The New York herald., 1876-11-26
rNCENDIARISM.
SOMETHING IN WHICH PERPETRATORS SHOULD
BE DISCOVERED AND Gagged.


BE DISCOVERED AND Gagged.
within the past two years there have been ereat
many barns and stables, hay and grain, burned in
Queens county. mostly on the north side farmers In
the town OF North Hampstead being the greatest su
ierers In most there have been wel-grounded
suspicious that these fires the work Of incen-
diaries; but in only one Instances have the
suspicious become sufficiently certainty to warrant
arrests and up to the present time no conviction has
been secured The case OF the Albertsons athsr and
two sons (ccorec) Is one IN point They were ar
rested last year. charged with setting fires at Flower
Hill, North Hempslead and placed IN cells al Flush
Ing. Tho younger son, 1t Is alleged, was by some
means induced to make a confession OF guilt and the
father hearing Of this confession attempted 10 com
NIT suicide by cutting his throat with pocket knife
borrowed from q fellow prisoner. When he had
sufficiently recovered from the wound he had
an examination, was indicted by the Grand Jury,
and while lying in the Queens County JAN awaiting
his trial died, at first supposed from poison;
but, as the doctors aterward decided, from ply
sical exhaustion. There were many people living in
the neighborhood where he resided who from the first
expressed their belief that he was innocent and now
they do not hesitate TO say that the old man was
bounded TO his death. The younger subss
qucnty placed trial. but the jury acquitted him, he
beng nothing but chIid and 1t being assumed that,
II guilty, he had been Influenced TO his action
his father and brother II is understood that the
elder brother who is about fifteen years OF
age viii not DO tried, notice TO this effect having been
served by District Attorney Downing upon counsel
uefcuce ana the inference IS that the District At
orncy has come 10 the conclusion that the charge
not be sustained by satisfactory evidence.
THIS conclusion 10 he warranted by facts
which have recently 10 light, through the invests
cations OF Detective stephen Payne, Instituted by
Of Of the insurance companies interested
in recent losses Payne has become satisfied that
CURED tho north side have been the work OF
He has never believed the Albcrtsons guilty of
setting the Flower Hill ires, and now he is more than
ever satisfied OF their entire innocence Payne's sus
picions point most rongly 10 German farm hand
named John Menzer, ana this man, having been
rested, Is now awaiting examination Ia the Queens
County jail.
II has been ascertaned that the OF at
least SIX nres by when been
sumea, including those ut Flower Hill and several
others In the woods Menzler was In the immediate
neghborhood that IN several instances he was rst ut
the fire, and that his movements were of sus-
picous character. The fact OF his being In the differ
cnt localities is readily explained. Though what
is termed good worker on iarm, ne is oil uneasy
disposition and has never kept situation for any
length Of time He was al Mr. p. G. Barnum's IN the
winter OF 1874; thonce he went to work Tor Conrad
Schuit, OF Norwood Station, agreeing to work for him
year. Ho stayed only about iour months however,
when as he Gays, he went 10 work Tor Mr. Hoffman.
at Fosters Meadow, because the latter offered him
more wages. He was, however, here arrested tor
stealing $14 from Mr.. Schuit, and sent 10 the County
jail for thirty days. When arrested be was enjoying
himself with the stolen money at a German picnic.
When taken to jail this time he denied ever having
been there before, but subsequently confessed IT,
The first fire with which Payne seeks to meet
Meuzler occurred at Henry Hcwlets in October 1879
Member alleges tnat he was In bed ut the house OF Mr.
Adrian Ondcrdonk, for whom he worked, when tho
alarm gwen that ne dressed himself went TO the
nre-a hall mile distant-and worked there Payne
expects 10 prove that he was not IN bed but was the
first to give the alarm.
The second arc at tho place Of Mrs. Willets in
February 1876, while Menzler stl at work for Mr..
Onderdonk. He says he also in bed there and
ths light Of the IRE shining into mis- window before
he ALARM and went and worked at the fire. Mr.
:cstines that he heard Menzer 10 the
house 20 his room, and that no then gave the
alarm going 70 bed at all Subsequent
Menxer reported that while working at the fire he had
lost silver watch which he had bought ony short
time before from another farm hand, known Dutch
Henry tried induce the latter to say that he
mad sold HIM watch TOR $l2. The report OF the |
alleged loss to the OF MIS- Wilets and she
actually bought watch and sent 1t 10 Member to
replace tho supposed TO have been lost He now
acknowledges that no lost WATCH as he had none to
lose and gives for his criminal deceit that
he worked hard at tho ire and thought be ought to
have something for II.
Fires at James Onderdonk's AZ Mr. Howell's and
then at Adrian OEderdonk'g whore Menzler lived, fol-
lowed each other IN Quick succession His explanation
OF his movements similar; he was in
bed when tho alarm gwen, though he WAS at the
frcs with surprising aacrity and his stories con-
tradc,ed important particulars by the people with
whom he lived. The ire At Adrian Onderdonks oc-
Cured on the Goth OF March last
Menzlor went hire with John Maloney on the 18th
OF October and the 9th inst the fire at Isaac n
Wilet's place occurred Mcnzer says he was not
asleep in his bedroom fixing his bed, aud
the first the fire and give the alarm. The barn,
which was entirely destroyed with its contents was
only about 200 yards from Maoney's place. Aenzler
anerward told people at Maloney's this tho
fourth fire which he had been the first one to reach,
the three others being at Flower Hill.
Menzler Is an ordinary looking German, apparently
about thirty years old lie he came to this
try september lS3 but 1t s understood that there
Is evidence that he camo before that timc Payne
thinks he hos good case against him.