The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-26
INCENDIARISM IN ASTORIA.
THE 1RREST or 4 sON or 4 VEAL
THY OLD INHIBITdNT.
A Marriage TINT an lnduIaent Father Disap-
proved -Circumrtsntiai Evidence that mny


A Marriage TINT an InduIeent Father Disap-
proved -Circumrtsntiai Evidence that mny
Lnnd the Offending son In Sing sing Prison,
A jar that was evidently caused by the
impact OF a heavy body with the fence that
runs close to the house beneath her bedroom
window, or tho house itself put Mrs. Peter
Barnes OF Jamaica avenue. Astoria, on the alert
at 12aO o'clock on Sunday morning. She listened
and again the house was Jared, and her little
dog barked nercely. Leaving her husband
asleep on the bed, Mrs Barnes went to the side
window and looked out. Tho door
less and wind owless new house only
few feet from her own was on nre.
Mrs. Barnes awoke hor husband, ana told him
some Que had set nre to the next house, and
was lurking about their own. MIR. Barnes
dressed and went out. Mrs Barnes following
him to the edge of the porch. Mr.. Barnes found
heap Of burning lath anI some rubbish in the
centre Of the hall of the unfinished house. The
flames were leaping high, and had scorched the
woodwork above and around. Mr. Barnes
caught a piece of a plank, scattered the 0nming
pile, and swept tho smOuldcring cmbers out OF
the house. In the meantime Mr.. Barnes saw a
man partly behind the corner OF her house. She
asked:
Of her husband and herself.
As there was no renlv, Mrs. Barnes advanced,
aud recognized Josiah H. whitney, n son Of OK
Trustee Josiah N. Whitney. one ofthc we,lthiest
inhabitants OF Astoria. whitney said that who
ever mad set nre to the NJ finished house ought
to he ashamed OF his meunness, and, as though
to escape questioning, he hurried t. the assis-
tance Of her husband. The last emher having
been extinguishcd MIR. B1rnes reported the fire
to Sergeant Darcy, temporarily IN command OF
Mr.. Barnes's departure. and then, bidding Mrs
Barnes goodnight, walked toward hemssn
street.
whitney crunchlng the crisp snow until he had
reached the neighbotnood Of some partly com
ARF
gcant Darcy, who had opened the station door
to give Mr. Barnes light at the beginning OF his
| homeward walk. saw that there was a nre In Mr.
| Morrson's house. Running side by side across
several intervening unfenced 0elds, and stop
| ping only ut MIR. Barness h, ,use to GET a bucket
| nf water, the Sergeant and MIR. Barnes reached
| Mr.. MoirisOn's house in time to save II. tire
| that had hecn kindled in fn old nall keg In
! closet In the aiming room had caught upon the
| door frame and was running up toward the un-
| pl,sicrad l,ths.
Sergeant Darcy returned to the station. and
| directed Ofirtr Lawson to s,out about the scene
| OF the fires. The officer found whitney at
Jamaica avenue and Cornelia street, point that
| Ia IN the direct line Win tho houses that had
been nrcd. He asked whitney why he was out
50 late ON such di-agteeable night. Whitney
an ,wered tha. his wife was sick ana that ne had
street and continued i'm IL until he reached
| Emerald street. wherein he lives In a comfort
| able, slate rooted. twO-sturi house.
On returning to his own house Mr. Barnes
| found loot marks IN the snow eneath his bed
| room window, showing that tho incendiarN had
got upon tho fcucc: sprang, cumsily into the
!
| lre IN the hall jumped back upon the fence.
shaking " and Mr. b irncs's house, and leapns
to tho ground had gone out OF the front gate.
\ iine of foot prints extended IN the direction
IN witch MI. Biracs heard whitney going, 10
tho rear Of Mr.. MorisOn's house. There they
formed II hnif-circlc, one end beng at rear
basement window. Entering this window, Mr..
Barnes tracked the incendary by the traces OF
his wet feet up the stair to the dining room,
nc oss the floor Of that chamber to the door OF
tho closet where the burning kee that had
probably been nllsd with sAayings and bits OF
| wood, was found.
Oflcer Garity arrested whitney on. Sunday
| afternoon on the complaint OF william ID.
strubel, agent OF the Hanover Insurance ONCE,
In whicA MIR. Holders house Ia Insured for
sells and discharged, his father having given n
Josiah w. Whitney. the father, settled in As
toTta when young with only his skill In brick
laying a. Ills capital. Industry sobrlcty. econ
ofny, and wise investments IN real estate have
Edward, and Josiah-hhud 'ome. presentable
youths, JOSIAH was his iaVori.e until last sum
the pretty maid Of his brother Edwards wife.
At the 1Our II the marriage q gulf opened be-
Jr.. and tht latter was told thAt he ana his VIE
! could not 1--we under his fathers roof. So he
took hiS oiide 90 the pleasant little house
IN Emerald street. an, having skiil IN
his fathers trade. made ends meet snug
". Before his marriage Josiah was often
the wotse for liquor, the Astorians say,
but since his marriage his sprees have been rare
He has kert aoof from his family, and al times
has been rnorose. In December last two OF j o
siah whitney, Sr.'s, Darhs were burned. and his
sen !Slnh was the 1;s. man al the IRE, On the
23l Of December, She front stoop OF United
states N4Vsl Chiof Engineer Longs house was
partly burned but the main structure was saved
No ons Was sooner On the waA In 'front.' ot Chiei
Engineer Longs house n m young Josiah Whit
ney Kumor began To make free with his name
as that Of lrsbls, and Police CAPTAIN Wood
would have arrested him but for uls reluctance
to bring shame upon tho head OF the respected
father.
Clpt Woods said yo.tcrd ~ that he did no
doubt thnt young Josiah Whitney was the au
thor Of the midnight fires that have made th'
Astprtaii- uneasy ut late.
Dr. Tay lor says that young Josiah whitney die
not ask hlm 10 visit his wife on sunday morning
nor on Saturday night.