The New York herald., 1877-10-17
A FIRE FIEND.
Thomas G. Benefits Indictment and
Arrest on a Charge Of. Arson.
THE PRISONERS HISTORY.
Several Similar Crimes Charged Against Him
by the Fire Marshal.

Thomas G. Bennett, aged thirty years, who makes
his living by carriage driving and working round
horses was arrested yesterday morning. at eleven
O'Clock At the residence OF his mother. No.
sos second avenue, by Detective Miller, of
Tho Fire MnrshaPs Office, on charge OF
arson. On last Friday an indictment was found
against him by the Grand Jury, account Of aiida.
Wits against him obtained by Fire Marshal Sheldon,
aud accusing him OF setting on dre tho livery stable OIL
William Simpson, al No. $50 East Thirty y-nintn
street, carly on tho morning OF September 2s in this
year. Hc was brought before Recorder Hackcts
yesterday afternoon. and committed to tho Tombs
In default OF $4,000 bail Tho following is q
list OF other fires In which Marshal Sheldon believes
him TO be concerned taken from the Official record-
The four story brick building occupied by Kramch Il
Bsc at No 2lS East Twenty sixth street, discovered
10 DC on fire at twenty minutes TO nine +. H. on Octo
bcr 81, 1873 II was not extngushed until large
amount OF properly had been destroyed The same
M on November 10 OF the samc year.
ON tho morning OF the 18th OF January, 1874, dre
was discovered IN tho dve story tenement house No.
Gas Third avenue. Alter II had been extingutshed
with a loss OF S25, II was found that the mating In
the hall had been saturated with Kerosene oil and
then set fire. When this fire broke out there were
about fifteen families IN the house asleep
ON tho morning Of the 10Th OF Nay, 10 the same
war the tenement house. No. 800 East Forty second
street, took IRE from some unknown cause. II was
again found 70 be on fire ut twenty minutes passninc
r. N. on the same day. rhis time IT was thought TO
Tho building No. 1863 Second avenue, took fire from
same unknown. cause on the 17th Of July, 1871
Luckily, however, tho flames were extingushcd with
but slight damage.
Early on tho morning Of the 2sd Of September Of
this year flames broke out on the second floor
OF the building No. $50 East Thirty-ninth street.
which occupied by William Simpson as
boarding stable. The flames spread rapidly and be-
fore the Fire Department could check them the build
ing All ablaxs. The loss oy lhs condagra!ion was
estimated as $1,000 When the nrc broke out no one
knoWu % have boen building.
sKSSkrr's coSSEcrioS WITH THE FIRES.
A tspo,es . Asi ssoy. and q. the
Ore engine stations nearest TO thcm with view to
connecting Bsunsit with the ires
be lived the AZ The tmo OF the 0res In 1874
Bcnnew also occupied floor In H. He gave the aiarm
whom the hrst nro occurred. Dewcndcr thought II
vas IN the back basement, where there stove.
but bennett rath~r unaccountably knew that It was In
me 'front.' and excited the suspicious aIIc, q o. po
snsrc several barrels were burning. Tho occurrence
rouid be explained as an accident since no tire or
light Was ever IN tho place. On the second occasion
bennett was intoxicated, and was up and down the
house all night The mating Of the lower hall was
soaked kerosene and set rc Bennott was out at
the time. but soon came IN aud asked what was tho
matter In the morning he talked suspiciously and
said no had known Of the nrc Dewendcr obliged him
20 issve the house and made statement against him
20 the Fire Marshal, who also expressed strong sus-
The nrcs a. 40 800 East Forty-second street took
place IN apartments occupied by Bennett. The
OF The former remains doubtful, bus tho Fro Depart
darsm Bennett gave the alarm Tor both these hrcs.
on the night sf July IL 1877, Bennett rushed 10
sngne house No u situated on East For,cth strect,
and gave alarm OF Ere at No. 753 Second avenue
he llyed in that house aud said ho smellcd smoke
shile passing through the hail. The fire
found 10 tie IA the Clubhouse, and
vas oi the most uhing description. The
foreman oi the company asserts that " was utterly
inpossibe for any snoii ot smoke 70 have been per-
lhe nre, OF AZ least IT. he could NOT havs
snown Of us existence. The inmates OF this
sousc strongly suspected him at the time. ana
DO was obliged 10 leave H. The members OF Company
n know Bennett well being tho dscovcrcr OF sew
srcl nres Of when not here described They
ave long suspected him of Ito demanded from
Lom reward OF $50 Tor giving the alarm OF this late
irc, and spoke OF claim to reward for taking horse
uI OF adjoining stable.
nis EXPLOIT.
Ills conduct m reference To tho hre at Simpsons,
There he worked. strange rs to load to investi
aion. He around tho place at haif.past
acven y. A.. though his business there was over at
bout seven T. N. He was again soon on tho spot at
4. ~, almost insta0ty, whom tho irc broke
ut. lie claimed money, next day, from
fr. Simpson for saving eight horses lie gave
he IRE. lie said al one time That ne was present
shsn a broke out. When asked how be came 10 be
here no SAID that he wss not, that he came from
forty hftn with the steam engine along Third
venue. Tho steamer, however, went to the Ore by
lexington ana not Third avenue.
He bears character for idcness and addicted TO
aquo.. lie separated from hts wife and family,
egulsr employment since the lre at simpsons but
lived odd Iobs. When arrested he said TO De-
ective Miller 81 know what you want me for. tho
lnalr nj Slmpeon's.n y