The New York herald., 1879-07-06
C0NFLAGRATI0NS.
Flushing, L. l., at the Mercy Of a
Gang of Firebugs.
ADMISSIONS OF THE cULPRlTS
Houses and Barns Burned Down
Merely in Sport.


have been greatly exercised of late over q SO
houses. that clearly Of incendisry origin Barns
are not apt to set themselves fire. and suspicion
was current that some Of the wanton and mischief
loving young blackguards of tho village
ut the bottom Of tho outrages. Two rewards.
one OF 500 and another of $3.50, offered
by the authorities. and the result the
final discovery and capture OF the miscrants.
These fires had taken place at intervals since last
winter. Mrs. McDonald's hays,ack was burned
January of this year; Horelroof's barn. Cedar
street. February %; Robert Parsons barn. March
~. at hafpast seven In the evening; the lampback
factory. May J. L. Boardman's barn Ensured in the
New York Fire Insurance Company May 10; Thomas
Dowlings barn. June Is Fairchilds barn, May "a oss
$500; George Nostrand's barn. May 20. and Z. A.
Mitchels barn, June l. at half-past eleven o'clock
at night. An attempt was also made on the barn of
Coles W. White. Apart from these fires the house
OF Thomas Coyne, Cedar street, insured in the
Merchants Insurance Company of New York for
$2.30o. burned and investigation is now
making to see If Coyne himself in conjunction with
q George Wagner. who is under arrest. did not burn
the dwelling to get the insurance money.
DEPTH OF DEPRAvIry.
This long succession OF fires naturally alarmed the
villagers, who did not know but the incendiaries
might next address themselves to applying the torch
to private dwellings. The proclamation of reward
set Detective Smith and Deputy Sheriff Hance to
work. and their investigation resulted disclosing
the existence Of gang OF young ruffians Of the
worst class with which community ever before
inflicted In fact. it incredible but is never
theess asserted as true that q set Of young fellows
in the midst Of civilized population have banded
together and deliberately destroyed property with
other motive than to bring out the Fire Department
join in the work OF exiting uishng the flames in
dulge in the usual free beer reward for aiding the
fire. The youths who formed the greater part of this
gang 1t is aegsd Walter d srsng Thomas
ranging in years from eighteen TO twenty -four.
The first three named arrested and
brought before Justice Lever, of Flushing. Thurs
day last. Brennan and Connarton were committed
to jail without ball. belng poor boys and the Of
common working people out Master Buriing. who
paper in the village. was let out on bail. which
gave rise 10 great deal Of indignant comment
among most people in Flushing. The boy Bulger,
eighteen years old. brought out of the
County Jail, to which he committed for
companions. The modus operandi these youths
was to select barn outhouse within the village
precincts and after firing it to run down the street
the Volunteer Fire Department, whose ranks the
cendiaries would join. and going to the Of
fagration would work away apparently in earnest
the to extinguisn the flames. The fr over
they would apply for allowance of beer, either to
the owner or 1t the engine house. and fill themselves
the village the Bucket gang but were never for
long time suspected of being the authors OF the
many fires which they made such Jealous display
in extinguishing.
ABANDONED boys.
When they were arraigned to-day before Justice
Lever for preliminary examination the court room
crowded. and the hre bugs the objects OF
popular curiosity. The four youths looked about
Sc, ds were eyes IN s ., &
advantage or the others in the way of
social stsndng and education. His small
v.v,L1 L1fv,ss .s7 1Aur fApu .t.J
him out as boy of incorrigible instincts,
and the evidence showed thar he the head and
dressed. and in that respect in striking
his companions. who were mi erably clad. and in
their whole appearance betrayed tho evidence of
early and total neglect in training and education.
1t would be difficult to pick up four boys in any city
of America exhibiting little Of boyish health and
frankness The desperate dissipation of their lives
had rendered all Of them prematurely old in appear
ance.
District Attorney Downing carried on the examina-
ton. The first witness John Hsloran. who tes-
titled to a knowledge of Boardman's barn. which
within fifty feet of his own house. He did not
actually witness the firing of the barn by any Of the
prisoners, but he remembered frequently seeing
them in company in the vicinity OF the place.
Thomas Bulger testified that he was eighteen years
OF age. and was acquainted with Brennan two years
and with Burning four years; they saw each other
every day. and sometimes used to meet to have
good time drinking beer; the night Boardman's
brennan proposed when they had done drinking to
burn down the barn and bring out the hre de-
returned and said to him that he had
done the job. When the fire under way three
OF them went down the street halooins "Fire' Then
they returned and helped to extinguish the flames.
Witness and CJnrarton atterward had fight. Wall
ter Burling paid tor the beer and 1t right away
after the drinking OF it that Brennan proposed to
the barn ON ire.
Thomas Connarton, who wore . most hangdog
look and whose mind appeared q perfect blank said
he knew the other prisoners, but could say tor
how long time. tie was ut the fire and assisted in
putting 1t out. On being asked what he did in the
hsu bav ali
denied that there any truth in tho affiavits he
made q few days ago swearing that lac saw two per-
tight with Bulger because he accused him OF setting
the barn on fire.
Deputy Sheriff Hance said he talked with Brennan
about this business and lac admitted giving Buger
the matches to start the fire.
TRACES OF INcRNDrARIsM.
Mr. Boardman, the owner OF barn. said he
knew nothing of the fre till the next mornina bur
he could easily determine when he visited the
that 1t was the work OF incendiaries. traces OF
bundle of hay purposey stuck in opening con-
vinced him that 1t had been put there and
Thomas Brennan, another of the prisoners said
he was eighteen years old and had worked u short
while on the railroads. He with tue boys
night. and 1t was proposed to burn down Isaac
Peck's barn. but they found it could not be done
that night. 80 they selected Boardmans: "Me and
Burling,' he said, event over to Boardmans 5, and
burning showed In u shutter and struck match
and set the place lighting"
Justice Lever asked IL ne knew anything about the
fire at Parsons barn. to whlcn he replied
well. Burling wanted me TO go and start it of.
but he said IL didn't he would uo il himself
He said he was usually in company with Burling
two or three times week. He frequently slept
with him in barn after coming home late from u
ball or picnic when his own house would be closed
against him for the night.
This closed the testimony. District Attorney Down
ing saying that there nothing proved against
Connarton; that Bugcr was already convicted u
charge of larceny. and that the for the Grand
Jury lay against Burling and brennan.
Ff
FIRE IN HOTEL.
cloud Of smoke rose about haifpsst eight o'clock
last night from the windows of the second story Of
No. 3ol Chambers street. occupied by John II. Lin
herman. as a hotel. and known the White Star
House. Before alarm could be given the glare OF the
thrown across the street. aud the
flames sweeping the apartments through their
length and breadth. When the engines reached
Tho scene q couple of streams turned