The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-15
WHITES TONES INoENDIARIEs.
Several Members ofa Family Confes.ins Their
Guilt on the witness Stand.

The busy and beautiful town OF White
stone. L. l.. enjoyed a novel sensation last night
in the startling revelations that were made be-
fore the Sheriffs jury who, under the direction
OF District Attorney B. W. Downing and Deputy
Sheriff Dennis J. CARL. finished their lnvesti-
cations into the origin OF the fire that destroyed
the buildings OF Thomas Martin. in Whitestone
on May %. The fire happened at about 2
o'clock In the morning. and at one time threat
ened the almost complete destruction OF the
town. Fortunately. the wind was favorable.
and the Whitestone flremen saved the adjoining
dwellings. AS tho burned buildings were un-
occupied. rumor was soon at work to discover
the origin OF the fire. 1t soon came out that the
property was mortRaged. and the mortgage was
to be foreclosod; that Martin was in financial
trouble. and had insured the property for more
than full value in the National Fire Insurance
Company. his policy being for $4,000. District
Attorney Downing. under an old statute. caused
the impanellnR OF a Jury Of investigation.
composed OF townsmen. and since tho 9th
instant they have been doing their utmost
70 ferret out the mystery. aided by Justice
ment OF David Sammonds and James Acker-
man on suspicion, but they were not making
% Yate decetyes james H NJ riley Ss3 Samuel %
Lowell Of Murray street, got clew to tho in
cendlaIies. They applied TO Justice Frame.
assist them. The officer worked up the case 80
efficiently that in a short time they had laid
bare the most complete evidence OF arson. and
had captured all the cuprits. They succeeded In
lodging in Flushing jail Clarence Sehotker, liv-
ihge pa s,Teet MeS a9Ek VINO Ees
OF about IL; Mrs, Alfalfa Crane his sister; Mrs.
Laura sebotker his mother; Mrs. Martin. the
mothers sister, and Mr.. Martin
One after another was led to confess. each be:
ing stimulated by the. fact that the other had
finally tho whole story
the arson came out. admitted by all except Mr.
Martin. who still denies his guilt. All the con-
iessions were made and taken in writing be-
fore Justice Frame between the sessions Of the
jury, and the prisoners were committed to
await the action of tho Grand Jury
The session last night was for the purpose OF
having the witnesses tell their story before the
Sherins Jury. so that they might go through
the form Of completing their investigation, 1t
was sort OF gala evening In the town. and the
utmost interest was evinced in tho story Of the
crime that came so near destroying one OF our
most beautiful suburban towns.
First came Mrs. Sebotker. q buxom matron OF
46. who told how her sister. Mrs. Martin. came
over TO visit her. and bewaied the financial diff
nculties that surrounded the house. Mrs Mar
tin said she would give 800 TO have the house
ance. She did not directly ask Clarence but
Mrs. Sebotker went out and left thom together.
Ie Paul Seboker G toId 1I how m be Went ont TO
the house with his big brother. Clarence. They
went in the night and got in through the win
dow, which had been left open by Martin. who
was living In Jamaica. They found in the house
netting, shavings. wood. and n three-Rallon
can OF kerosene that had been left by Martin
ready for the Job. The witness described how
Clarence placed the combustibles aud set fire to
the house in several places Then they went
of little way. and the witness saw the fire
shoot up to the sky. and he thought 1t was fine
sight.
Clarence sebotker corroborated his brothers
story. and told how his aunt had promised him
500 II no would do the Job. He hired Sam
mons and Ackerman to help him. and prom
ised to give one $50 and the other s25 They
went over to the house the night before the fire.
and walked out to Whitestone, but they got
there too late to do the Job. Then Sammons
and Ackerman backed out. so that he had TO 20
| and take his brother with him the next night
Mrs. Crane went upon the stand aud revoked
her former denials. Before the detectives had
completed their Investigations. she had hoen
summoned. aud stoutly denied the whole affair.
| She had fully baffled the lawyers. and set the
auditors laughing at them by her keen retorts.
| Inst night she was more subdued. and candidly y
confessed that she knew OF the plot 20 burn the
promises, She denied. however. that her bro
| ther had done the deed for money and said that
| he had consented because the family were
| She declared that when she found out what was
| to be done she protested that II was n very
| wrong act. but as the thing had gone pretty FAR.
! she !a u 20 on, because II was none OF her
1 business.
| The jury under the instructions OF the Dis
| trict Attorney, found that Clarence SebotkeT
| and his brother Paul were the principals. and
| Mr.. and Mrs. Martin and Mrs. Laura Sebotker
| tho accessories to the incendiarism. The pris.
| oners were committed for trial in Long Island
| City a week from next Monday