The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-08-21
ALLEGED INCENDIARISM.
William T. Vanzant Indicted and
Arrested for Arson.
A BURGLAR HIS ACCUSER
Strange Sequel to a Robbery
on Broadway.


william t. vanzandt, president OF the Asbestos
Fireprooang Company, and agent Of the vanzsndt
estate property estimated to be worth 81. 600 ooo
arrested this city yesterday on an Indictment
for arson, found by the Grand Jury OF
Richmond county In which place con-
siderable portion OF tho Vanzandt estate Is located.
Tho warrant for his arrest was issued by Clarence NJ
Johnson Justice Of the Peace Of Staten Island, ut the
instance OF District Attorney Croak and bears the
Endorsement OF Police Justice wandel Of this city.
II has been in the hands OF the police Of this city
since the 18th inst. and vanzandt has been within
reach every day, but for good the
not made until yesterday.
In the 17th of June last II reported at the Gen.
trail Office that burglary had been committed at No.
$40 Broadway, the ONCE Of William I. Vanzandt
The turned over for investigation to Detec-
txe owen Haley. He visited the premises, inquired
for the janitor, Joseph Johnson, and by
him taken TO IA and In
| troduced to MI vanzandt That gentleman
proceeded to tell how had entered his Office
the night before and, after forcing open bis desk
with screw driver, obtained tho keys oil his safe.
he had left them thcre-taking with him tho key OF
| inner drawer, where he had about
| $3.50 put away. The thief opened the saio
| with the keys and forced the inner drawer
containing tho money which he took, Detective
Haley examined the premises closely He found an-
ger prints in the dust around tho frame of tho
light but the aperture small that he concluded
the thief haa entered b. the door and lett tho
marks to divert attention from the real
manner OF his entrance. Without disclosing
his suspicious, he questioned Mr. vanzandt as
10 who In the habit or having
and using keys OF the Office door. Mr.. vanzandt re-
piled that Mr. W. H. Beers an architect, shared his
office with him, and that he aud man named Will
ism Howard, employed by him (vanzandt), carried
keys. howard was employed 10 collect rents
and attend TO other matters OF business re
lating to the estate. Detective Haley, alter
questioning Howard closely became satisfied by the
| emphatic manner Of his dsnials that ne some
lning OF the robbery, aud plainly told him so. How
ard ready 10 swear :nat he was Innocent which
toa Mr.. Vanzaudt he thought it would DC well to
arrest Howard, and vanzandt agreed with MIN.
the recovery Of his money the arrest Of How
ard, to whom ne said-"Howard, ualcss you give
ms that money l'll have you punished. II you do,
| lii do hat can TO help you"
STRANGE PROCEEDING.
The detective protested against such settlement
OF the case, and Was about to take Howard III
charge, when, at the request OF vanxandt
he ana Mr.. Beers went into the hallway,
whore they remained few moments with
Johnston, the JanItor, and left Howard and Van
zandt together III the Office. Upon r--enterng inc
olice hr. Vanzandt ana Howard started 20 GO out
together Haley interiered, wnen vauzandl SAID
II am going 10 his house TO get my money When
come back you have h,m - Then tney went
as nr tho street, where vauzandt turned upon
Haley. who mad followed tnem Gown, ana said :-"Go
about your business. dismiss you have no iur,ner
taken auack, but as he saw from vanzAudps manner
tina. he haa s.me good reason Tor no. csusin. the
gethsr, Das secretly desarmined TO iathom VIVA,
seemed sm." to him him mystery ne ,o.lo wed
him at No 2l2 Centre street, . lager beer saloon
which he trequented. Howard toid the desecuve thai
..nkt haa nIAn Nann
and offered him bribe IA atty dollar shawD 10 let the
case drop. Haley took MIN TO the station house and
the day had him arraign ID before Pohoe Justice
Morgan at tho Toubs
HowAKD's POWER
Mr.. Vanzandt summoned . vitness, but
would make no charge against the prisousr sst
roundIy abused Detective Haley tor taking Howard
INTO custS sa hasy ssa ,so~ss up
and finally succeeded In forcing hin 10 admits
ina. he knew somsthns about FIRE
that occurred In OF Mr. Vsnzanot's
houses Island, and that his knowledge has
secured him against prosecution fOr The robbery.
Haley then rmiued 70 ferret out tho fire story
ana as a preliminary step consulted District Attor
neys Bell and Lesry, TO whom he reiatod the case In
order to have Howard within reach he secured MS
indlclment tor burglary, and hsd him rsarrested
gned to the TomoA On the 18TH OF the pres
ent month Howard was ken to STATE en- Island wne re
he made a conession 10 the Disrict Attorney vov-
ing his employer Vanzandt, IN the crime Of arson.
Howard Is suffering from conservation, and In begin
nios his story said that as ne dd not expect to i've
long ne wished TO tell tho truth.
THE KxpLoYER's STORY,
| He was employed May last ny Mr.. Vanzandt 10
work in house owned by him and his brother
Leopold, in wnich they lived together, at Castieton,
Staten Island Tho house 10 located on Bard aven
near Sailors Snug HarboE He was engaged Tor ave
days moving iurniturs from the house On
the sixth day Mr. william 7. vanzands
carried n lot Of music books mp the
garrett and poured kerosene oil over tnsm. They
then procured common candies, which they placed IN
upright positions over the pile Of ssturateu music aud
| lignled. shortly after this had been done they
Howard Vanzandt and his sister-inawt lelt Sta
Island together by the last boat and that same night
| the house was partly destroyed by IRE
Before any steps taken by tho authorities the
story oil the removal oil the furniture wss investt-
gated and found and the purchase OF the
| corroborated. II was also found that May III
Vanzandt mad reported to the police authOrtes Tho
loss he had sustained, a. folio" s:$ 900 on house
| and 81, 600 on furniture search made Tor
| IL was ascertaned that the Springfield Fro and
Marine Insurance Company OF springfield, Mass, ana
| the Hartford Fire Insurance Company OF hartford,
Conn, had sacn issued policy VI 80, 600 making
total OF SIC, 900 on the buding The fuf niture
! insured iot $1,000 tho Manufacturers' FIRE and
| Marine Insurance Company vi Boston.
! The policies on the house were made In the name
OF Leopold Vanzsnd aud the one GU the furniture To
| the brothers William I. and Leopold. the 81, 000
policy was paid on the 27th OF June. as there
suspicion OF thing wrong. Detective Haley called
upon adusers OF the losses aud got them defer
the pay the other Two policies aud cd
| to procure tao indictmenI
vanzandt arrested in front Of Trinity church,
ana when told Tor what he was wanted laughed NJ tno
accusation. He was taken TO Staten Island and ar
ragged before y magistrate, who committed him la
| $4,000 bail Tor examination on tho 9Th inst. Mr..
yartctt Brown, OF Castoten. bccains his bondsman.
|
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