New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-03-30
INCENDLARIES AT BREWSTER.
ARREST OF THREE YOUNG MEN.
ONE OF THEM DISCHARGED AFTER AN ExAMINA-
TON.

Al
TON.
FROM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSE.l
BREWSTER, March 29.-William and Thomas Waeh-
burn, brothers. and William Warren, cousin were
arrested yesterday morning the former in New-York
and the two latter at their respective homes here
charged with arson. For the last year, at intervals
of two or three weeks, the inhabitants of Brewster
have been startled by the alarm of fire
at just about the hour of retiring
Last November the town-ha large
hat factory aud printing Office were burned down
in a single night Store sheds an unoccupled tan
merry, an ce-hOuse attached to Borden's condensed
milk factory, j. j. HOwe's lumber yard, and
the engine-hOuse, among the buildings which,
since January / this year. have been destroyed in
this way.
On the first of the year many of the residents
informed by the insurance companies
that unless precautions taken and bet
ter facilities procured to extingush prevent the
fres they would withdraw their policies. This
action the part of the companies melted the Fire
District Board, composed of S. f. McAlann, presi
dent; L. w. Adds secretary. and A. +. Lob
dell and Philip Diehl, trustees to take imme-
liate action. On March a meeting was
called. TO which the hose company of the township
was invited. From certain members of the
of the young about town had
been refused admttance as active members
into the company. and that these young men had
threatened " to make things lively" for them.
The Fire Board, unbeknown to anybody in the
town. through their secretary, L. W. Adds, hired
John Donnelly, a detective IN the employ of +. +.
Dumphy detective in New-YOrk. About twelve
DAYS ago Donnely came to Brewster and obtained
employment in the livery-stable of l.. A.
Shove. lie at began associating with
the young here. meeting them mt the
hotel and PLAYING billiards, and going out riding
with them. In short time he became general
favorto lie was familiary known as Jack"
Last Monday evening the hay shed of George Hall
was burned. On that same evening William Wash
burn bought oil of F. T. Foster and matches of A. f.
Lobdel, storekeepers, and went around Boosting
that he would very soon give the hose company
some employment. Last Tuesday morning he real
lied that by his IndsCreet Boosting he had aroused
TIE suspicious Of the residents and he cOmmunicat-
ed cunfdenlially TO Jack" who by this time was
very intimate with him, that he thought he was
suspected and he invited him TO take trip TO New
York The invitation was accepted. and they made
the Libby House. then at Twenty-scyenth-st and
Fourth-ave., their headquarters.
Donnelly previous II his departure. informed Mr.
Adds who at once procured warrant from Justice
Danial +. SeyTs. and in company with Constable |
d. Freer he went TO New-York yesterday morn
ing The warrant issued for the arrest Of both
the detective and w. Washburn. AMI at the Police J
Headquarters they were both confined in a room |
~ prlscners, Nashbum all the time still thinking |
J ack his friend. and believing that the authorizes !
At Brewster regarded HIM as an accompce IN the /
act
While confined AT the Police Headquarters In |
Ncw-Yurk Washburn told the detect We that he hal |
set fire 10 the hay shed. duplicating his brother |
and cousin. He confessed 10 assisting In !
setting hre to many of the buildings |
hat have been destroyed during the last year. On /
morning. on the strength OF this
confession, Thomas W lshburn and William War
rem were arrested here. When confronted with the
confession OF Wilham. they accused him o planning
nuI carrying out the whole business and denied
took place this morning before Justice stevens,
which resulted ia the acqnittai Of William Warren
through their mutual rccrimlnltiun'.
IL II tboupht that three or four
more OF the Ytiinns around tho town will be
implicated bohro the trial is over. Tho
Fire Board and the people have de-
lcrmincd to spare no money or trouble
IN ferTcting out The origin OF these fires
aud in Prosecuting he offenders to the full
tent OF the law. The result of the
letect,yeE work has given general satisfaction TO
% have their former feeling of security.
The Washburn brothers uni, very recently have
been emp Dyed IN Bordens COndcns d MIX Factory
Is bOX-makcrs: they are twins ana are twcnty-Ohe
ycars of age and live on the outskirts of tho town
With their widowed mother "A d their sister William
Warren. their cousin. has always been considered
capegoat by The people. He IL sixteen years of
Igc, was tx pcled from the village school. and has
,ren discharged from tSO or three places on
recount of hi, ildOent and shiftleis character.
The Washburn brothers are still IN jail. an their
asses will go before the Grand Jury. Their offence
5 arson in the third degree The penalty for
Which is seven years the SAFE Prison.
they both. while partially acknowledging their
uit IN setting fire To some OF the small sheds,
uphatically deny any knowledge of the origin of
he lire in some OF the larger factories which were
ufncd.
But public opinion is emphatically against them,
Notwithstanding the fact that their
iothcr aud sister at the trial to-day
wore that on the nights of certain fires
ney AZ home aud in bed. It Is believed that
no authorities are Ia receipt of information which
OF only proves the Washburns guilty, but impll-
u ties "a few more of the young men OF the town.