The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-06-01
EXAMINATION OF M. G. HAYES
DAnAGI,G DEVELOPMENTS.

AMOUNT OF PROPERTY SHIPPED OFF
PREVIOUS TO THE FIRE, AND AMOUNT
ON HAND AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE.
Testimony Of Gen. W. Y. W. Ripley s. @.
Putnam, Freight Agent William P. Cady,
Chester Kingsley, M: j. Francisco and
Others.
The preliminary examination of Michael
G. Hayes, charged with Getting fire TO the
Rutland opera house on the 10Th of May
last, was held yesterday. Hayes was orig
inally arrested on warrant, under the
statute, for an attempt to defraud insurance
companies by setting fire to the opera house
in which his store was located, and suisse
quently warrant tor arson was served on
him. The preliminary examination was
continued till such time as the debris of the
fire could be cleared away, and he was
ordered to find bail in the sum Of $4,000.
His examination was set down for nine
o'clock Monday forenoon at the jail, but
was adjourned to the grand jury room of
the county court house, in order 10 give
more accommodation to those who wished
to attend.
The examination was held before II. w.
Porter, justice, and J. j. Il. Randall, asso-
ciate justice. Hon. Martin G.. Everts,
states attorney, conducted the prosecution,
and the firm of Joyce d Lawrence APP
peared for the defense. The prisoner
walked into court attended by Deputy
Sheriff Millipgton. lie looked a little pale
from the confinement, but before the dsy
was over he regained his color, and ap-
peared naturally, laughing heartily over
some of the fun in the trial.
GEN. WILLIAM Y. ". RIPLEY
was the first witness called. lie testified
that his father William Y. Ripley owned
the opera house, and that NJ. G.. Hayes
rented rooms in the building which be oc-
cuped as harness shop and harness and
saddlery hardware store. He occupied tho
north store on the ground floor running
through the building, basement under
his store and the rear room over his store
35x40 feet. 1 was in his store ql',n lie
quently the rear room up STAR WI, ustC
for the manufacture If HARNESSES he en-
ployed from two t. four men in his wort
room; coal stoves We're used for heatinG
the rooms, above and below the stow
below stood west of the center of the room
the stove above was small, and stood north
west of the center of the room, abou
under the front of the stage in the oper
hail. the stage was 90 feet deep; the stow
may have stood west of the front little
both stoves had zinc under them; the pipe
ran into chimney in the northwcs
part of the building the day previ
Gus 10 the fire it was mild, not coll
enough for fire in the workshop
think il was about 430 a. III. when
heard the alarm there were few peopl
at the fire when got there / went u
stairs, but not at first at the corner ga,
smoke issuing from window in the uppe
tier of the hall ran to the Bates hous
to meet an engine, helped to draw 1t bac
and then ran up stairs there were tw
persons sitting there whom did not know
it was impossible for me to go in on az
count of the smoke and l went down.
Down stairs, in front of Hayes window
Mr.. Sadler said, "hcre's where the fire is
put your hand on this glass did so an
the window but saw no fire. In abou
twenty minutes the flames burst out i
Hayes store and in the second story abou
the same time. / saw nothing in the fror
windows, but was looking for fire, ne
goods. 1t was some minutes, perhaps three
after saw fire down stairs before til
flames burst out in the upper story.
went into Hayes store great many times
sometimes from business and sometimes t
see how be was getting along. He opene
with a slight stock few trunks
and with. nothing on the shelves
He had some small things in his sho
windows; the things noticed particular
were some boxes of axle grease. Late
he filled up more; his shelves filled Gradl
ally, and also his show windows. He ono
showed me trunk which he said was so
leather. talked of buying; it was we
, made; don't know its value. The shelv'
were on the north side Of the store thel
were quite number of packages on IL
! shelves the day before the fire; there wei
trunks on the floor, table or two wit
rugs. etc., and some packages labeled. II
showed me a package of curb bits l wei
to buy bit he took down package {
three or four; it had contained more
some time; the shelves commenced six {
seven feet from the front of the stove Il
packages were toward the further end
beyond the shelves were pegs for harnes
, es on the shelves were packages of ring
buckles, etc. one-quarter of the wa
through the building has been excavated
we have found the remains of large nun
Der of harnesses, curry-combs, pads, five
six trunks, one perambuator, and sever
other articles ; there are more things lie
there than | supposed there would bt
there are parts wooden trunks and leath
; work not burned, roll or two OF webbin
roll of cloth, and moss and dcer's hail
there was not much fire in the front pa
of the store a great deal of timber h
been taken away that was not burned '
: have taken great pains to preserve Il
goods found Mr.. Green, the foreman, h
orders to watch for everything and save
found the remains of one hundred or mo
! curry-combs, five or six trunks, but ]
: saddlery hardware can't tell their valu
ten feet of the basement floor has been e
cavated in front, and we have reached Il
point where the east end of the shelly
would fall have the impression that Il
remains of goods worth $500 or 5000 la