The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-02-09
\ CLEVELAND INCENDIARY.

THE INOENDlARIssI OF GEN. BoUCHER-A
REMARKABLE CAREER.
A Cleveland special to the Chicago Times,
on the 10Th ult.. says: Monsieur b.
Boucher. better known as Gen. Boucher, is
suspected of incendiarism, and circumstan-
tial evidence is strong against him. On
Thursday, Boucher, who Is W bOlesale liquor
dealer, on Superior street, went to
the United States bonded warehouse
and took therefrom five cases of liquor,
producing a receipt to show that duties had
been paid. Mr.. Boucher sells liquors on
commission, and has in bond numerous
casks of wines and brandies shipped him
from France and Spain. He claims that his
stock In bond is worth from SOS, 900 to
sS9, GOO and on TINS he has an insurance OF
$751; 900. Alter delivering the five cases, j.
NJ. sterling, keeper OF the bonded
warehouse, went into the store OF Theodore
Simons, next door. to get his receipt book.
On coming back he observed Boucher at
the door, hatless and in state of trepids-
ton. de had him sign the receipt, and then
noticed fire blazing up in the back part OF
the warehouse. Boucher helped extinguish
the flames. Then Mr.. Sterling observed
Boucher's coat ON fire. The latter thrust
his right hand in his pocket and pulled out
some things, badly burning his hand in the
operation. The suspicious circumstances
are these: The fire in the warehouse was
feet apart, among packages of
liquor consigned to Boucher. When
kic acher emptied his pocket n peculiar
Bind of fuse, burned bill-head of his own,
and rag dropped on the floor. The pre-
pared fuse was about six inches long, and
had piece Ofsponge at one end. The sponge
| is believed to have been saturated with some
highly inflammable fluid and inside of the
/ fuse was a black substance, which looks
like powder, although Boucher says it is
l.. ii Aa IANr. -.
his pocket was about as large as half an ordi-
nary handkerchief, and was saturated with
what is supposed To be a solution OF phOs
phorous, TO produce
SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION.
After putting out the fire in his coat,
Boucher started off once more, but in such 8
state of excitement that ne forgot his hat,
and had it not been for Mr.. Sterling calling
| his attention 10 it, he would have gone away
| barehesded. After pond ering over the az
fair and consulting with the chief of police
and Others, Mr.. Sterling swore out warrant
| for the arrest of Boucher, on the charge of
| attempted arson. Boucher was ar
rested and imprisoned at police head.
quarters, to await a preliminary examina-
| ton. In the police court this afternoon he
/ was bound over to the common pleas court
in SC, 600 bail. He explains the case in this
| way: He says he thoughtlessly put a lighted
matches; that in emptyng his pocket he
started small fire on the floor. He says
the fuse was only a disinfecting pastile
which he made for his wife as an expert
ment. He says the black substance in
the middle is only ashes of coal, meaning
pulverized coal, and that il will not burn
unless held over gas. He says it is absurd
to suppose he set fire 10 the place, as he
| would be the looser and not a gamer He
said he had matches in his pocket but no
sign of any was found. His hand Is badly
burned, and the flesh presents the appear
aDce OF having been eaten by acid rather
than blistered by a flame. Boucher is
rather a remarkable man. He was born in
France. and served for several years in the
French army, winning an artillery captains
commission in the Italian war. He came TO
this country in time to enlist in the federal
army during the rebellion, and was q staff
officer in the army OF the Potomac, under
Gems. Mcclellan and Burnside. He was
rendered the title Of brevst brigadier gen.
eral, but declined it. During the war in
Mexico he visited that country TO inspect
Maximilian's operations, but was not an Of
ficer in That army, as has been enormously
stated. He lost q leg in the war Of the
rebellion. He is a man of fine personal APP
pearance, and OF no little culture. he
graduated as the French military school jn
Paris.