The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-12-19
VENGEANCE rIInEArENED.
Inccndiary Fire In the OfHec OF Ono OF inc
stnr.Route Observation-Disclosures, Brew
stcr, and Bl.ss Informed that They arc
MorLrd Men.

In Washington Saturday evening an In
cendiary fire was discovered In room adj
Joining the Office OF Hon. X. 4. Mcrrics,
lending counsel for the prosecution OF the
star-route conspiasors.
Mr.. Merrick's story OF the fire was that
the tine II started he was talking win
Chief Clerk Lyman, Of the Second Assist
ant PostmaSter-Gcneral's Office, and Special
AGENT Woodward. OF the Post-Oflce De-
partrlcnt, when his door-bcl rang, and The
servant who answered the call WAS told
that his employers Office was on fire. Mr.
Merrick and his friends Immediately went
60 The scene and found the fire in
A. room which had not been oc-
cupicd for several years. and which
was fully fifteen PAGES distant from a
nuc. The key OF this room hung beside the
door. In the passage adjoining it, ana there
would have been 70 difficulty experienced
in obtaining admission - il by any one
eony0rsaut with the premises. The PR
yate Office Of Mr. liorrick Is not lnany ieet
distant frcm the rcoBi in which the Lre
yas .ound. aud CT the Ioor OF which Il
bundle OF hal;-bGrncd VoO'len stun was
discovered By ,hc french. Tie Office was
damaged 10 such an extent that it VIII be
unfit Tor occupancy for sCmo time 10 come,
but the valuable Law library OF Mr.. Mcf-
rick Wa saved from injury.
From Mr.. Melrich i. was learned iurthcr
that be and his associates lad also on sly
cr;l occasions received threatening letters.
To Il reporte. he said:
"AnIcugh ] have received warning lei-
teys. in which my removal was suggested"
said Nr. Mcrrick. -. / did rot for iidutc
entertain an idea OF being attacked 10y IRE.
paid but little attention TO these letters.
and after glancing over them would throw
Gem into ny asic-Jaskct. | mentioned
the subject to q detective, who kad Dils'-
na.s with lne, and Le regretted that had
destroyed the letters, rs they might have
iul-.ishcda clue TO The detection 81 my. IN
kncWn CORE sponGest. | cannot >ay that
anY specific threats were INDUCED in, but
hints were thrown out thai ] had better bc
Oh NY guard: that | was Il marked man.
ana similar eXprg ssiOas.
enquiry at tie Aitorney-GencraFs Office
showed that Mr.. Brewster had received
letters Of the same character, and George
Dl;ss, on the occasion o! q recent visit 10
new York. was warned that ii he did not
desi,t in bis persecution OF the star-route
defendants he would be assasSina,cd. We
it!et INV - ilt'it'Hiif 'N'tiiti--tA t'i'Ns va
tie subject. but cannot say that we gave
much attention 10 the warnings. In all
this trouble about star-routcs / did not
suppose that any enc would be malicious
enough to attempt to iniure my family ~
fire or otherwise. 40 matter hat grievance
was held against lie. Ii il WAS thought that
by starting a i're in ny Office any documents
relating 20 the trial would nc destroyed the
inccHdiary Wa sadly mistaken, for | %
not call 10 mind anything Of the Kind tilat
i kept there. Besides, ! want 10 say aii
doubt Las been removed from my lnlnd =
to Tie guilt OF the defendants, and nothing
that they attempt against ne Will caGse lie
to swcryc irom ~ task, which l. t. cou-
Wet them ana send then! to prison. Why.
ii they burned M i9nily one after another
| woilld go from the funerals TO the cour,-
room and rot rest till had secured con-
yiAi0n. No sensible mai entcriaiA; any
doubt rs 10 the guilt Of these men, ANA We
are daily pi.ing Tc!iCn Oh Ossa in the
shape OF Evidence