The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-23
FIRING A TENEMENT.
THE LIVES OF rwESTY-FoUR FAMILIES JEoPAE-
DIzED-DEMPsEy AND PERLEY POSITIVELY

THE LIVES OF rwESTY-FoUR FAMILIES JEoPAE-
DIzED-DEMpsEy AND PERLEY POSITIVELY
IDENTIFY THE ALLEGED ''FIREBUGs.
The trial of Isaac Perlstein. Jointly indicted with
David Freeman Charles Berns tein and Joseph Levy
on the charge of arson in the first degree was re-
sumed yesterday, before Judge Cowing, in Part or
the Court of General Sessions The peculiar chaiac-
ter of the and the Nervousness OF the crime inn
puted to the accused attracted large number OF
spectators. The prisoner sat next his counsel Mr.
Charles W. Brooke. but remained almost motionless
the entire day. The specific charge was the setting
fire to the tenement house No. IL Ludlow street, on
the night Of the 10th of November. for the purpose
of securing certain money. the building ut
the time being occupied by about twenty-four
families.
Daniel Dempsey. fireman of Engine Company No. 0.
was then examined He had the prisoner about
twenty times before the fire took place. sometimes
two three times day; he had been detailed to
watch him; he knew the three other defendants. and
had seen them together; he first saw Pcrlsten
Bernstein and Freeman on the night in question at
No. so East Broadway. where there is lager beer
saloon kept by man named Siegel; they left there
about quarter past nine O'clock they went up East
Broadway to Rutgers street. thence to NO. %
Essex street, Perlstein carried basket on
his arm at the tiine which he had with
company with Charles Perley, of the Fire Marshals
Office remained the opposite side of the streets
Freeman went into the hall OF tho building; PERL
stein handed the basket to Bernstein. crossed
the street, looked about him. then recrossod and
followed Freeman into No. % Essex street. while
Bernstein remained on the corner with the baskets
bo,h Freeman and Perlstein then out together,
and Freeman handed Perlstein demij ohm. and they
went to the corner and joined Bernstein; witness
and Perley followed them Hester street to Ludlow
and they entered the building No IL Perey went in
after them; witness saw Perlstein reaching
pun in the blinds; Freeman then descended
and came out on the street by the alley entrance,
anu walked up ana Gown ihe street. came
Freeman returned to No. 62 East Broadway, ana went
into the saloon about ten O'Clock; witness then
went into the engine house at No. 90 East Broadway
and warned the assistant foreman, who at once had
the horses htcned up witness then stood in front
OF No. 63 when the alarm given, and he after
the engine to No. IL Ludlow street. there
fire burning III the third story where he had seen
Perlstcin put his head out Of the window; the alarm
sounded ten minutes alter he had spoken to the
sistan foreman in the engine house; witness, with
the other fremen, entered the rooms and found the
| place abaze, put the fire was quickly exnguished,
| the engine having been promptly on hand. Wit
ness then described the movements of the accused
| men during the rest of the evening.
| DEMPSEY POSITIVELY IDENTIFIES PERLsTEIN.
The witness was examined at great length by 1lr.
third story window i'll Ludlow street. He said it was
bright moonlight night, and swore distinctly to
! the identity of Ierlstein the man he closing
| the shutters
Charles II. Perley then called by Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Rollins, who corroborated the for
mcr witness story. He further stated that he had
followed the accused to No. IL Ludlow street and
| them unlock the doors OF the room the third
story and enter; shortly after Freeman out and
he (witness who watching from the stairs above,
followed him out but again returned to the building
and in about fifteen minutes Perstein and Bernstein
out, locking the door behind them and, Joining
Freeman went the direction of Canal street; wit
| ness remained III the building and in short time
discovered that the room just vacated by the three
men was tire; he at forced open the door and
saw the lounge fire, another fire in the centre of
the floor, another by the window facing the street
to Hester street and another in the bedroom
clothing saturated with kerosene was scattered
the floor; witness sounded the fire alarm and rushed
back to the building, where. with the assistance
OF some citizens, he succeeded III extinguishng the
flames. There two distinct fires on the lounge
| one ut each end. When the fremen arrived the
| flames nearly extinguished. The hoor was
saturated with Kerosene oil there was some on the
lounge, and a connection was made to the bedroom.
\ Everything upside down, materials soaked in
the oil being scattered in every direction. The floor
| charred, especially near the window, under
| which fire had been lighted. Witness discovered
several cheap calico dresses piled table in the
centre OF the room, which had also taken fire. All
the articles found saturated with kerosene OIL
Witness remained ut the scene until the insurance
| patrol had cleaned up and got things in shape.
| The further hearing OF the case will be resumed
| to-day.