The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-01-25

ESDA 1 MO11NlNU, d
Is heated by small stove, the pipe o
which passes through the middle room, Il
which the chimney is located. The build
ing is an old one and tho hole being tht
worse for usage made very suitable open
ing through which the conversation In thu
front room
COULD BE HEARD VERY DISTINCTLY
by any one who took the pains to listen a
the other side, In addition TO thisa smRl
hole was broken through the plaster, which
served us an additional peep.hole.
AS stated before, meetings between Wat.
ktns and the woman we're arranged to be
held at this place. Arrangements were
also made between the woman and Detcc
tive MCAIahan that whenever these meet.
iRgs were held tho officer was to be sta.
toned in the middleroom SO that he might
hear all that passed between them. The
first meeting was held on Monday night,
aud 1t was then that the detective tirst
heard utteranCes from Watkins thNt gave
him hopes Of finally accomplishing his puF-
pose. The substance OF Watkins ate.
tnents that evening was that the mill shut
down ut about O'clock. Ferguson went
TO supper and Watkins remained at the
mill without supper. Ferguson returned
to the mill Mt I:S0, and they had o conver-
sation. The former complainedof OF not feel.
ing well, and went to drug store and got
a dose Of rhubaFb. Watkins expected him
to return,
buT lie DID SoT,
and he did not sec him again TINT night.
Watkins waited Mt the mill until about s
o'clock and then went home. On the way
he got very nervous aud tremblcd, He
felt sick and stopped in saloon and got a
hot punch and then went home and to bed
The next he heard was the iandiady in his
room calling him. He jumped up very
much excited, and she told him the mill
was on fire. He was so much excited that
in dressing he got the wrong boot on the
wrong foot. The insurance amounted to
$1,000, in fourteen different companies.
He gave as n reason for putting il in so
many companies that il they had q small
amount in each they would not investigate
the fire as closely, because the amount Yas
so small that ii would not pay to bother
about it. When twitted with being sly
one he replied: "Well, you bet We know
how to take insurance; we take $1,000 a
week, and do not create any suspicion"
1t is but justice TO Mr.. Cornell Of the
firm, 10 say that in all Watkins converse
ton before being arrested lie never impli-
Gated his name with the transaction in any
way.
These meetings were held nightly or
more than one night was never missed ut
q time. The conversation was not always
relating to the destruction Of the mill, how-
ever, for the old gentleman appeared to
really like the woman whom he was max
ing his con6dant and the silent watchers
were now and then treated to
A LOVE MAKING SCENE.
which to say the least varied the monotony
OF the affair. frequently when tic came in
in the evening he would bring a package Of
candy, and while discussing the deiicacies
he would relate to her the process Of the
clearing out sale OF the damaged goods or
deliver Il brief history of his life in Wheel
ing, where he lived before coming to
Toledo. Little by little, the detective says,
was got out OF him until Monday night
Inst, when the crisis was reached, and he
gave up enough to fully warrant an arrest
being made. II is sail that be admitted
that the burning OF the mill was planned
and executed by himself and Ferguson.
He made the confession TO the woman,
and as soon as fIe had given it up he fell
on his knees ut her feet and cried like Il
child. He remained in that position mo-
ment and then rising to his feet began
pacing the floor and said he wished he was
dead. lie was very much excited and once
walked up to the partition and pulled Il
small crumb OF plaster from place
scarcely
FOUR INCHES FROM THE DETECTIVES NOSE,
he crossed the floor again and rs he re-
turned he pushed his finger into hole
through which another witness was listen
ing and nearly touched the latters ears,
Hecarried on in this manner for some time
when he finally became quieter and then
begged her never to tella word OF what had
passed between them. 1t was agreed then
Us soon rs tho insurance money was paid
over the pair would leave the city for some
place where neither had acQuaintances and
live in peace1and plenty.
Although thedetectiyeth thought sufficient
ly strong evidence had been procured
against him, he did not care to make the
arrest for several days, believing that he
would not attempt to leave the city before
getting his insurance. Thursday night,
however, his actions being suspicious, he
was placed under arrest. Detective Bu.ger
was called into the case, and Watkins was
arrested about 0 o'clock. He took the arrest
as coolly us though it had been an invita-
ton to tea and when informed OF the
charge pretended entire ign0rance OF the
affair. He was taken to the rooms yOster-
day morning and shown the clay OF the
ground" and how he had been worked, but
the only expression that could be got out oi
him was
y KNOW NOTHING ABOUT 1T"
Yesterday after being imprisoned he
sent word to his partner, Mr.. Ferguson, to
come and see him, but the latter returned
word that he had no time. In a short time
afterwards he was also arrested on SINH
lar charge OF arson preferred by Detective
McAlalian. Statements made by Watkins
yesterday afternoon reflected on Mr.. Cor.
nell and as Il precautionary measure the
latter was also arrested, but the detective
is free TO express his belief as TO his limo.
Cence. He was released at once on 81 900
bail. This morning it was learned that
there was an irregularity in the form OF the
atfidavits and new ones were prepared in
which the name OF Mr.. Cornell was omitted
SO the case is practically dropped against
him..
Judge Lorenz has fixed the bail on Fer
guson and Watkins at $1,000 each, and ar
effort is being made to secure it, but as vel
without success, Both of the men are Al
present locked up Mt the Central Police
Station, They will probably have theil
examination the fore part OF next week.
1t is supposed that the object in setting
fire to the mill was to get the insurance
which, however, has not yet been paid aRG
probably will not be now that this turn il