Evening journal., 1890-12-13
CHARGED WITH ARSON.
ATTEMPT TO BURN THE Bull lNes
IN A LUMBER YARD.

william Mcpherson. z blacksmith in
the Employ Of George w Bush and
Sons Company, is Arrested on a Charge
of Attempting TO Fire His Employers
Property.
William Mcpherson, blacksmith in
the employ of George w. B1sh q Sons,
was arrested yesterday about noon for
attempting to set FIRE to his employers
| property He was taken 10 the police
station and subsequently released on
| 81, 600 bail TO appear this morning
! at this mornings session OF the NUM-
J cipal Court the. case was called, but
Harry Emmons Esq. who represented
MCPHERSON, asked that it be continued
until Monday evening, to enable him to
I ascertain the facts connected with the
case, The continuance was granted.
Some time ago a fire was discovered IN
a stable In the yard of the Messrs Bush,
near King street. A quantity of hay was
| piled together and there were suspicious
that it was the work of an incendary.
| The FIRE was extinguished before any
damage was done, but the indications of
incendiarism were 50 apparent that the
b
, hands of Messrs. Jones and Vandegrift
Day after day employees would discover
portions Of waste soaked in coal oil.
cbarred and sometimes burned, scattered
through the yard. This increased the
suspicion, and vigilance was redoubled.
Small fires occurring frequently con-
tirmed the detectives suspicion that If
the burners were not employees of the
firm, they lived close by and had access to
the yard. The members of the firm had
no reason to suspect any of their EN-
ployes. They bad always been kindly
disposed towards them and there were
indications that the feelings were mutual,
but the detectives could not blind them
selves to the fact that all, or nearly all
OF the fires occurred in the vicinity Of
the blacksmith shop. All those
going in and coming out were closely
scrutlnized, but nothing in their charac
ter or manner confirmed any of the sus-
picions. An examination of the charred
waste was next made, and some Of that
used In the blacksmith's shop surrup-
tiously, taken away and e comparison
made The waste was the same. The
officers were now convinced that some
one connected with the blacksmith
shop was the guilty person, and de-
termined that the place be watched night
and day until the incendiary be dis
covered.
Bright and early yesterday morning
Detective Jones was on the alert, and
before the arrival of any of the regular
employees in the yard he was carefully
concealed ia position where ne could
view all the movements of the employees
in the forge. He had to wait several
hours before anything occurred.
About 80 o'clock Mcpherson, who
was alone. came out and looked around
him. No one appeared to be near
Rapidly, but stealthilv he hastened to
spot beneath the long shed, Oh the King
street side of the yard and about fifty
feet from the forge Immediately
he was envelopei in a volume of
smoke, and then he hurriedly
returned TO the forge But the smoke
soon disappeared Tho fire had mis-
carried a second time he left the shop
and looked around him. A barrel of
greese stood under the same shed. Nc
Pherson approached the barrel and was
seen to deposit something resembling
waste There was another cloud of smoke,
and again Mcpherson hurried back to
the shop. Now be picked up a monkey
wrench, came out, and going beneath a
wagon, began to work. While he was
there, colored man, Emanuel Cooling,
helper Of McPherson's. arrived and
looked in the direction of the burning
barrel McPhearson came from beneath the
wagon and Joined him Both went to the
spot and Mcpherson placed lid over the
burning barrel The blaze was smothered
and the FIRE extinguished a second time
Waiter D. Bush, q H. D. Cam, John
q. Turner and Detective Vandegrift were
told about what had occurred, and few
minutes later Mcpherson was under
arrest. he appeared cool and collected
aud denied lighting the FIRE He was at
once conveyed to the police station and
locked up his friends we're notified and
last evening he WAS released on bail.
His friends express the greatest sur
prise at his arrest and allega that they
cannot conceive even the suggestion of
motive he has been in the employ Of
George W. Bush and Sons for several
years during which time ne has always
borne an unimpaachable character. lie
was sober and industrious and always
apparently solicitous about the interest
Of his employers. Re is 80 years old.
married and lives in the highlands. His
wife appeared with him in the police
station o-day. She looked very distressed
and refused to believe in her husbands
guilt
The suggestion of insanity Is not borne
out by the mans actions 1t IS probable
that he may have a mania for burning
houses. His brother, Hugh Miller Nc
Pherson, was seen to-day he spoke
freely, but declared his utter inability to
assign any motive for his brothers act.
No symptoms of insanity has ever been
observed about him or any of the family
Walter D. Bush, of the firm of George
Bush & Sons. expresses himself as also
unable to assign any reason for McPher-
sons actions. He has been an employee
for over three years, during which time
he has always been well treated and
never known to express any dissatisfac-
ton. Mr. Bush felt much hurt at what
the man had done. James P. Ratledge
and H. NJ. Mcpherson ere his bondsmen.
The penalty for the offense with
which he is charged is fine not exceed
$500 and Imprisonment not exceeding
two years.
II. & o. Strike at Pittsburg Ended.
The strike on the Baltimore and Ohio