The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-04-23
PLOTTED 30 aURN \ TOWN.
Their Scheme Betrayed and Detectives
Arrt.et q s.uIIfY Parties

Meridian, Miss, April 17.-(Special.)-
SUNDAY night an attempt was made by
FIRE was gwen at five inherent times, and
each proved TO be blaze iii different
locality. The fire companies responded
promptly, ana succeeded in exiting uiShlng
the ines before any material damage was
Gone. The cause OF the various nres was
investigated and the opinion prevailed that
iuceuuiarles were at work. Detective John
Horne obtained a clue through w :.
Sc.I..iuDer. proprietor of the queen anu
take part in the destruction OF the town
by Robert Belk and Dudley Scott two
well-kuown Eoodtums OF this city. Schan-
Der PROMISED 70 take q manu- allu lelt the
plans Wlth Bck and Scott TO arrange.
The hour vas set for II 0 clock last night,
ana plan aErCeG upon The W es, Dhd
school bulGinS was to be nred nrst, IN
order that the tire companies would be
called away from the bUSint - porlton or
the city Then the Culprits lntended 10 ire
the business portion, lncludAS SOME ia!se
manufacturing interests and mercantile
houses Just before the hour arrived lor
the infamous plan to De put into eNecu-
ton. Mr.. SChamber Went to Detective
Horne and Chief PasseNe and informed
them Of the plans. IheH pot was iald
by the 0aceTs TO catch the incenCiafles III
the very act. Schamher wss tod To go
with them anu act as ii uecoy. lie was
assured hat ne would be proteeteu IRON rom
the Culprits, in the event that they shoud
suspect MIN OF betrayal and attempt 10
The detectives went to th,. school build
fng ana seCrejeu themselves IL The yafG
to az, alt the hrebugS. The Iucentildlles anu
Ds,..y ochambar engaged Il pubic hack
and made haste 70 The scene OF the mten4-
cd burning. On thar ARRIVAL at the otllIu-
ing, the three dlSenbarktd anu CllihOeu
the stairs to the second story Of the large
building and spread a coat OF Tar upon tIe
floor and set Il on fire. Then an attempt
TO escape was made. belk ana Scolt
started out the front door and landed IN
the clutshes of the detectives. ScnamDer
went 70 a window on the hfSt ilool tt'id
Jumped out and was running on loFdIu
fF 10 Ftnf
hid The detective, thinking ne was one
OF the other parties, fired upoh nun Win
a double barrelled shotgun. The gun WdS
loaded with squirrel shot, ana, loEtuhate-
" S-chanber was not much hurt
The cuIprits were taken 10 an dHu VII
be given d hearing tomorrow morning.
s;,.rt5nber vas not intereIered with, and
TO-DAY vas congratulated by the pest eIe-
-lent OF the city PROMINENT CltIACnS ~
large groups discussed the intended WhC!e-
sale arson on all OF the street corners anu
Threatened iyncninG. ,, -
Various theories nave peeh duN a5I1eu t. IS
70 the real desire and aim OF the perpelfa-
TORS to commit such desperate acts. come
think that ii was or the purpose OF ron
re R2l5 and S. oft are natives of this city,
ard are wen connected. The boys we're
never before considered desperate pu- a.,
WAYS bore the reputation OF beiHs, M wiz
and somewhat reckless, and nave inquire"
Il great deal in minor scrapeS.
axe sitcpu=r g.. ''4s.
preliminary examination Of Belk and Scott,
the lTHtFitiiiIltS. " Is AIcib At-SA' -
IiaI this afternoon The large stu'iiloi t
Of the clty hail was crowded 10 su4localluh
by people Of all caliings. Cochran q ltoIe-
man and John W feWeI appeared Ioi lhG
Commonwealth, while Miller x HaskinS ana
a DEL g. Walker defended the accused:
a. y. Griffin, special detective Of the MO
nile and Ohio ra!Gway testified THAI the
plot to burn Wcs uufUlded 10 him ~ Horlle.
Griffin denied that lie expected q reward
but ne thought Horne expected one. to
related III iuN the occurrences OF the cap
ture when Were published IN today ON
stiuticn. chief HasseH eofro nor: ta
wes the cabmau who took the incendiaries
10 the scaouiIouse- Belk anu Scnambef
rode frosl the Stable, Scott got in the cab
near the sash and blind factory with
bundle under ms alIG. supposed 70 De
H. t1l-ls. The witness dIoNe near Toe Sciool-
bC.aus1er. t,ut out and told the witness 10
80 bach TNey said they would walk pack
10 town The state rested here ana the
defense asked an adjournment until morn
Ing, which was granted.
a5ciIS and scott ia Jail.
Meridian, Miss, April 2o.-C5pecial.( 1.-The
thrd days proceedings ~ the celebrated
arson case Was OF greater interest than
either of the preceding days. The most
I Gid examination That was ever heard in
4n.5 county W.s the one through which the
On the stand for several hours, l.. j. Belk,
Father of uue of inc defendants, sWore out
an aidaaVi- charging Schamb~r with arson,
sayIng that he WIS as guilty as the other
parties. SC2auper was Jailed and refused
bona. Ills ty5dt VIII Ice held tomorrow.
George Ia!t testified that Belk cnieaVorcd
10 persuade niin 10 20 into the burning Of
the town, ANA SWore that Beill confessed
to having burnt various buildings in the
city. TatL says that the n.GUye of Belk
hnl Scott ia burning these buildings was
10 loot them during ,he fire. white wo-
man testified thai ner building WAS fired
b. these parties, anu that she narrowly
escaped beng burned up. The defendants
,vere put Iluder . $4,000 bond each. The
bond could not be s.N n. and Helk and
Scout were placed IN jail.
MIR. W iison Continues to Improve.