Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1874-06-19
Capt Gre Ofthe WiiIiamspOrf Inccn.
diaries.

diaries.
Eight young men Of Williamsport have
been arrested by the police on the charge
of having been engaged in starting many
of the recent fires in that city. The names
of the parties arrested are as follows
| William Shultz, Jas. Parker, Warren Ne
ginness, Elijah Bea!, Robert Tinsman, {
young man named Callaclush, AlonzC
Parker and Jas. Byerbach. The prclimi
nary examination was held in the Cour
House on Tuesday, before Daniel Rrpasz
Esq, the city being represented by II. e
Parsons, Esq. The arrests are the result
of Il determined effort on the part of hi
Honor. Mayor Powell, ably asss ted by th,
Police force and special officers Boyd Wilk
inson and Robert Smith to bring the of
tenders to justice.
The testimony of Mayor Powell ant
special officer Wilkinson as given by tn,
Gdzctte and Bulletin, TO whom we are in
debted for the data in this article, tells tht
whole story and is as follows:
| Mayor Powell was the first witness call
ed. Upon the 10th of May, immediately
after his election to the position of Mayor
he instituted plans for the detection OF tht
incendiaries, and employed us special off
Ger, Boyd Wilkinson Robert Smith wa.
also employed, the latter reporting to Off
Ger Marley, and the former to the witness
this was to prevent suspicion. Through
the system he inaugurated he gained infor
nation so definite that he was frequently
apprised of attempts that were to be made
for the destruction of buildings; he (tht
witness) had slept in hay mows and among
the lumber piles for the purpose of detect
ing these parties. He knew The barn o
Mrs. McGraw, on Elmira street, was
| singled Out-went there and found matches
| a package shown which his Honor col
lected there. After the prisoners were
arrested he held conversations with them
in the presence of the Chief Of police Me.
ginness confessed TO being one of the par
| fire also the =. 81 E. car shop, Seminary
| barn, and as being Il party in the attempt
on the barn of Mr.. ROwley ShultZ admit
ted as being concerned with Meginness at
the p. x Z. shops-also Parker and Gala
/ CluSD L JOY anu lJItti
the Tinsman barn. Tinsman also admit
ted being with Miginness at the Watson
barn they described how they fred build
| ings one said he visited Foresman's barr
twice before Saturday night last.
Boyd Wilkinson next testified Resided
in this city; was u years of age was ap
pointed a special about four weeks ago
he worked in the good graces Of Miginness
and learned from him that he was ring
| leader; through Meginness he came in con
tact with the rest of the party Meginnes:
said he had set on fire the engine house and
railroad shops, and that Shultz and Parker
were with him {; they fired ROhe's store, OF
| Fourth street, twice, and also attempted
McCOrmick's barn; one of the number
claimed that he had been interested il
seventeen fires-elcven of which was sue
cessful one night he said to Miginness
where shall the fun be tonight? and hC
replied, 1--WE will tackle the Beaver Mil
lumber yard" Witness knew Just wha
places were to be fired on Saturday nigh
last, among which was the gas house
| Foresman's barn, and barn on Elmirs
street; they went up 10 Foresman's anC
| laid in the tall grass about two hours they
were finally interfered with by Officer
Flynn, who came up that way upon thei
return, matches were thrown into the barr
on Elmira street one of the party remark
ed that if il didn't 90 off they would try
McCormick's; upon reaching the Ameri
can Hotel the witness feared that the BARI
on Elmira street would be consumed, anC
other property jeOpardized, and goins
within informed Homer Martin, requestn!
him to go up and watch it, and put it on
ifit got started ; in relation to Mccormick
barn it was found locked. and then matche!
were thrown in Rowley's; the witness wal
in the habit of communicating with tn,
Mayor, and kept him posted in relation t.
what was going on.
Each of the prisoners were held in SO
600 bail for their appearance at Court.
Congress is likely tn rnfnse ~ oxtond thu
patent for the Wilson Sewing Machine
Good. There is some prospect, therefore, o
sewing machines at more reasonable rates
They have been paying for them from
four to six times as much rs it costs to man
ufactare them, which cannot but be regard
ed as a monstrous imposition.