The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-21

said that after the fire he visited Reinhardt at his
lager beer saloon IN Delaney street for the pur-
pose OF efecting settlement OF his claim Tor loss
and damage by fire OF 81, AGO. made OF the German
american Fire Insurance Company, and that II he
tkelnhard was ready TO accept 1900 or 5000 he was
willing TO talk TO him. Relnhardt became enraged
aud threw lager beer glass at him.
Oincer Reinisch described the dimensions or the
closet where the fire was discovered, and pointed
out on the model where the Kerosene oil was found
on the moor leading TO the door or the adjoining
bedroom where the other fire was discovered. This
closed the case for the prosecution, and, waving
any formal opening, Mr. Hummel for the defence
called Samuel Hrsch, lawyer, to prove that
Renhardt employed him to prosecute his CLAIM
against the insurance company. His Honor excluded
the testimony. Elias Selig, julius Rosenhen,
julius Waenstein and the accused were sworn
to establish an alibi they swearing thai they were
at lager beer saloon In Delaney street on the
night OF the fire, between ten and eleven O'Clock,
but the testimony as to the exact time was some
what indefinite and did not necessarily contradict
Mrs. Lowell who positively identified Relnhardt as
the person who lett his premises lew minutes
before the fire. witness named Goldberg swore
that he was in the room OF the prisoner on tn e
evening OF the fire and saw large quantity OF
cigars, SILK dresses, gentemen's clothing and
other property.
OF the fire. and the first intimation he had oil 1t
was when he was in Mr.. Blees saloon. He was
Thoroughly crosse mined by MIR. Rollins who
brought out the fact that he was arrested lor de-
Irauding the government by manufacturing cigars
without license, and that ne left Chicago because
he presented proof OF loss to the insurance COM
pany, claiming that he had lost s., 400 worth OF
to establish the good character OF the defendant
all OF whom said they had only known him about
year.
Mr. Hummel then addressed the jury in behalf
OF the accused pointing out the salient points OF
the testimony and claiming that his client was in
nocent OF the terrible crime charged against him
District Attorney Rollins followed, and claimed
that the evidence pointed Overwhelmingly to the
guilt OF Relnhardt, and that his motive In risking
the lives OF so many human beings was to receive
the sum OF 81, 900 from an insurance company upon
q fictitious claim OF loss.
the indictment contained two counts-the first
charging the prisoner with having, at nighttime,
wilfully set fire to the dwelling house of Edward
Stemmler, in which there were then some human
beings. The second count charges :-'Every per-
son who shall wilfuly burn any building, or any
goods, wares and merchandise or other chattels,
which shall be at the time insured against loss or
damage by fire, with intent to prejudice such in
surer 1.-THE German American Association) shall
be adjudged guilty OF arson IN the third degree"
TO convict OF the charge In the first count
1t must have been and has been shown-frst,
that The premises occupied by the prisoner
in the second story rear rooms OF No. lA Stanton
street were on fire during the nighttime; second, 1t
that the premises were at that time occupied as a
dwelling house and occupied by some human be-
tngs. The next and one OF the important questions
to be decided by you is Was the nre an accidental
one or was 1t mallciously caused by some person or
personss Can you reasonably get at the fact, from
the IRE was purely accidental, or has it
been satisfactorily shown to you that the
nre was originated by the purpose
His Honor read the testimony Of Mrs. Lowell, VINO
positively identified Rheinhardt as the man whom
she saw leave the premises shortly before the fire,
which, If believed, would tend strongly to show the
guilt of the accused In conclusion the Recorder
said that 1t was in the power Of the jury to convict
or arson in the third degree, and that all doubts
were the property Of the accused.
The jury retired to deliberate upon their verdict
at q quarter past four O'Clock, and, not having
agreed at late hour were locked up for the night.
The Gold Certificate Case-Ex-Sherih
Conk1In Sent to tho State Prison for
Five Years.
william Conklin, who was tried and convicted
last week OF participating in robbing Mr.. Craft OF
three $4,000 gold certificates outside or Demon-
1co's saloon, in December last was arraigned for
sentence. His counsel intlmated that he was TAX
Ing steps to appeal the case to higher Court and
had nothing more to say except to leave the mat
ter with the Court.
The Recorder sentenced Conklin to the State
Prison for i've years.