The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-10-23

A Woman on Trint ON thnrae OF settling Fire
10 her sister-in-I.aw's House.

Ellen Cary was put on trial In the General
Sessions Yesterday. ON charge OF setting nrc
IN n n.iphLors house. She is middle aged and
low browed The indictment being for arson in
the first degree. sentence to Imprisonment Tor
life must follow conviction. Not many years
ago the penalty prescribed by law was hanging.
Julia Donncly the first witness for the prose-
cu,lon. is the woman whom the prisoner is ac-
cuscd Of trying to burn out. She testified that
she lives In Hist street, near ~. Nicholas nve-
nue.. in house that she and her husband built
with their own hands, pretty good house.
though" In her estimation. The Carys were.
until September last. her nearest neighbors
Mr.. Cary is her brother There was long and
bitter fcud between the families. Quarrels
were frequent On the day before the fire the
Donncllys had visit from relatives OF both.
who did not go near the Carys. The visitors
were fed on chickens. Mrs. Cary went to the
open door and in u loud voice charged that the
chickens had boon stolen from her. Later, she
returned, and threatened her sister-in-law.
Aha, Ohio, 80 ven have visitors from the city.
yc bastel Bad luck till ~. III burn yer house.
and dance on the a-hesl' On tho next evening
Mrs. Donncly reached home At IL o'clock from
n visit, and saw Mrs. Cary lettering around.
Mrs. Donney went 10 bed. after watching Mrs,
Cary for "A few minutes through window. She
band restrained her. At about | o'clock she
nwokc and went out Of doors to see whether
| Mrs. Cary wns there yet, She found the door OF
! u wood-hcd adjoining the house blackcned Ivy
| fire She went to- bed again. In the morning.
| on opening her outer door. she saw partly
| burned sticks and paper on the step, and
| the marks Of gunpowdcr having been burned.
| The surface ~ the door was charred She also
| smclt kerosene Mrs. tary's husband said. on
seeing these evidences oi incendinrism: Don't
| MAXI show OF this. There amt much dam
| ago done and I'll scr It shant happen again.
! Mrs Cary began to bcratc Mrs. Dvnnclly on
sight and. 10y way Of froeh insult. made the sign
frnd herself from the devil. This witness
talked 50 rapidly that 1t was not easy to under
Can't you talk fastcr'" Recorder Hackctt
inquired derlsivciy..
."I'll thry." was Mrs Donnclys, reply; and
shr ratified on in what an occasional intclligible
word Indicated To be narrative OF an old quar-
| rel With her sister ln-uw.
| 81 little faster. the Recorder interrupted.
Mrs. Donncy drew long breath. and uttered
n sentence q full minute in length. spoken with
astounding rapidity. Tho court stcnographcr
did not even try to take down the language. and
the hearty laughter Of the Listeners soon
drowned her voice.
Thomas Donnelly. the husband. testified that
Mrs Cary had 30 frequently threatened to burn
hi. house that he had ceased Ia attach any inn
portancc to- her threats. He tried to go into q
full narrative Of the family quarrel but was moi
| cmporily ordered by the Recorder To- stop. On
quitting the stand, he nppronihnd ne jur,
all about II. - aud then an officer led him
Fire Marshal sheldon testified that on the la,
after the lire he examined the Donnrlly prem
iscs Tho door OF the woodshcd was burned
considerably. and the marks OF an EXPLOSION %
gunpowder werr plain. The door OF tho hous'
stains and smell Of kerosene Sticks. paper
and matches were scattered about. partly con
tbat he fonn, on Shelves in Mrs. Cary's house
The trial ID to be resumed to-day.