The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-03-21
Briggs Accused OF Trying
to Burn House.
HIS STORE WAS INSURED.
Waived Examination AMI Was Held
For the Grand Jury.
OTHER DISTRICT COURT CASES.

Charles III. Briggs was arraigned In
the Sixth District Court this morning for
attempted arson In that he did st fire 10
the two and half story dwelling house,
6l0 Prairie avenue. owned and occupied
by Mary Is. Allen. He at first pleaded
Lot guilty and was held for trial March
20, hut he Immediately waived examina-
mon Pleas Division of the Supreme
Court without BAIL
The facts relating TO the attempt to
burn tie house We're printed in This
News last Friday afternoon, hut at that
time the identity of the incenoiary was
not known. Briggs was tie proprietor
of a grocery store on the ground floor Of
the house, and il was i'm the stors that
the evidence of the attempt to burn the
premises was discovered by Policeman
Jones shortly after inianight. The olice-
man bad tried tie store coors at O'Clock
on Friday evening and found them fast
ened. AZ midnight he tried them again
and found ths rear door open. On in
ves.igatlon ne saw burning candle
near some pine toaros and Kerosene
tank.
been made was plain and the case was
reported TO Captain Cory Of the Seventh
lolice station. Ihe uetsctiye depart
inent took the oass in hand and ascer
tanned that a stock of groceries OF COM
paratively little value was insured for
1880 through the agency OF John b. Nc
Guinness.
Briggs had occupied the store about a
month. II 2 had formerly been located on
Point street. near Parsonage street
When he moved the contents OF the Point
street store to Prairie avenue he had the
Insurance tran nsferred. The disproror-
tionate amount of toe insurance TO the
vaius of the stock was the main suspic-
ious circumstance and IL stim ulated the
ius usestigation. IL was lesrae1 that Briggs
had been seen in the vicinity Uf the store
about miupiQht on Friday. According
TO the story CT coloTed man who was a
frequent visitor 10 the grocery store.
Briggs YVES seen to drive away fIom the
grocery store in wagon. Other more or
less impoi tant circumstances were
brought to light and the evidence was
sufficient to ~arr ant the arrest,
The upper part of the house was occu-
pied by Jan es X. Allen the aeronnut and
his family and y ben the iire was set in
the grocery store five persons were asleep
In the house, The watchfulness OF polica-
man Jones probably prevented the com
son which is next TO murder. IL con-
vioted Of arson person may te sent TO
state prison for life.
Thomas Cullen was arraignei in the
Sixth district court for sn assault on
Samuel BRADLEY. He pleaded not guilty
and was held In the sum of $500 TO appear
for trial rext Friday Bradley boarded
with Cullen. Both men were uncer the
influence of liquor when the argument
began. The men went from tie lie cir
cumstantial to tie lie direct and then
Cullen seized "a bowl ana dropped it on
Brsdleys head with sufficient force to
make cut that required six stitches from
the attending physitiun. Cullen told tee
court that there vas n hight and that
BraoIey tried to take his life. "Your
Honor, said be, ''he laid ne on the broad
of me back an thin hit nim. lhe fight
took plscs Sunday at midnight IN the
houss 2s6 Richmond strest
Peter Hscket and James III cket had a
row in a house on 1roy street Sunday
evening aud Will, the light was at its
height Peter seized hammer and aimed
vicious blow at James. His sister
was standing near by aud she succesoet
in stopping some of the force of the blow
SO that when the hammer struck James
on the top-of ths hsnd it only made a bad
wound without fraoturing the skull Ire
" wound is not considered dangerous. Peter
was arrai sneI in the sixth district court
tb,s morning and was ield in the sum Of
$500 TO appear for trial iLesdey, March
20.
John kochauoria was fnet l5 and costs
for tselng vest from Joseph Samuels.
Thomas A. B. Red, colorel man. sd-
mittei that hs st, Ia lot Of metal be-
longing TO Harriet r. Brownell and as IL
was his first offence he was fined 81 and
costs. 1homes Rica, an old offender.
was sent to The county jail for 30 days
for the same offence. Tie metal con-
sisted OF N lot OF copper at the scene Of
tho fire on Canal street.
Briggs went with his attorney, T.. X.
Parker, this afternoon before Judge VIII
bur Of the supreme court and gave bail