New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-09-02
AN EDITOR ARRESTED FOE ARSON,
HIS OFFICE BURNED FOR THE INSURANCE
THE CAUSE OF EXCITEMENT IN THE VILLAGE OF
FoNDA-A STRANGE STORY or CRIME.
by TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l

by TELEGRAPH TO THE TuBUSEl
AMSTERDAM, Sept. 1.-The village OF f0nda
s I'm excl ed state than has been for years fes-
tcrday James Chan Her. Of The Erening NeoS at Clio
versvIe confessed that he kinded the fire In Fonda on
Fday and said that lie hired by J. W. F. Rutenher
the Editor and proprietor Of The Motdck VALLEY Democrat
The news fell like a thunder-cap upon the village Chan
der has been going Tor some ume under the assumed
name Of James Case. lie roomed in Gloversville with
another printer namei Seymour johnson. On Friday
morning Chandler came home about five.
I've b,cn down 10 Fonda" said he. d" There's 5cen
big fire there Don't know what has been burned Out
am sure that Ruttenbers all burned out"
That day, as the two at work. Chandler puled
a bunch OF keys out Of ms pocket Noker GetmaH'
printer recognized one of the keys "a belonging
to the the hallway of the Glnsen Block IN Fohda
i'm which The Democrat office johnson also recos
nized the kew and he and Getman began TO be sus-
pcious on Sunday nigh Johnson went to his home IN
Fonda TO SD nd Sunday with his father Constable John
Johnson He told his father what he suspected Inc
lat er informed Deputy sheriff Mckinley, ana the TWO
called Attorney H. b. Cushney to their assistance
Chandler was arrested and taken to Fonda. He
was taken into the Office of Mr.. Cushney, who
reconted the information in his posse sion and advised
him TO confess his guilt. Chandler sail that 1t was AL
true that he lad set the fire. He then made sworn
statement before Justice Pullman. This statement Is
held as evi the courts Justice Putnam refuseu
70 show it but from another the substance of 1t
:
Chand er Nv home Jordan. OnondIga County, New
York was a member Of the class Of 1887 in Hamilton
COLLEGE but was expelled on June IL Tor diuukehhess'
came 70 Fonda an W Mt to work for Mr. Rntenber In
the Democrat Office ab mt July 1. | then went to the
office of me Glorersri1e Ners few days
aft the first large FIRE In Fonda, Mr.. Ruttnber came
TO Goversylc ana said in The Nc,cs ohc' Everybody
ia feeling good in Fonda They have all got insurance
and made money out Of II. and don't see why cart
feel good. too - replied. If ycn'I give me money
enough I'll 20 and burn you out down there
"Ab ut week before the fir, Rutcuber again asked
me If | me mt what said. answered yes. suppose
We do It to night, utcnbcr said 'Nc, we'd bette wait
till the paper ls out on rnrdsy'
1.-The day before the fire Rut NIB aroko to me agaln
about the matter aud t arranged between u7 rha
should fire tho hu'ldiug lat night Euttcnhor gave
me the key 10 the office m Gloyersyo ana then went to
Fonda Ruttcubct told mo tnRt everything should De
ready Tor me aud sal. I'm have oil enough poured over
The 1oor IN the under the tnirH nnd paper Hcnt
tired over the II ~ thr ONCE, All you VIII nave to do
ia Ia ro up IN bc Office opou the co-ct dor ond there
You Will Hnd broom. Touch nrc to that and shut the
| door % thar the blaze cannot hc sccn,'
"Aft rIl that uish hircl riS In Fullonvillr put
| tho hoirc under - shed md walked over to
| Fonda found everything ~ lntonber had
| ,ud and starred the hrc according To- Instructions
walked back {" tut"nN"' IT ed in me M7i @ .n j" '
iut,nl,r told me II Wout do the jon he would make
r n nice urc.cnt ne alsn old me tua hc would wrlte
as b Ter an article hc could ngainsl The h'odhs oI
| th, ,llg. 20 as to throw spciou ON them
Ch Idlcr xs held for ne Grand Jury and committed
| IL fan n default of bail RIitcuucr was found at
| nome at about on sunday evcniug by OnceIs u .
K,nley and John-on ant t'Nen into custody lie pad
heard of handler story, and was not sulr sci "h d
informed Of tine nj crs crrInd. lie was taken before
! Justc. Pu man. ..r., .
When asked wal he had to say, hc rep ed, ,Nhat
can a say Whcu ia swear his life away lie de-
manIed an once but committed 10
tie at! uut p. Oilv, wh the cX minat ON was
held Tn, sir e., thi0uGtd a. Rutcnbcr was taken
jlil. and hrcd-4 yf lyHchiug were mad-. Ahcr nc
was u accd ~ oil large crowd surroundcd tic II
with angry faces l:teHug cries Of Hang MIN; LYcu
hir" etc Tho ther o th prisoner - NJ Rutt'nner.
Of NcNuIrg. and = fitHcr-nltw, j. h.. lasher OF Inc
Nlcirof omu a. ~ L'tflc "a Is, visited hm today
Ru cnbcr -... lnc p.oprc Of large job printing
oillce lu NtEtI.
j " r. Eufi. rDcr pur h1sod The DcmocrW Of j. J..
Ash, for % 300 nc AI- borne u good repu anon IN
Fonda Chan. c- is Young m'n OF sicht nSurr. lte
ha- frank .. auc- and those who heard MS story
were mptcs, with the bef that he was sle kluE Ile
truth. inc ilcN - is -trons a.alnst RuttenDer lie
tair- The wa rY,l and -iys that h. Is nOccut
county JUDGE 'u,o1 hye1 tho bail al $4,000, which
was furnished t, af,ilO'n aid the prisoner Wd'f e.
leased.