Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-11-09
THE ARSON CASES.


AAAA anyway SAAOA%O0
aEAKINGS OF THE ACCUSED TO-DAY
81. Tid " Brimmer Tells What He Knows
About Lancaster's iseisn Of lncen-
diarism-Implicstiny HIS
Accompliecs.
Thursday morning the men charged with
arson, who wero arrested last week, were
given hearings before Alderman McCon.
Omy. George Brimmer, the man who
squealed, was the only witness examined
and he testified in all Of tho cases.
The first case taken up was that of John
Staiey, who is charged with arson in tho
burning of tho barn next to Shirk's ware.
house in Christian street. Brimmer
testified that he, Harry Snyder and John
Drachbar met Staley at Humps saloon.
on Middle street, on the Sunday before
this fire. They then had - conversation
in the water closet in regard to the firing
OF the stable. Staley said there was u
man who owed him s225, which he refused
to pay, had buggy in this barn. He
wanted the money and he would fire the
barn if he did NO, get it. 1t was then
made out that they should fire IT,
On the evening of tho fire witness.
Snyder and Drachbar went up Christian
street to shanty near the stable. They
asked a man if Staiey was in the shanty,
Staley came out and they told him they
were ready. Staley said lie was. Draci,.
bar, Snyder and witness then went into tho
alley and set the building on fire. The
three walked up the alley to Lemon street
around to Duke and Walnut and then
back to the alley. The fire was then out au,i
they did not set it again. In u half al hour
afterwards another alarm of fire was caused
by this stable which was on fire again at L
different place from where witness and
party set it the ,hvc, sont to the fire and
while it Was burning Staiey took them
over to Haas saloon and treated several
times to beer Staley said. " You knocked
it gOOd;" witness told him it had gone out,
and he replied, "II il d,wn anyhow"
witness did not know that it burned from
their firing, and Staloy did not say that
he had retOuched it.
This was returned to court and Stalry
gave bail before tho mayor, who WAS pro
sent, in the sum of So, coo for trial.
The Hike Warehouse.
The next case attached was that of john
Wertz, who is charged witt, having fired
Hilko's tobacco warehouse, on Tobacco
avenue, on Whit Sunday, 1881. trimmer
testified as follows: was over at Wertz's
house on Fulton street OH this night
Wertz told his wiie that he had to so out
and light the red lamp which WAS used ut
tho Shippen street bridge he got u lot of
matches and went out !; VIC walked down
Fulton street to Shippen Wertz sail
Lots 60 over and have Il fire ~ We
went down tho avenue to tho warehouse
In, fl.sl 81, ttn,
there was desk close to tho window and
there were baskets with waste paper
around he took the paper and placed it
around the leg oi tho table he sprinkled
something from bottle around the legs
of the table and then fire.! it We then
shut the shuttor aud went down to t!,a
railroad and thence to Plum street |
think left Wertz at Chestnut street anl
l went on up Plum was at last King
and Plum when the alarm was sounded
VIC met no Quo ON tho strocts befOrs or
after the fire.
This case was also returned tN cpur.
and the defendant was committed in &c
fault OF s., 900 bail.
Tho Old sash Factory.
The third case was that Of Harry Sny
der, charged with firing tho old sash fac
tory in Plum street, Erimmsr testified
Snyder, Drachbar and were at the engine
house Oh this night, and We talked of hay
ing some fun !; Draehbar got bottle of
coal oil and | took = piecs Of waste ; wo
went to tho factory and jumped
over the fence from tho alley
there was big hole under tho
foundation !; Snyder and Drachbar got
under and fired the building, and We then
placed door over the hole We then gOs
over tho fence and left when ON East.
King street, between Ann and Plum, tho
American bell rang !; wo met tho hOs.,-
carriage on East King street, and Snyder
got on one side and on the other Zab
Wise had tho carriage, aud Drachbar SAT-;
"Hold her back and let her have start
On crOss-examina:iOn tho witness said
that they did no. speak Of setting any
special building on fire when ut tho en-
gine-hOuse when they got near the
factory witness said ''Therc is good
ono, and they then went to tho building.
This case waa returned to court. The
same amount OF bail was asked and de-
fendant was unable to furnish it.
Chas. j. Whitos House.
John Daley was charged with firing this
place and his case was next taken up.
Brimmer was again examined. He testi-
fled : On this night l was at tho American
house when Daley came up; We had u
short talk and no saidsho had set Whites
barn on FIRE few nights before; Whilo
talking he said, "Lct's set the house GA
fire." the house was right next to the en-
gine house told him would not do il :;
he said he would do it himself. l gavo
him lot of waste out of tho engine;
then went out and saw: Daily go into til.
alley aud through tho fence into Whites
lot; | stood there u whlle and then
came out to Church street; Daily
and l soon smclled smoke. He said he
was going home. and walked down Churci,
street II went to East King street and
then to Middle; met girl and took her
down to South Queen street, near the
cemetery when l came back l went to
bed, and the fire alarm was lung.
On crOss-examinatiOn tho witness said
he had soaked the waste we'll with oil be-
fore giving it to Daily. 1t was an hou=
from the time he gave it to him until ho
heard the alarm.
The defendant was held for trial on this
case in default Of bail.
Henry's Feather Factory.
In the next case Daily was charged with
firing the feather factory Of BENJAMIN
Henry, in Mi1liip street, near Lime. in
1870. Brimmer testified: For this night
Daily and and fellow whose name do
not recOllect, were at the hose house ]
went inside and got bottle of oil and
waste We then started for the stable
We left the third man standing at Lime
street and Daily and went to the factory;
there was board off the she'd Daily put
the waste in and touched it off; when
- \ 10 hos