The Washington critic., 1888-06-22
THE M'BRIDE ARSON CASE.
Some Interesting Facts Brought out
BY the Examination.

By the Examination.
In the McBridc.McFarland arson case
yesterday, James u. Verney testified to
proposing to Mcfarland, for Miss Nc
Bride, that he shoulder the responsibility
Of the burning; she would pay him his
salary while he was in prison and would
use her influence to have him pardoned.
Testimony as TO smells, the purchase Of
infammable materials, &c, was intro
duced.
Mrs. Carrie A. McMurray testified that
Miss Mcbride had called herself fool for
having written the Dugan letter.
Mr.. Clagett proceeded with very rigid
oross-eXaminauon for the purpose of re.
fleoting on the credibility of the witness.
He asked her whether she had been ex-
PEELED from the Hamline Church; whether
Colonel Tracy had not been surprised in
her room with the door bolted, and
whether he and her husband had not
had a personal encounter on that ac-
count.
All this she denied
Colonel Tracy testified TO incidents Of
the day Of the fire.
Charles Butterfeld, employed in the
Pension Office, identified the writing in
the Dugan letter and that in the notice
TO the Insurance company as being the
handwriting Of Miss Mcbride.
ON cross.examination he said that his
duties 50 far as Miss McBrde's writing
was concerned consisted in taking her
papers and putting them away according
to their numbers,
Colonel Tracy was recalled 10 the stand,
and stated that the insurance letter and
the Dugan were both in Miss McBride's
handwriting. Mr.. Clagett asked permis-
sion 10 resume the cross.examination OF
yesterday. This was granted. On being
questioned by Mr.. Clagett, he said that he
was sober up TO the time Of the fire.
Were you soberT' asked Mr.. Clagett
"No. sir"
Were you drunk"
mo, SIR
What were yougi
II was betwixt and between. | guess
YOU know how that is.n The Court rep
| rimnnded him severely, telling him that
| n he continued the nduct which he be
gan the day previous tby telling Mr..
| Clagett that matter upon which he was
| inquiring was none of his business), the
| Court would deal v Va him.
Colonel Trncy hfl testified that at the
time Of the fire nc was nominally occupy
| ing n room az Miss NcBnde's house, but
was living on X stf"t.
Mr.. Clagett said lp proposed to- show
that Mcfarland wa, his agent IN renting
! that house.
This was not adn itied.
lie was then ask,d whether he did not
introduce himself as Mr.. Justice at the
house on X street. He denied IL.
did you live alone?"
| mo, sir.h
"Dideyou take female 10 that house
whom you introduced as Mrs. Justice2'
mo, sir.h
"Did you take her TO the place where
this defendant was and introduce the
lady to-her as Mrs. Justice2
Objection on the part of the Govern
ment brought forth the statement from
Mr.. Clagett that he expected to show that
Colonel Tracy had, after leaving Miss
Mcbride, been living under an assumed
name with woman whom he held out
to his landlady as his wife. Mr.. Clagett
went on to say:
"Was Mrs. Justice at any time on X
street an occupant of your roomF'
mot Of my room.' ~
WAS she an occupant of the houseP
"Yes, SIR"
"You were in her room2"
"Yes, SIR"
"Were you ever in her room all night ?'
There was visible effort on the part of
the witness to restrain his composure as
he responded.
Yes, sir"
He stated that he rented the room
which she occupied, but paid for IL with
her money.
Judge, I'd like to make statement
said the Colonel. Permission was given
and he went on.
"This lady whose name has been rung
into this trial is lady in every respect.
Her misfortune is that she is friend OF
mine. i knew her in Texas. This de.
fendant found out in some way that
was her friend and she has dogged that
woman"
Here the Court cut the statement short
telling the witness that he could explain
only those things which concerned
himself.
The latter part of Colonel Tracy's re,
mark was accompanied by a derisive hiss
of laughter from Miss Mcbride.
The defense then moved that the Gov
ernment be required to elect which count
of the indictment they would claim @
conviction upon. The motion was
denied.
]. F. Page, grocer, testified that Miss
Mcbride had dealt with him for som,
years and generally bought five gallons
OIL at a time.
Hattie Q. Hellings stated that she lived
next door to the house used; detected M
odors. Colonel Tracy appeared to bt
under the influence Of liquor at the fire
Cyrus Martin, neighbor, had detected
no odors. Charles Neale had been Il
Miss McBrde's about three times OF
business and smelt no odors