The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-27
THE sinner FIRE.


Fourth Days Proceedings At tho In
quest-The Mystery still UnsOived-
Arrest OF the Discharged CO0k-Ex-
PLANTATION of the Butler.
Yesterday was the fourth day of the Stiner in
quest. Though a large amount OF technical evil
dence has been taken, the mystery as to the cause
OF the hre still remains 1t has been alleged very
strongly That there was some defect in the ues OF
the Stiner dwelling, and 1t probable that tire
jury will finally discover the truth.
THE INQUEST.
Below will be 1ound summary Of the evidence
before Coroner Kesser. The testimony of MISS
Arndt and Mr.. Atkinson, although very conflicting,
Is nevertheless interesting and opens up a new
theory of the cause OF the fire.
MIR. Norman Mcclellan, carpenter and builder
OF No. POI East Sixteth street. stated that he had
made an examination OF the burnt house. He
said Il am OF the opinion that the fire originated
in the water closet from the heating apparatus in
the ext house. The water closet is on the second
floor, and witness traces the fire from it to the
basement below.
OUT LATE.
Mr. Charles Clark. of No. AZ East Slxtieth street.
was the next witness called. He testified to hay
ing gone down to Sixtieth street in cab about
hall-past three A. NJ. passed Stiners house at that
time and saw no light or indication OF fire on the
premises; about two hours afterward / was
Weakened by the cries OF women; plainly heard
"MurderW and "Watch |" did not hear any one
cry fire at that time but later ] heard a, cry OF
der" and ''Watchl" got up. put or my clothes
and Went out into the street and passed the
were wide open, ana could plainly see up to the
head OF the stairs 1t appeared to me as II the fire
have an fImnression W" or had at the lime
! that could have easily gone from the head of
the stairs to the hall landing: when came to the
AAW
nothing but "Oh, DEAR" and would not answer my
questions; went up towards Madison avenue and
| not to be seen; l do not know where she went:
l could recognize her II | saw her now;
Mr.. sutton afterwards and he told me the people
| were on the back Of the house when went to the
house there was no engine or nnne tn asrs
was no cause OF alarm, and when came back
saw the fremen and policemen.
I ''MURDERl" AND ''FIREp
! Mr.. John Sutton, OF No. 30 East Sxtieth street,
was next called His testimony was Of no i'm
portance, except in the fact that It corroborated
the account OF the cries OF "Murder!" and
previous witnesses had sworn that they either
| TILE MYSTERIOUS WOMAN PRODUCED.
During the whole OF the proceedings there has
ferred to in the HERALD Qi saturday, as missing
aud important witness. She was formerly COOK
In the stiner family and had been discharged ons
was in the hOnse the night before there s no proof
yet but certain little circumstances point TO her
| rather susplcionsly. In the ante-mortem deposit
ton Of Mary Mcclure, the domestic who was killed,
there IS an ambiguous sentence which leads the Jury
| to believe that the cook who had been discharged
was in the house on the night previous to the tire
! THIS woman, no doubt, had been subp9naed on
the first day Of the inquest, but inquiry at the al
dress she gave elected the fact that she was not
residing there. She euded the service OF the paper
| until Saturday night, when one OF the detectives
connected with the Nineteenth precinct captured
her.
From the evidence 1t will be seen that the In
| xyNf Arnsl fuha ,tfvht h6
being surreptitious dealer in diamonds not her
| own.
that she was discharged from the board and SER
| vice OF the Stlner family about two weeks before
being una Ole to procure 1t account OF lack OF
funds to pay the eXpressman Mr. Stiner had re used
to pay her her wages because he claimed TO have
pended them partly on her by derayng the DOCTORS
bill which she had contracted while sick under his
before the fire took place. but since, until she
went for her trunk the day after the fire; she &C.
knowledged she had had some words with Miss
| Deborah and mad called her o liar.
| TO juror was once locked up In the Tombs,
but 1t was unjustiy done; did not steal Mr., Bam-
| burgers diamonds; 1t happened in this way-I
| went TO Sixth avenue one evening 10 purchase a
locket, and when had done this the man be hind
| the counter asked me If lived in rich family;
! told him did, and he said II / would bring MIN
| diamonds he would buy them; brought them and
Charged when Went 70 the house on Sunday saw
MIR. Joseph Stlner, and he gave me piece OF paper
to wrap up chemise had taken from my trunk,
| which was on the ground floor; can bring twenty
witnesses to prove that was in the house OF my
sister at No. 1877 Delaney street on the night
on which the fire occurred Alter recitlnR long
story OF how she had worked hard Tor three years
to get her clothes. which had been destroyed In
the fire, she signed her testimony and was given
over to the custody OF an of1cer from the House of
| Detention.
| INTERESTING TO MISS ARNDT
The next witness called was Mr.. Atkinson,
mason, who resides at No. 1853 West Eleventh
street. Mr.. Atkinson said that he was left IN
| charge OF the house by the insurance authorities,
and that on the day alter the fire the woman who
had just lett the stand came to him and said she
wanted her clothes, which were not insured; he
told her she would nave to to Mr. Wilson, at No.
| 1856 Broadway, and get a certificate from him. and
then she could have them; she brought the ticket
and he gave her the clothes and trunk from the
basement; wnen the clothes were produced Miss
| Arndt, himself and some men from the Bureau OF
| UNSAFE Buildings sat down near the range and be-
| gan to talk Atkinson asked her how she got out
| without being burned; she told him that early in
| the morning she smelled smoke and got up as
quick as she could she knocked at Joseph Stiner's
door and he got up and put on his clothes In few
minutes; she then Knocked at the other DOORS
| and when she thought she had aroused the house
| she ran out; deponent was confident he knew the
| woman; she was none other than the one who had
testified before him.
| Joseph Stiner was recalled, and corroboraed his
| previous statement that he had been awakened
| by the cries OF women and not by knocking at his
| door, as Miss Arndt stated.
| THE BUTLER AS A BOXER.
| Albert Schultz the butler, recalled, and
forced by much cross-quesuoning to acknowledge
| that he and Miss Arndt had had fight and that
| both mad got black eyes. He fought hard against
| acknowledging that he had hit the woman, but
when finally "cornered" he said with bland and
| against my nst." lie told of how he had taken
ale from the cellar with tine privilege OF Miss
Arndt. After telling many minor incidents in the
| experience he passed through as butler he re-
| tired, like Miss Arndt, into custody.
! The inquest was then adjourned until to-day.
|