The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-02-18
BARN BURNER CAPTURED.
A Man Who Has Destroyed $780,
900 worth Of Property.

NkW 1Ohkt feDTudTy ll.-OD0 Oh
the Landmarks Of Berkshire county,
Mass achusetts, was Mr.. Henry Y.
Leavitt's big tarn at Great Barring
ton. extended five stories above
the ground and two below. Under
one roof were stable, Carriage-house,
saw.mill, planing-mill and store
house for farm produce. The barn
cost 1920, co and was insured for $780,
000. On the evening Of July Z, 1885,
it was destroyed by Ere. Mr.. Leavitt
employed private detectives, but
c,uld not find the incendiaries. Fl
pally Detective Price of this city was
put on the case. Price suspected
Michael 0'COnneil, wholeft two weeks
before the fire occurred because his
wages were not increased. OConnell
got work as laborer upon a new barn
which was being butt at Great Bar.
ringtpn for Mrs. Hopkins, the widow
Of the famous California millionaire.
The ladv's house cost between 80 000,-
900 and S., 600, 900 and the barn $780,
0O0. DR. Crane, Mrs. Hopkins's superin-
tendeDt, reproved 0'Connell f)r some
neglect { + duty and, upon being given
an insolent reply, struck the laborer
with his cane. O'Connell tried to shoot
DR.. Crane and warrant was Issued
for his arrest. The officers found
0'Connell barricaded in his house
He fred out of the windows and
wounded one of them and escaped by
artar door. Several times he stealth.
lily return to visit his family. All
this Detective Price learned during
bis vacst on, but he failed to get any
trace of O'Connell. Lat December,
through observations at the Great
Darlington postoffice, Mr.. Leaviit To-
Gated 0'Connell in Brooklyn, where
his wife and children had Joined him
Detective Price found that 0'Oonnell
was working as a laborer in South
Bro )klyn and made his acquaintance.
Early in January Mrs. Hop mss barn
was burned. The crime was as great
a sensation as Mr.. Leavitt's blaze and
set the whole State OF Massachusetts
sgog. Price then employed a young
man to ingratiat himself into 0'Con-
nell's confidence and be with him
night and day, A few days ago the
young man brought 0'Connell into a
liquor store in Seventh avenue, where
Price WaL "Mr. Patterson" said that
he owned the store, and pretended to
be drunk. He4alked dog, and said
that he knew where some fine pups
might be got cheap, If anybody had
nerve enough 10 burn a barn. At
last 0'Oonnell limited that he
would undertake the job for a
consideration. "But you have
had no experience" objected Price,
30, yes have" and O'Oonnell o. On
satisfied "Mr. Patterson" that what
he didn't know about arson was not
worth knowing. A short time later
O'Connell was brought to a room
which Price had hired. A door lead
ing to an adjoining apartment had
been removed, drapery put in its
place and a wardrobe stood in front OF
the drapery. In the ether room Mr..
Leavitt and shorthand writer were
posted, while Price conversed with
O'Copnell and the young man men,
toned. Gradually the laborer be-
trayed his secret, and did not stop
uHtIl Ho uhu COIloboSu W DuLu tuo
Great Darlington fires. On Monday
an officer from Great Darlington ar
rived With a warrant for O'Connell's
arrest on charge of shooting the off,
Ger on August 3lst. 1t was sgreed
that Price and 0'Connell should burn
barn back Of Fort Lee last night.
They examined the place on Monday,
and had all their plans laid. 0'Con-
nell came to Prics's room last night al
dusk. The stenographer and Mr..
lRavitt were behind the curtain.
"Now we had better go, said Price st
8 o'clock. They went out, and Price
told 0'Connell to go to Seventh ave-
nue. and Thirty-frst street, while he,
the detective, went for the horse and
buggy. At that pace Detective Dun
lsp was waiting, and arrested 0'Con.
nell. Under each arm the prisoner
had wad of straw, oakum and fuse
to fire the Fort Lee barn. The value
OF the property in Great Darlington
DESTROYED by O'CoDnsll was about
5000 900.