The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-01
ALLEGED INCENDIARISM.
Arrest mo Judiclsi Investigation TOueh~
Ing the Recent Sonna grat ton ut BUR-
lingtOn, N. u,

BURLINGTON. March 81, 1874.
Ever since the Ore which occurred here on Moi.
day night, the 23d inst our le CITY Las been fuIl
OF rumors in regard to the caAe or the conffagra-
tion veil OF mystery hanging over the affair 80
deep that 1t has taken judicial investigator now
III proSress) 20 uncover 1t. The property turued
was situated on West Union street. between 1,lbot
ana Ellis, and although in new Part OF the
city, 1t is but few squares from the man
street and Is in the neighborhood or s.
Mary's Protestant Episcopal church on tina
one side and st. Mary's Hail and River
side (the Episcopal residence and Burlington
College on the other. The bells Of ST. Mary's
church were not rung to give the alarm, water
was scarce and fire plugs seemed to be useless
ornaments. The rope OF the town clock bell wax
rotten and lasted only a few minutes. full sup
ply OF chemicals was not on hand to make the ex-
ungulshers able to cope with the fire. although
they kept the danes under Tor two hours before
they had the assistance of the steam engine. Ths
Delaware River was so low that It was with diff
Guilty the slope" engine got water from it to sup
ply hand engine. The fire went out, but two
frame dwellings, valued at $4,000. were burned.
Valuable property was saved and the citizens re.
joiced to think that they were spared from Wit
Messing the destruction or their little CITY,
or one fact the citizens OF Burlington felt con-
WINGED, and that was that the fire was the work oc
an incendtary, and that the incendary's plan
must nave been to destroy the whole row OF brick
dwellings, 10 the east adjoining. The owner OF tho
property had gone to Philadelphia on Monday
morning, expecting TO return home the same
night; but was detained there His vile, being
Invalid and unwilling to remain alone In the
house, went to the house OF her husbands father,
TO bed when the alarm was sounded, at
eleven O'Clock. She got up quickly and unlocked
e he eh ana rear doors ng o. the building to
she mouse TO go TO her iather-ln-lawis dwelling
the IRE IN the Kitchen was very low. No one was
IN the house when the fire broke out, but tho
frame dwelling adjoining was occupied by Mr..
Philip Welsh, the brotner-n-law of Captain VIII
liam w. Kane, the owner of tine property, and
caught fire very soon afterwards and was totally
destroyed with the other house ana insured for
the same amount $4,000 in the Hlbernla Mutual
Fire insurance Company OF Newark. There is
rumor that the ire was started in several
places aud that rags and paper saturated with
one of the floors had the appearances
OF coal oil poured upon it out of a can but there
Is no telling what truth there is in them until alter
the Investigation (Which has been postponed until
three p. M. today has been concluded. Mr.. Kane
seemed convinced that his property had been fired
by an ncendiary. The policy was paid up fully aud
would have expired some time in April next.
Last night, between seven and eight O'Clock, q
warrant was issued for the arrest OF William W.
Kane the owner of the property destroyed, and
once taken into custody on the charge of arson,
which, according to the laws of New Jersey,
prisonment Section l OF supplement aud act
approved March 15, 1884, says:-"f any person shall
wlliuy and malicousy set fire TO- or burn, or aid,
counsel procure or consent to the setting fire to or
burning OF any building, &C., which snail at the
time be insured against loss or damage by fire.
with intent to prejudice such insurance, whether
the same be the property OF such person any
other such person or persons so Offending shall
be adJudged guilty OF msdemeanOr, and
on conviction shall be punished by fine
not exceeding $1,000 or Imprisonment a1
hard labor for term not exceeding ten years.
1916. "makes arson high misdemeanor ana pun
ishable by fine not exceeding S. 900 and imprisOn-
ment at hard labor for any term not exceeding
fifteen years, or either of tnem.n
Ir the parties charged with this crime are COM
mitted to jail bail will be allowed, and the
Court OF Quarter Sessions viii meet at Mount
Holly, the county town OF Burlington county, on
the third Tuesday IN April, where they will be
tried.