Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-01-22
CHARGED WITH ARSON.
Hugh Cosgrovc Held for Trial on the
Charge of Setting Fire to o.. j.
Walkers Barn.

The loss sustained by O. J. Walker by
the blaze III his barn Friday night proved
to be light but the affair takes on Il serious
phase from the fact that the evidence is
practically conclusive that it was set on
fire. This was the suppostion from the
outset and after the flames were extin-
guished it was noticed that tracks led
from II side door of the barn through the
lot ut the rear and ont on to South Union
street Suspicion at once pointed to
Hugh CosgroNe as the perpetrator The
officers went to the residence of his father,
who lives but short distance, from Mr.
Walkers at . o'clock Saturday morning
and arrested him. He was arragned in
the City Court Saturday States Attorney
Brownell and w. II Hare, appearing for
the prosecution. CoSgrove did not care
for any counsel in the first part of the
hearing, but Hon. Henry Ballard was call
ed III to defend him when the evidence for
the state was practically all in. From the
testimony of the various witnesses it ap-
pears that CosgrOve was first suggested as
the perpetrator by the fact that the fire
must have been set by some person well
acquainted with the premises, the flames
having broken out in the loft which is
reached by Il stairway with door ut the
bottom. The front doors of. the barn
the house is not locked. The footprints
in the snow which were far apart showing
that they were made in running, led
from this door to Il small gate
in the picket fence back of Mr..
Walkers lot which was found closed, and
Il short distance from this there is Il beaten
path leading out to Union street. Beyond
this gate tor Il little the steps were
turned sidewse, showing that the runner
turned his head as one naturally would if
looking for the flames to burst forth.
Cusgrove had worked for Mr.. Walker in
the fall and left because he found another
man was to be hired in his place.
The evidence for the State also showed
that when the officers arrested Cosgrove
they did not tell him what he was wanted
for, but he told his mother that he sup
posed he was arrested on suspicion for set
ting fire to Mr.. Walkers barn. 1t was also
noticed by the officers that Cosgrove, after
putting on his shoes and OVerShOeS, very
carefully took Il pair of rubber boots and
set them in the cellar way. The next
morning the footprints We're examined,
and it was found that they were made by
rubber boots and furthermore, that there
was patch on both boots, of which
the soles had worn through in peculiar
manner The boots slowed away by Cos
grove were at once thought of and upon
comparing them with the tracks were
found to tit perfectly,
In the defence an alibi was set up, Thorn
as Daley swearing that CoSgrove was ut
his place Friday night and left about 1920
O'Clock, the fire alarm having been rung
at lO:45. Daley also stated the accused
did not have on rubber boots at that time.
In spite of this evidence Judge Haselton
said the preponderance of evidence was so
strong against the accused that he should
feel compelled to bind him over t. the
County Court for trial. Upon the request
of counsel this morning was set us the
CoSgrove was remanded.
The loss on the barn has not been esti-
mated, but it will probably not be more
than $50 The upper part to which the
flames were confined, was badly charred,
though the fire did not burn through in
any place. The lower portion of the barn
was badly soaked with water. There
were four or five tons of hay in the barn
which was not insured and most of
which will be Il total loss