The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-09-23
A FIREBUG HUNTED DOWN.
INCENDTIRTSM INIT ILIRMED
4 CITY FOR TWELyE TEIRS.
The burning Of Dwellings and Barns in R1h-
wav-A Watch for the Pcrpetrator, and
How he wns ut Length Caught in the Act.

The burning Of Dwelling. and Barns in Rah-
wHv-A Watch for the Preparation, and
How he wns mt Length Caught in the Act.
For twelve years the pleasant city of
Railway, New Jersey, has been distinguished by
the number Of her incendary nres, and there
has been scarcely a month In that period that
her evening skies have not been lighted 10y the
glare Of blazing barns, haystacks, and dwellings.
When an investigation was made, weather
boards and kindlings saturated with coal oil
were discovered. Half dozen persons were ar
rested on suspicion and discharged for want Of
positive proof Amid so many connagrations
the arm Of the 1reu.en was powerless, and the
organization became lax aud they often refused
To answer all alarm until they were assured that
1t was one Of importance.
Residents became alarmed for the safety OF
their property, and were sorcy puzzled to Sc
cure tue necessary insurance, as the companies
refused to take risks. The Mutual Fire Insurance
Company Of that place will insure only every
fourth building IN the city. The police were
alert. arrests were frequently made, but nothing
definite could be proved against the accused
persons, ana until last Monday night, when Al
fred Il. Jewell was apprchcnded In the act of
firing u barn. there was no clue TO the incend'-
aries.
MIR. Andrew McGuchin, Fire Warden Of Rah-
way, yesterday said that about eight years ago
one 81 the most interesting aud amusing inci-
dents of the fires occurred at the burning Of the
barn Uf a Railway farmer. \ circus was IN town,
and the old man had taken the contract to
stable the horses and wild animals over night;
up 20 the edge OF the barn, stuffed n few kero-
sene-soaked shavlngs under the edge, aud ut
out" for the country. The farmer was awakened
by the hOwlings Of score OF animals, Indigo
nous to Asia and Central Africa. The Hon
bounced down the main street ana was last Last
seen rObbIng hen roost In tho suburbs. the
zebra and ring mule sauntcted down Mutton
avenue, and sau tied down on the steps OF the
/ sautN fNr .aNtI p al
| menageric dispersed over the country, and lur-
nished tales of terror to the good housewives
for a month or two AFTER all were captured. Inc
/ barn WAS total luss.
After this connaeration Ore followed nre In
rapid succession. About i've years ago four
tenements owned by A. Bartholomy were en-.
tirely consumed ~ the same night. The street
| authorities hid decided to widen and straighten
Main street at Pigs cheek rough place IN
the outskirts, and Il wns necessary 10
one tucked kindlines under the floors
| aud the tenemcnts went on into the
hahway meadows. Then t9ii,owsu E, tne
| Grand street, and next the destruct'on OF the
house OF rom O'Donne in Monroe street The
| house was set on hIc one night. hut the hamcs
| were eXtinguished and on the following even
! ing fire was kin1led in the cellar, which de-
/ stroyed the dwelling. a party Ot negroes were
suspected, hut nothing could be proved. After
this, barn after parn went up almost nishtly IN
| Col Potter lost his dwelling M Linden township
| one pleasant forenoon. His wife was IN the
house ana the Colonel was IN the garden. The
building was totally consumed Alter the nre
a fuse was found extending fr Jin the kitchen to
the barn, and everything was ready Tor lighting
| securely locked. The evidence was so strong
that Col. Potter was arrested aud tried for arson
but he was acquitted; AN these hres were
| kindled on Saturday nights.
The next large lire was on Saturday night OF
/ LIST March, 10y which the large and line mansion
| of the Kinsey estate was destroyed. The family
which had been occupy ine II moved out on sat
urday morning, and "A son-in-law OF Mr.. Jona-
than Woodruff, the owner, intended, 90 take
| pussessi III on the following Monday. kindltngs
soaked In oil were found about tue runs after
In the past year brush hears, haystacks snd
| barns nave been burning continuously. but last
| My. when three men were hrIestcd. chhtgeu
with being the authors OF the deed, the spirit
h one m,ontS w6 s,. rue "rdsy night
three nfes were kinded nj once, on of which
DESTROYED Mr.. Friczrs lumber yard, another Mr
Cgowelis lumber yard, and another barn ~
/ the lower end ct the tOwh. suspicious were
strong tut no arrests were made.
! On last Monday night several fires were start I'd
at auOut 9 o'clock, but all went OFT. Shavings.
saturated with coal oil, were found on the prem
-es Of all the places iIom which the nAInes broke
out. On that evening an attempt Was made to
IRE Cornelius Nanderhoven's barn In the lower
end OF the town. few nights previous the
building had been set on fire, Tut no damage re-
suited, AS the ,mes went out. The shayings
the ground MIR. Nanderhoyen st Alonzo
pnce. n special policeman, 20 watch the barn.
Last Monday night, as MT Price was shiverlng
In the hay. he heard stealthy footsteps. lie
went to window, twelve or nheen feet
above the ground. and saw through the dark
ness the form of Jewell. The latter WAS intent
upnn his mission, hut he did not neglect to care
| fully inspect the surroundings. lie looked
keenly At the window, but the darkness protect
ed MIR. Price. Jewell satisfied with hts examtna-
tion, stopped 10 the weather boards of the Darn
and lighted several matches BET he could start
Ablaze. At length the snavlngs caught, the ntlne
ti1TCu up against the q irk side OF the building.
t-A q. .A-' ''~'--. bet -'r-'"''d"" faaf 100"
most upon the back OF the incendiary. Both
men surang to their feet. Jewell started down
brakes iane, and the speci4l police "a a., ."loW-
ed at his heels. The two were about eyvsiY
matched at foot race, but Price overlook the
man he was irving To CLINT over IA stone wall.
times with his " hickory" he brought him to
terms. Jewell seemed astonished and assured
the officer again and again that he had done
nothing wrong. lie said that he had stopped At
the barn Just 70 hight a cigar. Price took him
10 the police station On Tuesday he was taken
not guilty and waved an examination. His
father, who has means, said that he
would not give bail, aud that he
preferred to let the law take its course
Jewell Is about thirty eight yedrs old and
though dlsspated, IS highly connected. lie was
terian Church, and his daughters, who are nne
musicians, are still connected with that choir
lie Is a member OF the Washington Engine
Company No. /. Jewell had been on "A lOnl
spree and II II believed that he attempted the
destruction OF the barn to obtain more whiskey
; Us It is the good old country custom In RAILWAY
to treat the hremen after hre to rounds o
appleJack. II Is anticipated that Jewell WI
turn States evidence, and Will divulRe tn,
names OF Others OF the gangs OF incendidries.
The arrest OF Jewell removes suspicion T. on
the tramps who were accused OF ktndliug hre
In Railway last summer, and who, II Is said
wrote upon the walls OF the town In a myste
| rio "a would Law lh