Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-12-09
ARRESTED FOR ARSON.
The Fire ON Main Street Yesterday
Morning Said 90 Have Been
Ineendiary and Che shipping-Cier< Ar
rested for the Crime.

The destruction of Patrick's cotton-gin,
on Main street, opposite the Mississippi
and Tennessee depot, an account OF which
was given in the APPEAL yesterday MORN,
ing, is now said to be due to the premedi-
tated efforts OF Robert Gardiner, the ship
ping clerk, who has been arrested, charged
with arson. Suspicion was first directed
toward him on account OF circumstance
which came under the notice of Patrolmen
Mccall and Randolph. While walking by
the gin at ! 80 o'clock Yesterday morning,
they noticed light within, and peering
through crack, saw Gardiner walking
about with lantern. They naturally
concluded he was the watchman, and
passed on. A few moments afterward
they heard an alarm of fire and looking
back saw the gin in flames. When Gardi-
ner was arrested by Capt. O'Haver yester-
day forenoon, he denied that he had been
about the gin, but said that he went to the
theater and afterward went to bed.
Mr. Wes Harris, who run the gin, said,
when questioned, that Gardiner was at his
house at O'Clock, and that he went to bed
at once and did not leave the house dur
ing the night.
"Are you certain that he did not go to
the theater?" was asked.
81 am" he answered positively.
Gardiner boards and lodges with Mr..
Harris.
On another important head the most
conflicting statements are made. When
Gardiner was first arrested he was asked
how many bales of cotton were in the gin,
| and said there We're ten bales. When
Harris was asked the same question he
replied there were thirteen or fourteen.
The engineer, man named Russell, states
that there were but three bales of cotton
in the gin when it was burned. There
are some other facts connected with this
rather peculiar affair which may demand
investigation. Friday evening the man
| who sleeps in the gin was sent down TO
Ensley's with a horse, with instructions to
meet Mr.. Harris somewhere on the road
and give him the animal to ride back
| This was done on the presumption that
Harris had already gone down to the
| plantation. 1t transpires, however, that
he did not go. He explains that he took
supper at Raggio's and missed the boat
The engineer, Russell, inforp.ed Gardi-
ner, when they were closing up business
| Friday evening, that he had engaged a
| party to sleep at the gin that night, as the
regular man was absent. Gardiner replied
that he intended to stay Himself, and did
not want anyone TO come about there, init
mating that he expected to entertain fe-
male acquaintance. Russell also SAYS that
/ gave CSulS " hctp Il
man away from the mill who had been
hanging about all day to collect some
money for cotton sold to Harris. On ac-
count of these and other facts, Russell dee
clares that he thought it would be good
fdea to get his tools out OF the gin in case
of an accident.
The gin, which is wooden structure,
was leased by Mr.. Marsh Patrick to Mr..
Wes Harris for the season at the rate of
$500, or $500 month. There was clause
in the lease by which rents were to cease
in case OF fire. Harris has paid $500 in
rents, but his last note for $500, it is al
legged, went to protest. The place was COW
cred by $4,000 in the Mechanics and Ira
ders Company, of New Orleans; also $500
in the Southern, of New Orleans, of which
G. Mason is agent. The Merchants, OF New
Jersey, represented by Maj. Murphy, had
a risk OF $3.50 on cotton. The gin was
totally destroyed.