Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-05-03
THE FIRE KIDS.
Ebe Result or the Examination The
Boys Held for Court.


The examination of the juvenile fire bugs
took place Yesterday morning at the jail,
and developed several new facts-that IS 10
say, il brought these facts, already known
to the reporter, in such shape as to admit
OF their publication. A good sized crowd
attended this hearing, composed for the
most part of friends and relatives OF the
Youthful prisoners. Captain Dovener aP-
peared for John Greiner, alas joseph
Seidler. and for one or two of the others,
he was not exactly sure whom. MIR. Jor-
dan, of course, represented the state
Tailor Davis was put upon the stand AFTER
Seidler had been produced and duly IN,
stalled in the prisoners chair. he testineu
that on Friday night George Gray maze
the confession already published, 10 which
Seidler the next morning subscribed. say
ing everything il contained was true zap
tain Dovener wanted to know how Davis
came TO get these confessions, which elic-
tied the following: In the morning after
Gray's confession, a signal was heard up
stairs. and. the night Waterman going up,
brought Seidler to the office. There DAVIS
had read him Gray's confession. 10 winch
he also affixed his name, saying II was
right, word for word.
Doyener-Did you caution him that what
he said might be used against him A
No sir. | said he had better tell the truth
and If ne was guilty TO confess II anu IL
would go easier with him.
O-You said il would go easier with him.
did youo A-Yes, said it would 90 TO
making his sentence lighter
Doyener (ssttO vOce THAT kind OF con-
fpssion. with such an induCement don
amount to anything.
Will. McC .ure clerk al the Fire and
Marine Insurance Company, testified that
$40 CoO or 81. go would be low valuation
for the North Wheeling Glass Works.
George ". Eckhart testified TO having
owned the now destroyed coPperas factory,
which lie had valued at between SlUO and
81 500. He knew the residence OF Mlchaei
Sweeney, destroyed by ire on the night oi
April sd and knew that sweeney and us
family were in il at the time oil me hre'
Frank Winan. a bright young boy, was an
important witness and teStIhed, on tue
direct examination, a follows:
O.-Do YOU know GreiEer? A.-Ge5.
O.-And Abe Boston? A.-les.
0.-Were YOU in their company about two
weeks ago" Ayes; them and Frank
Church and me was walking up the railroad
and when we got to the Water Works they
said they had burnt the Copperas works
and Church said they had better let up
on it.
Q.-Didy you go to the Glass House hire
A-Ies, sir.
ODD you help move things out: A
No sir
Q.-Did you know Michael Sweeney's
house A.-Nes. sir; ii was burnt that
night.
Cross examined by Captain Doyener.
O-Wherc do you live" AIN North
Wheeling. I'm third hand at the Top mill
Am acquainted with Greinder, as we call
him. That's him pointing TO Solder
Q.-Well when were you with him, did
YOU say? A.-On the railroad track, by
the Water Works. Him and Abe Boston
and Frank Church was with me.
O.-How did this conversation come up
We was talking about working
and playing ball and one thing and anOther,
till We came to the water works. Then
Abe and them said they set the rOpperaS
works aiire.
O-Who said that? A.-Abe Boston.
Odd be say it? A.-le>, he said him
and Greinder done it.
% Tell the Squire what words he used;
say il lust rs he said it. Affirming to
Justice CALDWELL Me and John Greinder
>et the cOpperas works atire. Then Church
said they'd better let up Oh it.
O-Who is Church Ale feels nails.
He's about Il or Is years old.
Odd he say why they'd better let up
on il? A.-No, sir.
Odd Greiner say anything A-No,
sir.
Odd he hear it A.-Nes, sir. he was
right close up to Us.
Q.-Then where did you 20: A.-Went
home and went to bed II was about nine
o'clock.
Odd YOU ever speak to anyone about
. l. -
V-Why? A.-'Cause didn't believe it.
Q-How did it come out then A
Wei, William Breckenridge told ii up TO
the mill That what heard.
Odd you ever tell him A.-NO. sir.
O-How do YOU know he knew it. A
| heard it up in the mill.
Odd anyone ever come 10 you about
this? A.-NO, sir.
Odd the boys tell you how or when
they set it alire' A.-No. sir.
This ended the testimony in Soldiers
case and he was sent back to hi> cell, to
await the action of the grand Jury.
The other four boys, Gray, Boston, Ne
Cleary and IIardhle were then brought in,
and Capt Davis testified to having taken
the confession Of each OF the first three,
GRAY having confessed and the other two
signed the confession. HardIile lllOttirel
wa, only implicated in the COpperaS works
fire and he had made confession, without
promise or induCcmcnt, to Attorney J. X.
COwden.
Gray said, though not under oath, that
Breidenaugh was i'll the cell with him and
told him TO make clean breast OF It,
whereupOn he confessed.
lis Breckenridge here asked DOyener,
but no one responded and no one seemed to
know anything of it.
WAS Breckenridge in that ice cream
saloon with you, when you were arrested"
he asked of Gray.
Yes, sir
Got you boys to go there, didn't he
Yes, sir"
Il thought so.
who is this BrideRaugh;" asked Dove
ner OF anybody.
He was brought in by Captain Bennett,
is all know. said Davis.
Bennett was told to arrest all of the
boys, and he took Breckenridge in with
them, said Jordan.
Did he confess enquired DOvener. but
no one answered.
oh know they're not showing their
hand" said the Captain. soto rocc, but
they'll have to produce Breckenridge some
ing all he knows they're sharper than am.
1t then became very apparent, what every
one knows, that these confessions are not
the holds OF the prosecution. The story is
simply this; The boys, in a spirit OF brag
gadocio, boosted of these fires, and one of
their confidants told Mr. Parke of it. Ac-
cordingly, he and others made arrangements
and one night went 10 q certain place and
overheard the boys tell the whole thing
The boys, however vigorously deny the
formation of gang and stoutly assert that
no such crew exists.
The above was the substance of what was
developed yesterday morning and of course
warranted Justice Caldwell in holding the
BOYS. Mr.. Jordan said he would have a
special term OF the Grand Jury called for
the cases.