Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-03

lIammerer was called to act as inter-
prster. Cook stated that he was
awakened about 9 o'clock in the morn
ing of October Sd, by his wife, who
told him that the buildings were on
FIRE. He looked out and saw the
kitchen ablaze. He and his family
went to work to extinguish the flames.
While he was on the ladder throwing
water on the fire at the kitchen gust
Of wind drove the flames in his face,
and on turning asida, he saw man
running across field, distant from the
house about three times the width OF
the court room. He thought he resem-
bled Dineen and told his wife 80. After
be had extinguished the flames on the
house and woodshed Cook told his
wife and children to go in the house or
"those tramps might come back and
shoot u.s." Later he discovered the
fire in the barn.
Mr.. Hayes rrosa examined the wit
ness, but could not get very clear
statement, as Cook could not under
stand his questions.
Cooks wife, Annie, was called next
and testified to the date of the fire,
and to the facts related by her hus-
band. She also testified to finding the
body of dress,I saturated with petro-
leum, under the caves OF the kitchen.
and also finding portion of the same
goods on the woodshed which was
burned, after the flames had been ex-
tinguished.
Annie Cook, daughter Of the pre-
vious witness next testified to taking
a portion of the dress goods to Mrs.
Bolton.
Mrs. Bolton was next called to the
stand and examined the goods offered
in evidence, and testified that they
looked like goods from which she had
made a basque for Mrs. Dineen, and
that the sewing was very like hers.
Hezekiah Bolton testified that he was
acquainted with the prisoner and that
in September, 1895, Dineen in conver-
sation with him said that the property
had greatly deprecated in value, and
that although it had been worth 81, GOO
at one time, at the time Of the cover
sation it had so depreciated as to be
worth only about 81, 100. Dineen also
told him that if the place would only
burn down he could collect the insur-
ance, amounting to 81, 100, and then
sell the land and co-ie out square.
Later in the year, during the month
sation ard Dineen said to the witness /:
'.If you'll set fire to the buildings I'll
make you present of roaG cart. -
After this the witness cut Dineen's 8
acquaintance. and they had 10 more
talk about the matter.
Police Off Ger Jeremiah Hurley, who
was patrolling his beat on the Fourth
district in this city the morning of
| the fire testified that he saw Dineen
going in his back gate at 4. 33 O'Clock
| in the murning. Dineen lives at No. SIT
| Church street.
Officer Reinholtz testified that be, in
company with Sergeant Evans. went
| to Dineen's house on the afternoon OF
October Sd to arrest him. They found
| him asleep on the lounge. Roinholtz
woke the prisoner and he and Evans
arrested him.
Sergeant Charles E. Evans testified
that when he woke Dineen up Dineen' 8
wife said: Dennis, what made you
burn Mr.. Cooks house and barn. :"
| She repeated this several times until
told by the sergeant to keep quiet. The
witness testified that Dineen and his
| wife had had trouble previously and
| that Dineen had been arrested on that
account.
State Detective Walter Witsil testified
that be visited the scene of the fire
two days afterward and saw the rags
| offered in evidence, and that he de-
tected strong odor of petroleum.
| Thomas L. j. Baldwin testified that
| he is secretary of the Mill Creek Fire
| Insurance Co. Dineen had $3.50 insur-
ance on the house; $3.50, on the con-
| tents; $500 on the harm; $3.50 on the
| contents of the barn; S155 on the
slaughter house and S75 on the wood
shed.
The State here rested.
Con Lucy was the first witness for
| the defence. He keeps saloon at No.
517 Spruce street and is woll acquainted
4 with the prisoner. The latter was at
| bis place on the night of October I'd,
between Q and 10 o'clock in company
with Patrick Dineen, and both left
before 10 O'Clock.
Patrick Dineen of No. $50 Bennett
street, is very distant relative OF the
prisoner, but they are very friendly, hav
ing known each other for about six
years. He was with Dennis on tho
night of October I'd in Lucy's saloon
until about 90 minutes past O. when
they left and went to his (Patrick's)
house. They stayed there until nearly
| l2 O'Clock drinking whisky and talking.
He could not remember what they were
talking about. Bridget Sullivan was
also there, attending his wife, who
was i'll. Dennis Dineen left about 12
O'Clock aud witness did not SEQ him
again until after his arrest.
Ellen Dineen, wife of Jeremiah
Dineen, and ter-in-law to the pris-
oner, testified that about O'Clock in
the morning of October Sd she got out
of bed and went down stairs to get
some hot water for her baby, when she
heard some one moving about on the
front step. She wont to the door to see
| who 1t was and found the prisoner
there. He was so drunk hs could not
walk straight. She helped him into
the dining room and called her husband
down stairs to take him home. He
sat there until after O'Clock, when
Jeremiah went to bed again and the
witness soon followed, leaving Dennis
asleep on the lounge. When she awoke
in the morning the prisoner had gone.
i Jeremiah Djneen, corroborated his
wife's testimony. He said he never
told any one except Mr.. Hayes, the
| prisoners counsel. that the latter had
been at his house on the night of the
fire. Dennis often came to see him
late at night and was almost always
under the influence of liquor.
James Cronin was calledsto tine stand
and started to relate conversation he
had with Hezekiah Bolton. but Mr..
| Cooper obiected and the eyidence was