Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-05-25
AsTARrLrSa ARREST
In Connection win the Burning Of Coidren's
Hat Factory.


Hat Factory.
Mondays Reading Eagle.
Great excitement was occasioned to-day |
when IL became known that Detectives Lyon |
and Eershner had appeared before Alder
man Scheetz aud swore out warrants against
a number of persons on the charge of conspl- |
racy to set fire to T.. H. Coldren's hat factory, |
Adamstown, which was burned last week,
involving loss of $4,000 As there had peen
no ire in the factory for week previous
aud incendiarism was suspected, the heauipe
Insurance association offered reward on
81, 600 for tire arrest and conviction oil the
guilty parties -...,
The detectives early this morning arrested
John J. Downing, a young man who hrst
came to Reading about years ago rom
Yopkers, n. v, and has been working here
most of the time since. He is q hat tinisher,
and came to Reading for the last time about
q month ago.
Downing was committed to Jail and lodg ged
in cell No. 81 in the old department.
He is 81 years old and fast turning gray.
He says he was never in Adanstown or
Mohnsville in his life and knows nothing of
the crime.
The charge is: " Conspiracy with others to
set fire to hat factories in Mohnsville and
Adamstown."
An Eagle reporter saw Downing shortly
after bis arrest When Deputy Warden
Griesener unlocked the cell door, Downing
arose from the bed and greeted the reporter
with cheerful "good morning" tie mao
book in his hand and was in his SHIRT
sleeves He marked the place where he hau
been reading and laid the book away. Sit
| ting on the bed and In answer 10 questions
| he said al don't know what to say because
| l don't know anything about this affair that
am charged with. | was never IN AdamstoWn
nor Mohnsvile in my life. If | had to go
there from Reading would not know what
direction to take. | have heard the names of
those places mentioned but know nothing
whatever about them. | first came to Read
ing three years ago, from Gonkers, New
York, which | claim my home | have been
here all the time since with the exception of
months In that time | worked months
at Matteawan, New York, and buried my
brother. | came back to Reading about
weeks ago and worked at Henders large
factory few days, when the present hat
fiuishers' trouble commenced aud that put
me out of work. / have worked in nearly
all the hat factories in Reading tinisher.
When 1 first came here l was employed at
Alexander a Co.'S. On the night OF the fire
of Coldren's hat factory, AdaIustown, was
at George Kemps saloon, on South gtu street
below Bingaman. Many hatters congregate
| there and nearly always stop there. l am
not married and board with George I'll. Lash,
| 92i Spruce street. l am innocent OF the
| charge ana don't know what evidence the
| officers have against me-
Downing was then asked what truth there
was in the report that certain incendiary re-
| -
| tended.
He replied a. tell you bow that was. II
| was all Joke. We were discussing the
| schedule OF prices when some one saId
| don't think the factories will pay those
| prices" Then some one else laughingly re
marked Then let's burn 'em.' All pres
| ent laughed at such a foolish idea, and re-
| garded II as a joke. My God, hope nobod !
would think that any such business like tina
| would ever be done by any set of men"
| " 1t is said that resolution of that kinC
was made, seconded and passed somewhere
where you were.h
mark and was only a joke aud was re
| garded.
Downing spoke freely and unreserved V
and said he had nothing to conceal.
Later i'll the day Downing WAS released
on bail.
The detectives also served warrants upoi
George Kemp, Thomas MaIady, Stormu
Miller and J. Shelboy. They are hatters anC
were at work to-day. a business man be
came responsible for their appearance at Al
derman Sheetz's office at 1870 this evening
They are charged with conspiracy, the sam
| as Downing.
All the accused except Kemp are compare
| tive strangers i'll Reading, haliing from tn
| Eastern states.
The officers were asked for details respect I
ing the charges against the accused, bu
| they replied that there was positively II,
| further information to be given TO the publ
| at this time in order that the ends of justic,
might not be defeated. Alderman Sheet
| also thought II best TO say nothing concern
| ing the details now. The district attorne,
said he knew nothing about it.
| The prisoners waived hearing. Col
| Alexander became their surety in the sum o
$500, with the exception OF Kemp, who wa
| held in 500.
| Jacob MoOre's hat factory, rear Adamstown
| was found to be on tiTe on Saturday nigh
| last but was put out before much damag,
was done, though large hole was burned il
| one of the floors.