The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-04-06
CHRIS. HAGEDORE IN THE ROLE OF
AN INCENDsAKy.
He would Burn the House of His step
children tor the Purpose Of COLLECTS
Ing the Insurance.
Tie Makes n Desperate Fight When Cap
turcd.


turcsl.
Incendiarism seems to be quite u
mania with certain class Of indvidu
ais nowadays, who, having a dwelling
house that is covered by policy Of in
surance, and being little in arrears
for money, will set it on fire for the pur-
pose Of collecting the insurance, as they
know that 1t requires evidence beyond
the shadow Of doubt to convict them.
Christian Hagedore being aware of this
fact. attempted Monday night to set fire
to the two-story frame cottage, No. 13l
South Basin street, near Poydras.
Our reporter visited the house in ques-
ton, and learned from the several fam
lilies that reside there the following par
ticulars:
That the property is owned by the
children Of the late Mrs. Weeks, who
died in this city on the 18th Of January
last.
Two months previous to this lady's
death she welded Christian Hagedore,
and at her demise he became the tutor
Of her four children, and this property
was insured in the Germania Insurance
Company in his name. The building,
at the time the incendiary was getting
his work in, was occupied by several
families.
The heirs Of this property were re-
siding uptown with their step-fathcr
up to about two weeks ago, when they
were lured away from him by their
aunt, their mothers sister, who wished
to rear her nieces in the proper manner,
believing they were not receiving the
proper training ut the hands Of their
step-father. Shortly after they had
lived with their aunt they were taught
to forget and despise their step-father,
and plan was on foot to relieve the
step-father of the tutorship of the
children.
About three days previous to set
ting fire to the building he repaired to
the house 131 Basin street and used the
most insulting language towards his
tenants and gave them notice to yacate
the building within three days, and if
these demands were not complied with
he would take the roof off the house
and let the bottom out.
At 10 o'clock Monday night Hagedore
was seen by the inmates of tho house
to open the front gate and enter the
yard regardless OF the attempt he
made to disguise himself by pulling his
hat over his face.
Mrs. Kavanaugh, one of the residents
of the house, states that she was startled
by noise in the yard, and upon look
ing out of her window she saw Hage-
dore in company with another man,
whom she could not recognize, hasten
ing away from the hall way beneath the
room. To be sure she was right she
called Hagedore but he refused to re-
spond and quickened his speed
Mrs. jackson, who occupies the room
adjoining Mrs. Kavanaugh's, stated
that she also saw two men leave the
yard in haste, and recognized Hagedore
as one Of them. Few moments had
elapsed after the men had departed,
thing burning, and on opening the hall
door, from whence Hagedore and his
friend had departed, n desk was found
to be on fire, which was Immediately res
moved to the yard and the flames extin-
guished. On close inspection the wood
work in the vicinity where the desk had
stood was found to have been saturated
with coal oil, and the bottle which had
contained the combustible fluid was lay
ing where the would-be incen-
diaries had left it, on the floor.
Hagedore, by his calling at the house
the next day, in an excited manner.
asking when the inmates proposed
moving.
The facts having been reported at
headquarters, Captain Gray appointed
Officer O'Connor to work up the case,
who, after having obtained the re-
CURED facts, made affidavit against
Chris. Hagedore, charging him, from
information received. with arson, and
Tuesday evening. being armed with a
warrant, went in search OF his man,
and succeeded in arresting him at 8
o'clock in Gretna. The officer, in the
discharge Of his duty. was assaulted at
first by Hagedore, who drew his pistol
and refused to comply with the law. but
after little persuasion at the point of
the officers pistol, Hagedore surren-
dered and was brought to the Central
Station, where our reporter interviewed
him, and was informed by him that the
charges preferred against him were
false, as he was, at the time, at work on
a steamboat in Gretna.