The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-08-28
VM. VAN ZANDT DISCHARGED
,ur SERIOUS hCCrSiTT0N f6dTNST
4 gI,H STATEN ISLANDER.
VOL. XLy.--N0. 562.


PRAYING IN Anbi Was u ~ Put Up Jobt
.1n Port Richmond, staten Island, ycster-
a., h,f,rc Justice Clarence NJ. johnson was
sai tho examination Of William T. Van Zandt.
sSo VIVA accused Of burning one of his houses
:, oastleton and Bayard avenue. near Sailors
sang u,rbor. Staten Island. on tho 18th Of May
.st The case Is peculiar throughout On tho
,-,h NJ June Detective Haley OF tho Broadway
r,,,d WIS called to investigate Il burglary at
no Brondway, in q room occupied by W. T.
Kan Zsndt The result Of the investigation was
:, hs,on suspicion upon William II. Howard
,ho WA employed by Van Iandt to collect rents
md do general work Mt n salary OF 81 week
Fhere had been cir tolcn from Van Handt's
,,c When Howard was taken before Justice
Morgan. Van Zaudt refused to mako any
,,mplan, against Howard. who was dis
pharecd While hp was being taken to court
Howard said tina, T. was possessed Of informa-
lion in regard to H. destruction OF ono OF Van
Hsndt4 houses 4 staten Island which he could
use against Mr. Van XandL Then Haley. act
Ink under instructions from Inspector Dilks.
went before the Grand Jury and made affidavit.
tn which the Grand Jury found an indictment
against Howard for burglary This was done
with a view Of holding Howard. while the in
tsndiary case was worked up; but in the mean
not until the 18th inst. that he was arrested and
l,lccd in the City Prison. On the 18th. before
District Attorney Cronk Of Staten Island. he
made affidavit as to the incendiarism.
According 10 his story he was dying Of con-
symptom and desired to tell the truth about
Mr. Van Xandts guilt He sworc that on the
Ith u May he was at the Staten Island House
painting it and that Mr. ". r. Van Zandt and
his sister-in law. Mrs Leopold Van Zandt. were
there also He Howard went to New York on
the o'clock boat returned on the o'clock
boat and Mr.. and Mrs Van Zandt were still at
The house whom Re returned. Mr.. Van IHndt
had a candle lie took a lot Of sheet music.
Saturated 1t with kerosene from demiiohn.
placed 1t in the garnet and sol the lighted
candle among the music sheets so that when
the candle burnt low the paper would be ig-
nited. They then all quilted the house
nj about 10 O'Clock and returned to New
yort That night the house was burned.
was insurance -on the dwelling to the
amount Of $4,000 equally divided between
o. Hartford and the Springfield Fire and
Marine Insurance Companies. and ~ 81 900
on furn turc in tlir MHuuia 'tururs' Fire and
Marine Insurance Companies Of Boston. Tho
first two were in the name Of Leopold Van
Zandt. the Other was made uut To- W. T. and
Leopold Van Zanit Howard. also told # furnl.
turc being removed from ia" YIN Lanlt house.
and based his complaint ON the effort 10 oltnin
his insurance on the property 4, .trovod Tho
detective found that on The 27th OF June tho
company. but he sus'oedel in delaying the
payment Of the two 5000 policies.
On this case an Indictment WAS found against
Mr. William /, Van, Iandt. AMI he WIS arrested
The examination which he demanded was set
down Tor o'clock Yesterday AZ Port ri 'hm0nd
and at that hour the little room IN which Jus,
lien Johnson presiics was Il ed with interested
persons. Howard came in the custody Of
with on citement. and seemed anxious To- talk to
some one ~ wife was YIN him Before tho
ss2%ss9n T. . 9y,r r. ,ol TT1nD Il
be said, and have no work. ] have been for
the past month working at sewing buttons on
shirts ! get twelNr cents dozen and sew
The defendant, Van Handt a tall precise mnn.
was there. and with him were Mrs. Leopold Van
Endi. y sster-in law. their father and mothcr,
Mr. Iid Mrs; Thomas i. Austin and other
friends Of the family. judge Il, W. HUNTINGTON
appeared for the defence and District Attorney
owen Haley. the detective. was FIRST examined.
and after much hcarsay evidence had b .en cA-
cluded from his lniony. told Of his finding a
bursted demiJohn in the ruins Of the Hro. Part
tn on tho 22d Of this month. Judge Hunting
ton objected strongly 20 the testimony that WIS
thus. a. he said. seeking 10 deprive his client oi
liberty. The domilohn might have been III. e'ed
thero by any enemy 9th = deicndant.n ovrrthroe
months had eaps ii between the fire anu the
hndipg Of the demiiohn. 1t was also remarka-
Die that while tho fir had, DESTROYED ey, ~
vostiGe Of furniture in the house. the willow
covering OF the dcmhohn. which Was sdiI3-v,.
10 furnish the materials Tor con.Austion, and
which was said TO have been exploded bv the
aeat should not have 50 much even as the
lmeN OF fire about II. In his remarks the
and more thnn hlnted that Ia this case n par
yculnr the accusation Rropghi against Mr.. Van
LRn1t WAS a put-np Job 10y the detectives who
Eere out Of work. He also outlined the do.
ence. which was that the fire was the work Of
burglars, who had first robbed tho house and
hen fired It TO hide their work.
Then Adam Fries testified that on the day be-
lore the fr". he took 10 the Staten Island House
bcdstead, some bedding. and other things.
md brought back q bookcase, some gas ilX-
turcs. and box Of flowers lie also testified
hat an officer had endeayorcd 10 gct him TO ad.
md when some one asked him for drink. re-
plicd that II contal ned Kerosene oil. woul I
Hy said Mr.. Fries in broken English, for
had no demuOhn nor any oil, and II Ia got
p!gN wouldn't swear to that
Manarsed A. Peok tho general at agent for the
Company. swore that the 81 900 Of Insurance
bad been promptly paid. and that the loss cx-
ceolGd tbe amount 9f insurance;
first 70 500 the Are. When he discovered It tho
names wore breaking out under the caves He
nielier. chair and si-pladder. which was
al THO furniture he saw down stairs, He did
Dol that Mr Van zshndt called at his rcsidence
hGbout . 80 on the afternoon before the fire.
sshd wanted to buy candle. and he directed
GILLIAN Haug was the man W no kept the store
Wher0 Casey directed Van Zandt to 10. Haug is
"a exceedingly nervous nntiye OF the Celestial
klhgdom. and his almond eyes fairly snapped
e. NC sYQrc that he sold candle on that day,
put he didn't know 10 whom, Nothing could
thduco him 10 devate from this testimony. and
he Nopped down. apparently well satisfied with
There was much interest manifested when J.
u Barhell was examined. He had written sew
oLai letters 10 Howard, and there was "A strong
snort made by tho detectives and officers 10
connect the letters with Mr.. Van Zandt. This
was irsely talked among them. but the Prose-
outing Attorney evidently put little confidence
70 me letters. Barnell swore TINT he wrote the
.etters at the request Of Charles Yetlcr because
Ieor did not know how to write English. He
tsp said enphaticaly that MIR, Van IaLdt knew
a9t.hing about the letters, and had nothing 10 do
went 70 Mr.. Van Zandt's house" he said.
because fetcr told me that Howard said his
Naateinont about the fire was false.
ubarhel!s testimony drew forth the TACT that
howard had been lin State prison. under the
name 81 johnson. for burglary. and that he
oIhseh Barncln had served a term in the same
pace The letters which the Justice would not
slInN as evidence arc published below, IN the
'uer III which Howard received them;
AUGUST 81. 1879
iRysD Bsll see by today. paper that you made
.N. 81 Yourself ] thought you would know enough To
yA Tue party who stuck 10 you In the hrs instance.
n'"hhp" you would he taken o. hut you have let
lefA swell your head Now u Is not too late TO
"ashtn yourself out You gave me your word that
"a liaf "a 4 ,iN lie