The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-04-09
A FIERY HORROR.
BURNING OF THE sTEUBEN COUNTY,
NEW YORK, POOR.HOUSE AND
INSANE AsYLUM.
Fifteen Unhappy Beings Perish In the
Flames-Scenes Sickening Beyond
DescrIDiJO

BATH, N. Y, April 8.-A disaster OF the most
shocking description occurred here at an early
hour yesterday morning. About O'Clock q.
m. l.. G. Ford an old man who was sent to
the Steuben county poor-house from Hornes-
vile, set fire to the building used for the in
sane department of the county poor house, in
which upwards OF sixty insane people were
sleeping
The fire spread rapidly, and made the res
cue of the inmates matter OF great difficulty
and danger. About forty were rescued by the
officers and citizens, and some others escaped,
but it is certain that fifteen OF the crazed un-
fOrtunates perished in the flames, and one Is
injured shockingly and probably fatally.
The scene OF the disaster is too siekenng for
description. Five males and ten females are
Dead and in the ruins lie the horribly charred
human remains, mingled with the debris OF
of the building.
Ford had been considered trustworthy, and
was allowed liberties which enabled him to
destroy his own life, together with fourteen
others. The fire department was called to
the scene OF the coniiagration too late to be OF
much service. The building was OF brick,
with iron-grated windows and doors, which
rendered 1t impossible for the inmates to es-
cape.
The following Is list Of those who perished
In the FIRE. together with their ages and the
causes OF their confinement: q. g. Ford, fits,
aged 4s; Daniel Curtis, cripple, aged 70; John
A,l,yain, cripple, aged So; John Messenger,
blindness, aged 40; Betsy Smith, idiot, aged
63; Julia Davis, idiot, aged SO; Rosa WEIGH,
idiot, aged 20; Amy Ranger, idiot. aged 27
Mary Stone, idiot. aged 26; Chloe Nudge
tcolored), idiot, aged 68i Abigail shultz, OLD
age, aged 60, Catherine Sullivan, insane, aged
II; Jennie Mills, child, aged 4: Mary Hewitt,
child, aged l.
M0ses-ApplIcation for n Writ of Habeas
Corpus.
New YORK, April 8.-Ex-Gov. Moses is still
under arrest at the Central Police Station, and
no one has been allowed to see him except two
friends for whom he sent, and Col. Charles
Spencer who acts as his counsel No one saw
him last night Col. Spencer appeared this
afternoon before Judge Donahue Of the su-
preme Court and asked for q writ OF habeas
corpus on Moses behalf.
The petition claims that there is no requisi-
tion signed by the Governor of South Carolina,
that forgery, il 1t be the forgery OF name
upon usurious note, which Is In itself void
does not constitute felony, and that no re-
QUESTION can legally be issued. The writ was
granted and was made returnable at O'Clock
tomorrow morning.
Col. Spencer said that there is peculiarity
about the position.
MY client is locked up but there Is no war.
rant, no officer and no record. The only paper
on which he could be held is Gov Hampton's
requisation, and that Detective COnnor has
taken to Albany with him. Superintendent
WAillIlR IS therefore HOHllHg MIN WltDOuJ all y
authority whatever. Still l shall not take
any advantage of that fact, and so have made
my writ returnable tomorrow m orning, which
| will give thew plenty Of time to get their
papers from Albany.
AS me olflcere started for Albany to see
Gov. Robinson early this morning, and Col
Spencer could not follow them in time to have
q hearing before the Governor, he sent the
| following telegram:
His Excellency Lucius Robinson. Albany:
"In the matter OF Gov Moses he is ar
rested for forgery Of a name upon an usurious
and void promissory note, and SO there is nc
crime, nor is any pecunary obligation ere
| ated."
The papers which Detective Connors brings
with him show that the note to which Wood
ruff's signature Is alleged to have been forged
bore interest after maturity at the rate of u;
per cent per month. 1t is, however, stated thai
| the laws of South Carolina admit OF rate d
interest under the contract in excess OF 1ega
rate. The Ex-Governor is still at police
| headquarters.