Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-03
AN EDITOR ACCUSED OF ARSON.
j. W. +. Ruttenber In Jail for Causing the
Fire ut Fonda

Fire at Fonda.
An Amsterdam, y. T., telegram says:
The village Of Fonda is In more excited
STATE iban IL has been for wears. Yesterday
James i. Chandler. Of the Erenirq Nelrs.
OF Gloycrsvile, confessed that he kIndled
the coriagraiion in Fonda. Friday morn
ing last. and said he was hired by j. W.
i. Ruttenber, editor and proprietor Of the
NohGUk- pdHey Dc160crdt.. Chandler has
been going ior some time under the as
sumed name OF James Case. He roomed In
Gloycrsvllle with another printer named
seyEour johnson. Last Friday morning
Chandler came home about 3 O'Clock.
I've been down to Fonda" said he;
" there's been 4 big fire there. Don't
know what ras been burned, but am -
sure RutieEher is all burned out"
That day, as the two were at work.
Chandler pulled bunch OF keys out of hi.
pocket. Nolkcrt Gctman, another printer,
recognized one Of the KEYS as belonging to
the door Of hallway OF the Jansen block.
in Fonda. IN which is the Democrat office.
Johnson also recognized the KEY. and he
and Getman began to be suspicious. Sat
urday night johnson went to his home in
Fonda. aud spent Sunday with his father,
Constable John johnson. He told
his father what he suspected. The
latter informed Deputy.Sherif McKin-
ley, and the two called Attorney
II. b. CuSbncy 20 their assistance. Chan
dlCr was arrested and brought to Fonda.
lie was taken into the office OF Mr.. Cush.
nCv, who recountod the information in his
possession, and advised him TO confess his
guilt. Chandler said that it was all true:
that he had set the fire. He then made a
taf,
This statement is being held as evidence i'm
the courts. Justice Putnam refused to
show IT. but from another source its sub
stance was obtained. II is as follows:
MY name is James Z. Chandler: nv
home. Jordon. OnOndaga county, y. Y. / |
was member OF the class OF 1878 IN Ham,
i,on College, but was expelled June l1th |
for drunkenness. ! came 10 Fonda and |
went TO work for Mr.. Ruttenber in the |
DCmOCrdt office. About the ith Of July | |
went 10 the Office Of the GlOversyie NelrS. |
A few days after the first large fire in |
Fonda Mr.. Ruttenber came to Gloversvile |
and SAID in the helrS office: Everybody /
is feeling good in Fordl. They have all |
got insurance and made money out OF il, |
and ! don't see why ! can't feel good, |
too ] replied: If you will give me
money enough, I'll 20 and burn YOU ont |
down there About week before the |
fire Ruttenber again asked me If | meant |
What | said. | answered, 'Yes; suppose /
We do If tonight Ruttenbcr said. NO: |
we'd better wait till the paper is out, !
Thursday. The day before TIE ire Rut.
cnber spoke 10 me again about the
matter. and it was arranged between
rs that | should fire the building
bat night. Ruttenber gave Inc ky
10 the Office in GIOyersyillc. and thcI
went to Fonda. Ruttcnber told me every
hing should he ready for me, and said:
IN have oil enough poured over the floor
N the closet under the stars. and papers
catered over the floor Of the office. All !
You will have 10 DO is TO 90 up in the office,
,pen the closet door, and there you will
ind broom. Touch fire 70 that and shut
he door. 50 that the blaze cannot De seen.
After II O'Clock that night | hired a
ig in Gloyersyille, drove to Full.
onyile. put the horse under a shed,
md walked over TO Fonda. | found
'yCrythmg as Ruttenber had said
md set the fire according 10 Instructions.
walked back to Fultonville. stald in the
West Shore station until O'Clock, drove
lack TO Fonda. and then home. Rutten-
Jer told me il | would do the job he would
make me 4 nice present. He also told me
ie would write as bitter an article as he
ould against the hoodums Of the village,
o as to throw suspicion on them"
Chandler was held for the grand jury.
md committed to Jail in default Of BAIL
Ruttenber was found at home about :
,'ciock SUNDAY evening by Officers McKin-
cv and Johnson, and taken into custody.
Ie had heard Of CbandleT's story. and was
OF .a1 lt,r int Of no nffi-
crs' orrand. lie was taken before Justice
'uiman. When asked what be had TO say
le replied: "What eau man say when
hey swear his life away" lie demanded
n examination at once. but was COM
nrted to Jail until 3 p. N. to-day.
when his examination occurred. The
treet was tbronged as Ruttenber was
aiken TO jail, and threats Of lynchiug were
RELY made. After being placed in cell
large crowd surrounded the Jail, with
ngry faces. utiering cries Hang him !"
Lynch him !" Ruttenber has engaged
!. Clay Hall. OF Little Falls. as counsel.
'he father Of the prisoner. +. NJ. Rutten-
er. Of NeWburg. y. y, and his father-in-
Dw, j. +. Lashcr, OF the Metropolitan
Iotel, Little Falls, visited himto-day. Mr..
Sr. is the proprietor OF u
lrge job-printing Office in Newburg. j.
Y. f. Ruttcuber purchased the .Nohdub-
diey Democrat OF John +. Ashe.
he price being $500. Ruttenber has
Ornc good reputation in Fonda, Chm
Ter j. young man Of slight figure. He
as frank c0untenance, and those who
card hls story were impressed with the
clicf that he was telling the truth. The
cling IN Fonda i strong against Rutien-
cr He takes il COOllv, and CLAIMS he is
ln0cCnt. County-Judge WeStbrOOk fixed
Ie bail at $4,000, which was furnished
MS afternoon, and the prisoner was re-