The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-27
LONG ISLAND FIRE BUGS.
A CONFESSION, FOLLOWED BIZ AN
ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE.


A Father aud his Two Sons who had been
Terror to the Long Island Farmers How
the Family OF lucendiarics Operated.
Edward and Willie Albertson, colored
boys, aged respectively fifteen and thirteen,
were committed for the Grand Jury by Justice
Lawrerc ce In Flushing for confessed completely
with their father in several acts OF incend. rism
Of which he was suspecied. John Albertsou
their father. lived with his family In a small
frame building Isolated from any settlement.
but near Flower Hill, In North Hampstead,
where are clustered the houses of six or eight
farmers, all Of whom are In well-to-do circum-
stances, and where Is located the little district
school house. Albertson lived by wood chop
ping and what occasional employment the
farmers gave TO him and his wife. Edward Ev-
erett. his eldest son. was regularly employed by
a florist on the bill.
On the evening Of the 10th iust the barn, car
risge house, and stock sheds on the Willetts
estate were destroyed by q fire that was seen to
have started In the corn stalks which had been
piled behind the sheds. Nine head OF young
cattle were burned with the buildings, and
loss of nearly 5000 was sustained by toe owner
OF the prot erty, Mrs Martha Willetts.
On tho evening Of the next day. THURSDAY,
18th, the stack Of corn stalks which farmer on.
derdonk, neighbor Of the Willie t., had heaped
near his clubhouse, was lighted, AMI IT was with
OlnCultN tnut tne Dullulng3 were saved.
The National DO rd OF Underwr1te, s. uDon the
day of the second FIRE, offered n reward Of $500
for the conviction of the incendiaries who atcd
the Wtlletts property, and on the next daN. Fri
day, 18th, the little band Of Flower Hill farmers
held meeting TO declare their Willingness to
pay $50 toward the same end. Their meeting
was broken up by an announcement that the
outbuiidines on II. ID Howell's farm, near by,
had been FREQ. The third time they found that
the Hre had originated In the stalks near the out
builuiDRs. A was the case in the Onderdonk
farm, the night before, the buildings were
saved.
1t was noticed at this third nre that among
the very fist persons 20 arrive a. the scene were
Albertson and his children. and II was reco lect-
ed that tnis had been the case on tue two pre-
vlous nights. IL was also remembered that sus-
| when Henry Huletts buildings were ured last
fall. HUI It had caused the arrest OF the eldest
| boy, Edward, for stealing aud had driven the
remainder OF the fanny from ms house, In
| which they lived. When few weeks later the
! farm buildings were nred, Hulett was inclined
| to believe the Albertsons were tue guilty per-
sons.
ON last Monday, Jchn Alhertson and his little
! boys arrested. ana while the eldest boy
was taken t. College Point the father and
Youngest BOY were lodged In separate cells in the
| were imprisoned at nome. On tuesday, the
| youngest boy. HE, confessed bat his father
anu his brother Edward hau set TIRE to the VIII
| let's ana the Howells property, and he aud hls
father nad lighted the stalks near Ondcrdonk
| buildings. When Edward, the eldest oOv, at
College Point, was informed of his brothers
ession, he acknowledged It's truth
AN ATTEMPT AT SUICIDE.
Little Willie Alberlson either % Or pretend
ed to have frequent uts, ana ON this accOun-
| Tue jalvr put hlu IN the cell with his father on
| Wednesday. The lad told his father Of his con
fesslon that night, and at Q U'cllcK the next
morning, when the Her opened the cel doOr,
! John AlDeTtson was found upon the bed In a
| pool OF blood, with his throat cAshed aud gap
| ING from ear to ear. His little son lay IN n
corner OF the cell crying. He told the officers
his father had wounded himself with PEN
knife borrowed from "lodger" who spent the
| nignt IN the jail. IL was found that AlOertson
had not severed either the carotid lrtery or the
| Jugular vein. His wounds were scwed up, and
| YESTERDAY he WAS removed o. Bellevue Hospital
| lhe physician who a tended him predicts that
he viii be abe to attend an examination within
ten days.
Al Inc examination Of the boys yesterday
| they repeated their confessions to DIS
| trict Attorney Downing, and several ~it
nesscs testified that the boys had similarly
| Cfminited themselves In theit hearinG. The
| boys could give no explana ion OF their fathers
| motives. Upon each night tie had called one or
| the other of his sons from their nome. bidding
| them follow him and warning them never 10
| speak Of what thev saw him DO. In eacn IN
| stance he mad lighted the stacks with matches
| and wisps Of straw, which he obliged the boys to
| carry. His vile ana daughters knew nothing
| OF the crimes. The latter found straw and
matches under the house upon the morning OF
| the arrest. Both the women were discharged
| from custody. The boys were held without
| bii. John Albertson will be examined on the
| 10th OF March.