The times., 1901-03-30
EVIDENCE NOT SUFFICIENT
RpauistiOn Not HOEored i'm the
Maryland Arse Ii Case,

| Chief Justice Bingham Orders Dis
and Bradshaw-Mr. Pickford Gives
Bond at Rockville and Is Released.
Chief Justice Bingham yesterday after
noon refused to honor the requisition
made on him by Governor Smith, of
| Maryland for the surrender TO the au-
! thorties of that State of Thomas II. Pick
| ford, John H. Walter, Aaron Bradshaw,
| and Granville c. Shaw, all well known
| residents of this city, who were alleged
! TO be fugitives from justice from the
| State of Maryland, whore they had been
| indicted on a charge of arson.
The indictment set forth that Pickford
| and Walter were the owners of certain
property at the intersection of Seventh
Street Road and Colesyille Pike, upon
| which stood an unoccupied dwelling. They
We're jointly charged, with the other de
PENDANTS. with having set fire TO the house
on the night of September II, 1897, for the
supposed purpose of securing the insur-
ance money.
Mr. Pickford was not taken into custody
by the police. but. hearing of the charges
against him. went to Rockville and gave
bond in the sum of $1,000 for his appear
ance when wanted. The other defendants
appeared before Chief Justice Bingham
and took the stand i'm their own defence.
Arthur Peter appeared for Mr.. Walter,
while Henry r. Davis represented Mr..
Bradshaw. Mr.. Shaw was without coun-
sci
1t was contended that it would be nee
essary for the Maryland authorities to
prove that the alleged fugitives were in
the State at the time the crime is said
10 have been committed. Mr. Peter
brought authorities to show that under
the common law, the burning of an iso-
lated unoccupied dwelling by the owners
of the property does not constitute arson.
Sheriff Arthur Williams on the stand
stated that he had no knowledge of the
persons named in the papers having been
in Maryland at the time of the fire. Mr..
Walter testified that he and Mr., Pickford
were the owners of the property and that
he had not been in Maryland for several
weeks previous TO the fire, which occur
red Monday night, September 13, 1897.
and not the 18th of the month as set
forth in the papers. He said that the
building cost between s3o,000 and $4,000
and that it was insured for about $685.
coo. He saiG that he and Mr.. Pickford
were compelled to bring suit against the
insurance companies, but that they re-
covered in fun for the building, which
was completely destroyed. Since that
time the property has been sold.
MI Walter stated that he is the Presi-
dent of the Washington Real Estate Com
pany, which he organized in 1889, and that
he is in the real estate business with an
office at 1921 Street northwest He said
that he did not see what possible connec-
hax zyifh b.s
case.
In his own behalf Mr.. Bradshaw. who
is employed in the Assessors Office at
the District Building, and who lives al
901 c Street northeast, testified that he
know absolutely nothing about the mat
ter that he had not been in the State of
Maryland for week or ten days previous
TO the fire, and that IL was probably
week after the burning of the building
before ne again visited the State.
NJ Shaw, after beinR sworn. told of
having been engaged to superintendent
the work that was being done on the
building in Maryland, and having tempo
rarily engaged board at a nearby farm
house, az 1t would not have been possible
for him to properly see to the work and
return to his home on the Good Hope
Road each day. He finished work the day
in question about 3 o'clock, well as he
can recollect, and after locking up the
building went 10 his boarding place Az
ter dinner he went out on the lawn, in
company with others and was sitting
there when he saw smoke coming from
the roof Of the building about half a mile
away. 1t was then, as near as ne could
judge, about O'Clock.
Mr.. Shaw ran TO the building with other
in ne aiHytil hut
able to prevent the destruction of the
building. IT was his belief that the fire
started from spontaneous combustion
He never permitted the worsmen en-
ployed there 10 smoke in the building. or
to use fire in any way, as they We're clean
ing the woodwork with gasoline, and had
quantity of the fluid in the building at
| the time. in addition To paints, oils, and
other combustibles
That ended the evidence and Chief JUS
tice Bingham discharged the prisoners,
| holding that the defendants had not been
connected with any crime, so far as the
evidence presented showed, and that
there was nothing to warrant him in sur
rendering them to the Maryland authori-
| ties. He gave notice that he did not pass
upon the guilt or innocence Of the par
ties and that he had only determined that
! before him Il prima facie case had not
| been made out.
All three of the gentlemen involved
| stated that they intended to go TO Rock
/ vile and face the charges. az they would
| have no trouble in establishing their in
nocence. Mr. Walter suggested that he
and his companions had probably been
| too active in politics in the State TO
| please certain parties.
| Thomas II. Pickford, who went to
| Rockville yesterday and furnished bond
| for his appearance when wanted to an
| swer the charge, Is 81 wholesale grocer
4 at the corner of Ninth Street and Louisi-
| ana Avenue northwest, and is said to be
| large property holder in this city and
| in Maryland.
| Mr. Shaw is cousin of Frank Shaw.
| who, during CleVeland's second Admins
| tratton, was collector of the port OF Bal
| timore. He was arrested about Ii o'clock
| Thursday night at his home on the Good
| Hope Road by Detectives Horne and He-
! Ian, who had been directed to act FOR
| Sheriff Williams, who came to the citv
| about I O'Clock at night with the reaui-
| sition papers. Although sick in bed MIR
| Shaw was compelled, 1t is said to dress
| precinct station, where the local authori-
ties did everything in their power To
| make him comfortable for the night
! Messrs. Walter and Bradshaw We're ar
| rested yesterday morning by the local DO
| lice after Sheriff Williams had returned
| to Rockville. He sent Deputy Sheriffs
| Gather and Beavers to Washington ia
| take his prospective prisoners back, but
| later came TO the city himself, as he was
| informed that as he was named in the
| requisition papers as the agent of the
| State il would be necessary for him TO be
! here.
| Mr.. Walter has a home at Berwyn, Nd
! in addition TO the one in this CITY II is
! said that he and Mr. Bradshaw have been
! rather too active In the politics Of the
| State To please some of the leaders. IT Is