Evening journal., 1890-12-16
FOURTEEN FIRES In ALL.
MCPHERSON HELD FOR TRIAL AT
THE HIGHER COURT.


by iDesectives and otbers-No Motive
Assigned-His Counsel Confident of ais
Clients Innocence.
large crowd Of people assembled at
the City Hall last evening to hear the
trial Of William Mop herson, charged
with attempting to set fire to the build
ings in the yard OF the George W.
Bush and Sons Company. The corridors
were thronged and scores OF
people were unable to obtain
admission. The hearing was detained by
the prisoners counsel, who was having q
consultation with his client. The
prisoner was accompanied by his counsel,
Harry Emmons, Esq his wife and a
number Of his friends. He took his seat
beside his counsel and appeared cool and
unconcerned.
Walter CD. Bush. of the George
w. Bush and Sons Company was the irst
witness. He testified that Mcpherson
was over three years In their employ as a
blacksmith, His shop was situated In
the King street corner, near the railroad
he gave history of the fires, which were
fourteen in all. The first occurred on
November IA In an old stable which is
now used as a store house, and which is
situated nearly opposite the blacksmith's
shop. It was extinguished without an
alarm. On November Il there were two
fires in the wagon shed south of the
blacksmith shop, thirty feet from the
forge. On November is, there were
three fires, onel in the carpenter shop at
the back of the office, and two In the
wagon sheds. On November % there
were two fires in the wagon shop. There
was cessation then and the
next fire that occurred was or December
10. when there was fire in the wagon
shop, lighted beneath some cordwood, and
on December II, the day on which Nc
Pherson was arrested. there were two
fires. A detective had been put to watch
the yard for week. during which there
were no fires. The employees wore
cegnizant Of the presence of the detec-
tive. Mcpherson was present when
nearly all the fires were extinguished, and
in more than one case discovered the
fires himself. or his own knowledge the
witness knew nothing to create suspicion
about the prisoner. Wagons pass
through his yard.
George NJ. D. Cam, clerk in the en-
ploy of George w. Bush and Sons Com
j.
been started by waste soaked in kerosene
oil He discovered the second fire on
Friday last and called to Mcpherson, who
appeared to be fixing a wagon, to take
bucket of water and extinguish it, which
he did A man standing on Water street
could see the shed where the fires were
started He could form no motive why
he set the place on FIRE His wages had
inc f1 fFs1 - - -.
months previously.
Clarence Dillon was examined con-
corning some detective work done by
him in the yard OF George w. Bush and
Sons Company. BE contradlcted, in part.
the testimony of Mr.. Bush, who said that
the first fire occurred on November IA,
whereas he was employed to watch on
November H. On November %, while
secreted in a stable, he saw Mcpherson
leave the shop and 60 towards the corner
of the sSed and throw something behind
a barrel There was smoke, and he
picked up a bucket, went to the pump
and returned with bucket OF water as
il to put it out. Two colored men, at
this time, entered the yard and McPher-
son threw the water on the burning
wood, remsrking to the men as he did so,
THAT beats the devil The witness
gave a detailed account OF tho origin and
extent of The other fires which occurred
during the time he had been employed.
Mr.. Emmons subjected him to a severe
cross examination, but without shaking
or altering the testimony.
Detective William I. Jones was en-
ployed by the firm to ferret out those
who lit the fires. On last Friday while
hidden in the third story Of an old house
he saw Mcpherson leave the shop, 90
towards the shed, put his finger in his
pocket, then 60 in, and when he came
out there was cloud Of smoke. His re-
naming story vas similar to that pub
lished IN the EVENING JOURNAL. The cross
examination was sharp contest between
the prisoners counsel and the detective,
Mr.. Emmons trying in several ways to
trip up the witness on material points
Counsel read portions Of an alleged inter
view the witness had with James P. Rat
ledge but Mr. Jenes stoutly denied several
of the alleged admissions.
John q. Turner gave testimony as to
the position and character of the fire. A
person looking from the window where
Detective Jones was located could see
the spot whore the last FIRE was lighted
Detective Vandegrift testified that
man could not see the fire from the win
dow unless he could look through pile
of wood He disagreed with Turner l.
the latter said he could see through
pile of wood
Mr.. Emmons, in addressing the court,
said be was fully satisfied about the
innocence Of his client. II he was guilty
he was either an insane man or q con-
summate villain. He did not think the
court would be willing to take the re-
sponsibility Of deciding the case. He
would, therefore, waive a hearing Nc
Pherson was held in So. 900 bail for trial
at the Court OF General Sessions