The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-12
FIRE BUG ON LONG ISLAND.
MORE EARN BURNING DONE NEAR
SOUrH OYSTER BAY
Suspicious that Led TO the Arrest Of Farm
Employee-Tbe Proofs Marshnlied Against
Him In the Justices Court X Remanded.


Empioyee-Tbe Proofs Marshalicd ARninst
Him In the Justices Court demanded.
Long Island is excited over another of
her periodical outbreaks OF incendiarism. this
time at South Oyster Bay. On the Both of April
Farmer Wildwood, who lives between South
Oyster Bay and Ridgewood, had his attention
called by his daughter to smoke rising from the
roof of his barn. A moment later he saw a man
pass out Of side door OF the barn. and run
swiftly around corner OF the building out OF
sight From the mans clothing and gait,
Farmer Wildwood got the impression that his
farm hand, william Clements was tho person he
had seen. In few seconds the building was
enveloped In flames. A stiff sea gale spurred
the flames, and carried with 1t millions OF sparks
and bits OF burning timber, scattering them
over the fields quarter OF a mile from the Ore.
Some OF these embors lodged In the Gu
pola OF the handsome large barn on the
st. John property. and that, too, caught
fre. Both structures were destroyed. Mr..
wellwood rescued his live stock from the
novels adjoining the barn, and some OF the con-
tents OF the sheds andithe barn itself. His loss
was $2,jOO. The barn on the st. John property,
one of the handsomest farm buildings on Long
Island, could not be replaced for less than
$4,000. Four lesser structures annexed to the
barn were destroyed with II. The property was
owned bya Mr.: stratton, once wealthy mer-
South. As the buildings blazed, young Glenn
ents, the suspe cted farm nand, arrived at the
fire on his employers place and worked with a
will. He said. afterward, that he had also seen
a man running from the barn the moment II was
uiscosered 10 oe on nre, anu ne ran slter tne
losing sight OF him. Although MIR. Wildwood
says. now, that he did not believe this story, he
evidently had his suspicious allayod, Tor he Kept
the farm hand In his employ and made no charge
against him to the neighbors or the authorities.
Five days later, on last Friday night, the build
=. j..
raiser at Ridgcwood, were fired. As In the Well
wood case, a daughter of the property owner
Farmer Jones, VINO Is sixty wears OF ran to the
barnyard fence, but the buildings were SO fairly
abaze that their heat reDelled him. SIX horses,
thirteen head Of cattle, and many pigs and
fowls-tbe aged mans entire stock In trade
made his way to the stable In the end OF the
barn. and freed three horses before the
Sd ts se .,5S sSSf ,Smssd @ al 'e
| the three horses that burned had been sold. and
was TO have been shipped TO New York on the
next day. Ten thousand dollars will scarcely y
repay Mr.. Jones for what the fire DESTROYED.
| Mr.. Jones suspected Clements, Wellwood 8
farm hand. He put the case into the hands
| Of Detective Paine, who had directed the
arm Of the law against Jackson and
yIoTis Ir In. the ,r negroes whS no m1rdsred Mr
| Tue detective discovered enough In his opirion,
| to warrant the srrest of Clements on last sun
| day. On Tuesday the prisoner was examined
| tefore Justice Seaman at South OYSTER Bay
He protested his Innocence. The testimony was
| hll ClTtuIllsldutldl. MT. MtllNOOu : uu ne udu
seen the very counterpart Of Clements dart from
| the burning barn. Miss Wildwood emembered
| that two or more months ago she surprised
Clements when he was hurriedly attempting to
extingulsh a blazing heap OF snaylngs on the
| hoor and against the wall Of the dry old work.
| shop. "My gracious, William" she remembered
| saying, "what are you doiuRf" To the best OF
| her memory William said In reply ." have been
driving my boots.'
| The young lady's father recollected that on
the night on which Farmer JOnes's outbuild-
| ings took fire, aud at just about the time the
Ore must have been lighted, Clements entered
| the house. HIS face was flushed and hts man
| ner unusual. lie did not reply when Mr.. Well
| wood asked him what allied him. but went to
| bis room, and had just reached 1t when the
farmer saw the light of hts neighbof's blazing
| buildings. Afterward Mr.. Wildwood questioned
| Clements as to his whereabouts on that evel-
| ing. Clements said he had started to Get some
| tobacco, but remembered he had left his money
| at home, and returned to get It. lie was all out
| found, to use his own words. enough tobacco
| to last him Ave weeks" In his trunk and the
boy admitted having 1t, but said he wanted
| different kind.
Justice Seaman remanded Clements TO the
| county Jail at Minsola to await the action o
| the Grand Jury. Many OF the people who nt
| tended his examination believe he Is innocent
| Others are convinced he Is born hre rug. The,
| tell story about his soaking rags in kerosene
| and lighting them under his bed az Wildwood I
| half year ago-a story they assert was tolC
| them by a fellow workman with Clements, whC
has since quit the country. Clements Is al
| Irish lad, twenty years Of age, and halls from
| Boston.