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, upmed Katrina
Krechaidor who Is accused oil having are to her
apartments at NO. l09 Orchard street. Suspicion
rested her from tho moment wncn
tho discovery OF tho flames made,
and subsequent Investigation went show
that sho had before charged With q Ike offence
and under circumstances Of an exceedingly criminal
ing character. IL appears that on Tuesday morning
Mrs. Krechaldorf LETT her room 10 company with hor
daughter, and Oh going out accosted Mrs. Augusta
Benson, tho housokecper Tne latter charge Of tho
premises, sx-story building, with sixteen families Iiv
ing 1t, and makes II her business frequently in
spect the apartments She going her rounds, when
her ught tho reflection OF fire upon the ceiIing
over MRS Krcchaldorfs door. AZ The same time see
and from ovor tho fanlight Tho woman hurried into
tho street, where she gave tho alarm, aud soon na
Krschaidorf's door. ono OF them, who had
scen the Dro from tho window Of his apart
entrance by moans Uf tho fire escape, and, after adj
mttng the others, he succecded in exliDguist tho
flames. IL found then that the 1rc had been
suming heap OF clothing and bed linen. which had
been piled IN tho middle OF the room. There was
strong smell OF Kerosene pcrccpubIc, and this
At onco excited the suspicion that an incendiary
mad been at work. An examination OF tho
place was begun Dy tho Assistant Fire Mar
shAI, and evdences wore lound every
sido OF preparations having been made TO insure tho
spread OF the flames and the certain destruction OF
all that the contained. The burnt clothing had
boon saturated with Kerosene Oil and lounge had
been torn open and tho low II Was stuffed win had
been ped in other fluid TO facilitate conbus-
ton. can OF kerosene found almost empty, but
placed In position where the 1amos would roach II.
Some ume alter the nro was extinguisbed Mrs.
Krechaldori returned and was met by accusations
tnat she had sol the house fro. Sho denied the
charge, said she had been viBtng her daughter but
afterwards admitted that she had In the meantime
conc homc but was unable TO get into the room.
The epormity OF tho consequences which might have
attended the IRE In house thicky occu picd
created n deep impression tue ncighborhood,
aud inquiries started relative to Mrs Krecha-
dori, her anteccdcnts and previous history, added
| another INK TO the ovidonce OF her guilt. But
short time since she resided In house In Forsyth
street where IRE had twice been discovered and at
trbutcd to her. In ono instance had been kinded
| In tho woOdhouse, and In another had broken out
| In two places In her room. On tho last oc-
casion kerosene had been found ompticd on tho
| floor. and eau OF benzino which was con-
man VINO was helping 10 put tho nre out.
Certain inquiries made soon after by the owner tho
premises showed that MIRA Krcchs sdorf had an
policy for $500 In the Pacific Fire Insurance Com
pany, while the effects u to were worth no
more than xl25. Ho gave the woman her rent back
when hc learned this and asked her the house
From IL she went TO No 100 Orchard street and soon
after arranged 10 have the insurance transferred 10
| that house.
In spite OF tho prisoners plea OF mot guiltyn Judge
Morgan held her In ~, 800 ball.