod below; tc
got into where tho tirc ,was, ho had to pasf
through doorn. both locked; Witness c.awlbt
through tho breach that had been nado III tllt
boards an thu ontuilo. An outsider could uoi
have got through this hoto without first being
inside tho hogo. Sono limo was Brattorod
around tic ground under the house. The slip
pera amt oyornlts aud coat worc inarknd with tic
lin1e. Antlorson said lie l,nd worn tho oynrallf
Of. the sunday preceding tho fro. Ia tito afsor,
noon wltnoaa went undor tho I0uso and pAssot
up tho papor, rubbish, asd candlo-holdor.
Cross-cta'uined W Mr. !Stre9: Did not try tht
Windows, but they were all cloaod (; don't know
v1,at1,nr nr mt tliny ,Ynrb fnstnnr1 Tin el1t1et
were found in a closet Tho lour Of which wa'
open. Whom Anderson was arrested tho Ser
goant told him what 4o was charged with.
Q.-Dil Anderson admit or louy his guilt
A.-lIo Rail io know nothing about 1t. lie sait
ho had tho oyoras on On Sunday, but didn't eaJ
what ho wau doing at tito Limo.
Tho Court took recess Until O'Clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
GEORGE L. aIuLrlNdEN
testified TINT he mas tho owner Of the house oc
captol by Andoraon, who has lived thoro sinc