The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-01-11

A DIABoLIcAL ACr.-A diabolical attempt
TO burn the dwelling Of Mr.. VIM. b. Thomas,
on Main street in this city, was made on Wed
nesday night last. Nj. Thomas wife and
infant child were both very sick at the time,
and Mrs. Bennett and Mrs. Macintosh we're
at the house attending them. During the
night they were awake frequently, and about
clock aroused Mr.. Thomas and asked him
to go down stairs and see if everything was
all right, as they heard noise and smelled
smoke. Mr.. Thomas did SO; and in looking
in the rooms discovered nothing unusual, but
did not look out Of doors around the yard.
He told the ladies everything was all right,
and retired again. The young woman en-
ployed in the family always prepares bas'
ket Of kindling at night with which TO start the
kitchen fire in the morning, and puts il in the
kitchen. On Wednesday night she left It by
the steps on the back porch, and in going out
to get il Thursday morning discovered hole
about ten inches square burned in the porch
floor where the basket had been left. A
clothes horse, with clothes on it, Just near
the hole, was scorched little, as was also the
side of the house, and some Of the clothes
were burned. The smell Of coal oil was
strong, and scattered around the place Of FIRE
were a large number Of matches, some Of
which had not burned, owing to the dampness.
The individual or individuals who made the
attempt to fire the house, went prepared with
coal oil and matches, and discovering the
kindling, saturated it with OIL and left it
against the the side Of the house, believing
that the flames would set fire to the building
and their design be accomplished. Rain was
falling at the time, and everything was damp;
besides, the stone basement extended foot
or eighteen inches above the basket Of kind.
ling, and the flames were not suificientto reach
the Misunderstanding.
Mr.. Thomas has no open enemies, and is
well regarded generally in this town and coun-
ty, and the author Of the wicked act is unsus-
pected. Had he succeeded in his attempt to
fire the building, it is more than likely that
Mrs. Thomas and her child, both of whom
were very sick, would not have survived the
the consequent excitement.
About noon on Thursday, Mr.. Thomas dis.
covered, ongoing to his stable, that an attempt
to burn it had also been made. After the at
tempt to fire it some time ago, he had wire
gauze put on the inside of the windows. In
the window on the alley he found on Thurs
day piece of the DEMOCRATIC ADVOCATE, Of
December Il, 1878, partly burned, and o twig
pulled from a pine bush lying up the alley
some twenty yards, with which it was attempt
ed to push the paper through the window Stats
The paper was twisted too tightly to burn
much, and the window was only charred n
| little. Had it not been for the wire gauze,
the ineendiary would have pushed the lighted
paper through on the straw within, and the
building with its contents, including horse,
would have been destroyed.
| A piece of the ADVOCATE, used to fire the
building was found by DR.. +. I. Shaw in the
alley near Mr.. Thomas stable, together with
another piece OF paper. The people were so
incensed at this attempt to destroy property,
and the possibility Of burning up Mr. Thomas
and family, that had the incendiary been
known on Thursday he would perhaps have
been lynched unceremoniously.
RESUMPTION IN CARRoLL.-0n application
at the several Banks in this county, since re-
sumption day, we learn that there has been
no demand for gold, whatever. The First
National Bank of this city has paid out
about $500, mostly in half eagles, for peck.
ct pieces and keepsakes. The Farmers and
Mechanics National Bank has paid out some
gold, but has received as much as it has paid
away. The Union National Bank has had no
demand for gold at all. The only transaction
was the presentation of gold at its counter,
with a request for change, halfin gold ofsmall.
err denominations. The First National Bank
of New Windsor has had no demand for the
| yellow metal; no one has seemed to want it.
1t has paid out, however, about $500 in gold
and taken in about one-fourth that amount.
Some said they had no purses suitable for
holding it, and others were afraid Of losing
it. People WHO clamored for resumption, are
very much in the condition of the Frenchmau
who loaned sum Of money to business
man, who, some time after, was reported tc
be in a shaky condition. The Frenchmar
rushed to his place of business and demanded
payment His creditor said he could pay
him, but it would put him to some nconve
nience for the time being; and, going to hi:
safe, drew outthe required sum. The French
man exctedly exclaimed-"Ah ha you go
| him then me no want him.