New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-27
ZONE THOUGHT TO BE THE WHITE CAP.
HER FATHER CHARGED WITH SETTING FIRE TO
HIS OWN BARN.

HER FATHER CHARGED WITH SETTING FIRE TO
HIS OWN BARN.
There Is scarcely a person in Riverhead, L. l., who
did not believe yesterday that Miss lone Varan Julia
Perry Dayton was the author OF the famous White Cap
letters which have recently been received by her
father, Eleazer Dayton, Of Upper Mis- TINS iact
was fully brought out at the tmc OF her arrest when
the White Cap letters her compositions and the writ
ngs of Mrs. Downs were compared before Justice
Millard She is now at liberty on her own reeogni-
zancc to appear before the next term 0t
the Suffolk County Grand jury. bat more ser-
Gus rumors were circulated yesterday which AFFECT
the elder Dayton, and may possibly cause his
arrest These are that Dayton set fire
to his barn, and by charging 1t to the White Caps
tried to secure the public sympathy and likewise the
insurance This theory is in measure corroborated
from the fact that on April 4, after the first White
Cap letter was received he secured an Insurance OF
S4oo on the house and it's contents and $50 on the
barn. 1t was after he had obtained this insurance
that the letter threatening the destruction Of his house
and barn alleged to have been sent TO him. In
fact three unsuccessful attempts made to burn
the house and other tumbledOwn buildings on the
premises before the successful ones on Friday morn
ing, when the barn totally destroyed When
seen by a reporter yesterday, Mr.. Dayton exhibited
several burns his forehead, one on his check and
one on his wrist which lie alleged he received while
attempting to put ont the flames. Notwithstanding.
however Ildl nc las lDIE, ulhcIlpb 'bi
of its being touched by the flames visible, although
one Of the is dose 10 It, When asked about this
popularity he Offered explanation John Matthews,
the agent who placed Insurance on the building,
said Yesterday that it doubtful if the policy would
be paid as IL thought that Dayton had some con-
neciion with the origin Of the fire.
When told that he was suspected OF setting fire to
his harm Mr. Dayton said that IL did nOt stand TO
reason that he would destroy property worth $50
10 secure $50 of insurance. but, In fact, nothing was
hay and an almost worthless building and wornout
Friday morning discovered by lone, Just as ne
was about 10 go to bed. after watching all night IL
was not possible for her 10 start the flee, as she had
not been ont of the houst
"Nates Downs. the hore dealer who Is accused by
DAYTON of being the author of all his trouble was seen
al his house In BROOKLYN. asuburb OF HlVerhead he
denied ali knowledge OF thu affair. but Acknowledged
TINT he did get the better Dayton In horse deal
Mrs Downs denied that sic had ever written any
poetry I'm the forged Handwriting OF lone. -
some peculiar stories arc tld about lone. SHORTY
after she alleged she had BEN robbed while IN her
fathers meat wagon, she apparel on the streets OF
PvcChead dressed in rather fhiOnabc STYLE and II
was notccd that she expended OnSid 'Tatc money I'D
candy sofia water ice ant other dellcacies. il
Is asserted that when her father kept grocery stoe
and most fce AT Calvern for two years. hec father
found that within that time his receipts fell $500
behind his expenditures No charges were made at
Inc time but lone acted his clcrh and while he was
| out had charge of the store