The New York herald., 1878-03-01
ARSON.

THE MYSTERIOUS FIRE IN AN ORCHARD STREET
TENEMENT HoUsE-How DISASTER WAS
AvERTED.
Fire Marshal Sheldon brought before Judge Morgan
yesterday an elderly German woman, nVmed Katrina
Krechadori who Is accused oil having sci Are to her
apartments at No. lOe Orchard street. Suspicion
rested on her IRON tho moment wncn
tho discovery OF tho flames was made
and subsequent Investigation went to show
that sho had before charged with Ike offence
and under circumstances Of an exceedingly criminat
ing character. II appears that on Tuesday morning
Mrs KrcchaIdorf LETT her room in company with hor
daughter and on going out accostcd Mrs. Augusta
Benson tho housokoeper The latter has charge Of tho
premises, sx-story building, with sixteen families liv-
ing IN It, aud makes II her business frequently in.
spect the apartments She was going her rounds hen
her eye ght tho reflection OF fire upon he cciIinK
over Mrs krechaldorPs door. At The same time see
detected volume OF smoke issuing from tho crovices
and from ovor tho fanlight Tho woman hurried into
tho street, where she gave tho alarm, aud soon had
several OF tho ncighbors batterng at Mrs.
Kreehaidorf's door. Ono OF thcm, who had
meuts the way, succeeded In cnecting an
entrance by monns Of tho fire escape, and, after ad-
flames IL was found then that tho are had been con-
sumng heap OF clothing and bed linen. which had
been piled in the middle OF the room. There
strong smell OF Kerosene pcrcepublc, and this
at onco excited the suspicion that an Inccndiary
mad bcen al work. An examination OF tho
place was begun by tho Assistant Fire Mar
sha, and evidonces wore lound every
sidc of preparations having boen made insure
spread OF the flames and the certain destruction OF
all that tho room contained. The burnt clothing had
boon saturated with Kerosene oil and q lounge had
been torn open ana tho Tow IL Was stuffed with had
been dipped in other fluid TO facilitate combus-
ton. can OF Kerosene was found almost empty, but
placed In position where the hamos would roach IL.
Some time after tue nre was extinguished Mrs
Krechaldorf returned and met by accusations
tnat she had sol the house FRO. Sho denied the
charge, said she had been visiting her daughter, but
afterwards admitted that she had IN tho meantime
come h0mc but was unable to get into the room.
Tho epormity OF tho consequences which might have
attended the hre In house so tbickly occupied
created deep impression in tue ncighborhood,
and inquiries started relative to Mrs. Krecbal-
another link 10 the ovidoncc OF her guilt. But
n short time since she resided in house IN Forsyth
street where nre had twice been discovered and at
tributcd to her. In instance IL had been kndled
In the woOdhouse, and IN another had broken out
In two places In her own room. On tho last oc-
casion kerosene had been found omptied on tho
floor, and eau or benzine which was con-
ceaicd In the room exploded, almost killing n
man VINO was hclping 10 put the hro out
Certain inquiries made after by the owner OF tho
premises showed that MIRA Krcchaido had an insur
policy for $500 In the Pacific Fire Insurance
pany, while the effects n was 10 worth no
more than xl25. Ho gave the woman h or rent back
when no learned this and asked her leave the house
From she went to No 100 Orchard street aud soon
after arranged 10 have the insurance transferred
that house
In spite OF tho prisoners plea OF mot gultyn Judge
Morgan held her IN 81, 800 bail.