The Newtown bee., 1908-04-10
Reading notices, brevler type, 10c line. Small nonpareil ads, 1c word DOT week.
TOWN TOPICS.
THE BREW ARSON CASE.
HEARING BEGAN, SATURDAY
 BEFORE JUSTICE HULL.

The case of State vs. William J. Brew, on a charge of arson, was on trial, Saturday, before Justice A. J. Hull, of Bridgeport, at the Brick building. At torney Delaney prosecuted for the State and Attorney Walsh of Norwalk for the defense. Only two witnesses were examined. Deputy Sheriff Charles B. Johnson was the first to take the stand. He said in substance: Upon coming up the hill toward the Brew house from Berkshire, with Mrs Grant, on the morning of the fire l saw smoke coming out of the gables of the house. I left Mrs Grant in the carriage and cut across the yard to the north door of the house which was locked. then went around to the west door which was fastened. Entered the house by the south door and went up stairs and then to the garret. Went up the garret stairs, so my shoulders were even with the floor and saw the fire in the west end of the garret. It was composed of rubbish and rags and was burning briskly. The fire smelled strongly of kerosene oil. He then ran back down the stairs and went across to Mir Greenbergh's to summon help, where l saw Mir Brew and told him the house was on fire. There met Edward and Will Hook and Barney Heating, who returned with me to the Brew place. Mir Grant and l then went up to the garret door, but were unable to pro- ceed, because the flames and smoke drove us back. Went down stairs anC out doors where I called MT Grant $ attention to tracks leading from the house in northeasterly direction ano asked MT Grant to follow them while l took a circuit around the buildings and come back into the door yard. MT Grant reported that he had followed the tracks about 200 feet to corner of the fence where the tracks returned.
 On being asked why they di Int at temptto save the house. MT Johnson said it was beyond the power of man to save the building under the circum- stances. They then procured a crow bar and pried off a few doors and ripped out few windows. MT Johnson testified that a travelling peddler was about and MT Johnson asked him if he had been up stairs. "No" replied the peddler, ''but Brew went up stairs anc come down quick. About this time Mrs Grant appeared and looking at MI Brew said: "Mr Brew. is this some of your dirty work? If it isn't look me in the face." Sheriff Johnson tes. tifed that he said to Mrs Grant
 Don't make any accusations. MI Johnson on being asked about MI Brew's condition, said he was not in toxicated, but had evidently beer drinking cider.
 Charles Grant testified that after he had bargained for the Brew place with the Savings bank he met MT Brew who told him that he could get more money for the place than Mir Grant had agreed to pay. He asked him how much he was in debt, and MT Brew re. piled $135O. On inquiry l found out that he lied to me; that he owed some six years taxes and interest and that he owed man they called Bully Bradley, something over $500, footing up total of nearly $2000. l told MI Brew he had better see Mrs Grant. Some time later on they showed MI Brew their deed from the Savings bank, which he looked over till he came to the name of Judge Beecher. Using a strong epithet he said: "I am not dead yet, but I'll get even with him before 1 die." The question was asked MT Grant, "Did Mir Brew appear tC have any animosity against you?" MI Grant said that he didn't appear tC have; that he had always treated hin well. Mir Grant referred to his at. tempt to buy hay of Mir Brew, which was in the barn. Mir Grant offered him SIP ton for two tons. Mir Brew said he could get S14. I then offered him BPS for two tons, but he would moi let me have it. MT Brew asked me ji I would have a glass of cider, but replied: If my money is not goOC enough for you, your cider is not gooC enough for me-" Further testimony brought out the fact that there was g dispute over manure, MT Brew's father and w.. J. Brew claiming it. Mir Grant claimed it went with the place, and he informed Mir Brew that if he put g fork into it to take it away, he would lay him out so he would never get out of the dooryard. MT IGrant testified practically the same as Mir Johnson 1T regard to examining the tracks in tht