The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-08-04

door burned about eight feet, and then, owing
TO imperfection in the ol1ing, died out.
The alarm was given by passing police
man, and in few minutes more the build
ing was flooded with water, and Mr. Staa-
den's fifth attempt at arson was q failure.
Upstairs, the floor and walls were soaked
with kerosense. Two empty oil cans, of five
and two gallons size, showed the important
part that benzine played in Staaden's deep
laid plot. In addition TO this overwhelming
evidence against him, there are many other
| circumstances that point cOnclusively TO his
guilt. In the rear of his place IS a barn. In
which he has kept horse, until Saturday
evening, when he removed the animal To
Healey's stable, on Clark street. On the
18th inst. his daughter went 20 Michigan.
oStensibly TO some water-cure establish
ment, carrying with her two or three large
trunks. Last Saturday, his son, a young
man about p years OF age, followed her
with her two more trunks. Investigation
failed to reveal any clothing or other
articles OF value in the drawers or closets,
and 1t is supposed that this fact ex-
plains the large amount of luggage that the
young people took with them. A number
OF waists of dresses were found. from which
Standon had torn the skirts, and cut them
into strips, of which to make his trains On
Sunday afternoon about O'Clock, he took
his horse and buggy from the livery stable,
and was afterward seen driving IN Lincoln
park. After his arrest he stated that he re-
paired TO Sunnyside in the afternoon, where
he spent the night. Yesterday morning he
appeared with his rig at Henley's livery sta
bic, where be was at once arrested. He was
taken before Justice Kauffmrn on a charge
OF arson, and was released under bail of
81, 900, which was furnished by his LAWYER,
InomaS Shirley. Early In the afternoon he
was re-arrested on warrant sworn out by
sergeant Hathaway, of the Twelfth precinct,
charging him with arson aud attempt 10
commit murder, and he srent last night be-
hind the bars OF the Chicago avenue lock
up. A reporter visited him last evening
put could elicit nothing OF Importance
He is
AN OLD wHITE-HEADED NAN,
about 60 years of age, robust, of rather gen.
teel appearance and benevolent cast of
c0untenance. lie said he wanted time to
think before he said anything. He sco4fed
at the idea of arson, and claimed that his
insurance was only 5000. Il is thought
probable that he will be held for trial with
out bail. What actuated the villainous old
man to attempt this crime? The cause. or
motive guided his incsndiary hand that has
caused number of destructive fires
of late. How far the board OF under
writers is responsible for the recent
attempts to burn up Chicago is a pertinent
and timely question. 1t is authoritatiVely
stated that this old man had s., coo insurance
on his household possessions, tina included a
piano, two or three stoves and beds. a dozen
chairs. sofa, and meagre array OF kitchen
table furniture,th whole not exceeding I.OO0
in value. His entire establishment. inciud-
ing barn and stock, is estimated at 5000. On
this property he is known 10 hold
claimed that his entire insurance
reached the enormous figure of $1,000 or
SIS, 900. His policies have not vet been OBJ
tanned, and exact information can not vet
be given. He is insured for 5000 in the
Etna company, and several other eastern
concerns are said to be involved. 1t is also
reported that he holds large policies in the
Globe, OF London, and Hamburg and Liver
pool companies. So long as underwriters
insure with such appalling recklessness, it
can not be wondered that villains burn their
property, regardless oftbe lives and possess
ions of their neighbors, in the hope that by
their felony they may double or triple their
wealth. 1t is very fortunate that the fire
did not reach the south side OF the house.
for the building was speedily surrounded
by policemen, 1iremen and citizens. and the
explosion would have occasioned fearful
mortality. The building joined directly to
handsome brick block on the north, and
was separated only by a narrow alley from
frame building On the south. Had the ex-
plosion occurred, of course both the adjoin-
Ing structures would have been badly shat
tered if not entirely destroy ed; and many OF
their inmates would have been
MANNED OR KILLED
inthe catastrophe. The feeling against the
prisoner was intense in the neighborhood in
which he lives, and had the citizens whose
lives he was so willing TO jeopardize secured
the wretch in their hands his children might
to-day be endeavoring to collect the insur-
ance on his life, If he dabbled in that class
of politics. He has always been regarded as
a dangerous man, and so thoroughly We're
the neighbors convinced of his incendiary
intent on former occasions that they fully
believed that he would sooner or
later repeat his oft-tried experiment,
and, perhaps, involve them in the ruin
which be had it in his heart to bring about
The explesion,i in itself, would not necessarily d.
have implicated the man, as he has always
kept powder for sale; and, OF course if his
building was burned, an explosion would
naturally result. 1t was reported last even
ing that an officer had been dispatched to
Michigan TO take his son and daughter, all
the family he has, into custody. 1t is not
known as yet that they are in any way i'm
plicated but if it is proved that they have
with them all the household valu2bles, the
suspicious against them viii be strong.