National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-07-17
AN INDICTMENT FOR ARSON
TRIAL Of p DFNNrs

4h4AL Or d. Z. DENNIS.
The trial of John P. Dennis, on an indict-
ment for setting fire to the coach shop on Sixth
street occupied by himself, took place in the
Criminal Court of this District yesterday.
Mr.. Harrington appeared for the United
States, and Gen. Sol Henkle and L. G. Hine
for the defendant.
Mr.. Harrington opened the case for the
prosecution and called the following witnesses
Horace s. johnson testified that he was the
owner of the house occupied by Mr.. Dennis,
| 100 Sixth street, which was set on fire. The
defence objected to any proof of ownership but
the deeds, but the Court admitted the question
and the lease from witness to Dennis for what
It was worth. Mr.. johnson also testified that
on the day after the fire Mr.. Dennis told wit
ness he had no insurance. Witness looked
! through the house occupied by Mr.. Dennis the
very next day and did not think there was
more than $500 worth of effects there
Lizzie Petersen testified that on returning
from the National theatre on the night of the
alarm, she was told by her housekeeper that
there was Pickering light in the window of
Mr.. Dennis coach shop. She at once directed
her servant boy to climb up and see what made
the light. He reported something burning in
box. Witness at once ran out of her front
door, and forced the door Of Mr. DIS shop open
It was locked but not bolted, and the door
yielded after three pushes. Witness ran in
and saw candle set in block of wood, sur
rounded by papers saturated in coal oil. An
other candle, unlit, was alongside, and the box
was connected with other portions of the build
ing by Irvine saturated with coal oil. A bench
on the floor near by was also saturated with
coal oil. The box sat at the bottom Of the
stairs. A coal oil can sat alongside the box.
The candle was about two inches long.
Miss Mollie ShreeYe testified she resided
with Miss Petersen, and on the night in ques-
ton saw light in the window of Dennis coach
shop and informed Miss Petersen. She then
detailed circumstances corroborating the state
ment Of Miss Petersen.
John s. Price testified that he went in the
coach factory next day, and would not give
$500 for all he saw there.
Detective McElfresh testified that the morn
ing after the discovery witness went to Mr..
Dennis, at the request of the latter, and was
asked by him TO look into the matter. Witness
and Dennis went TO the coach shop. While
there witness picked up a coal oil can and
asked Dennis If he knew anything about it.
He said that he had never seen it before.
Witness saw the box the can came in. 1t had
q tag showing 1t came from Bolton s. Bro,
Pratt street, Baltimore. :
James K. Homer, book keeper of Bolton &
Bro, testified that before the 5th of June last
Con the 29th of Msy) Mr.. Dennis bought two
gallon can of coal oil. Dennis asked what was
the price Of coal oil, and was told twenty cents
per gallon. He bought two gallons, and when
asked where it should be sent, he said by ex-
press to Washington. The fact of buying two
gallons of coal OIL in Baltimore to be expressed
to Washington attracted the attention of wit
ness, and he looked attentively at the pur-
chaser, and is sure Mr.. Dennis is the man.
The court then took a recess, and afterwards
examined August Kleinheim, workman for
Mr.. Dennis; W. G. Dyer, Walter Dennis, r. T.
Taylor, and Detective McDevitt. The case was
then adjourned until this morning.