Year: 1875

HE CoNFEssEs TERRIBLE DEED OF ARSON,
BY WHICH A BROTHER MAN WAS BURNED TO
DEATH-DEsPERATE ATTEMPT TO COMMIT
SUICIDE.


From the Chicago Post and Mail, Dec. %


The strangest sensation brought to a climax in
this city has just been worked up by the Police Depart
ment 1t involves the commission OF the crime of
son and MURDER and two whole years in the his
tory of blackened criminal, from the incipient
stages OF his crime his attempt at suicide his cell
at the West Chicago station The strange facts
in the matter are related as follows:-


On the evening OF the 18th or the present month u
timid knock the front door awakened the station
keeper the West Chicago police station from
his slumbers, and few minutes aferward the form of
young man. on whose visage the traces Of deep
trouble plainly to be seen, stood before him. The
young man was apparently about twenty years Of
age and well built, and spoke in rational and quiet
manner He told very strange story to the station
keeper who struck with its horrible details that
he asked the man to be seated until the arrival Of
Sergeant Briscoe messenger was despatched for
him. and when he arrived he and the conner en-
gagged in a tete-d-tete, in which the following


REMARKABLE CONFESSION,


which the sergeant caused to be reduced to writing and
forwarded to the Superintendent of Police played a
prominent part His name is Thomas Carroll, and for
two years he has been troubled with aching of
science rarely equaed In the early part OF 1874 he
resided in Dunkirk, n. r., where his parents at
time lived and worked for along time In Vandcrwort's
planning MILL which of the largest institutions
or the kind in tho State of New York. Carroll
that he found his relations in the mill very pleasant
until certain came there to work foreman,
who, acquaintance, proved TO be Carros bitterest
enemy. The man referred to had charge OF the gang in
which Carroll worked and the hard feelings which
existed between them often resulted in quarrels The
foreman whose name Carroll never disclosed, threatened
to have him CARROLL discharged and then the idea
entered his mind that II the mills burned his
enemy would be thrown out OF employment Acting
upon tho vicious thought he entered the basement
the night the 18th OF June 1874 where lot of
ings were stored and setting fire them in four diff
ferent places fed. The fire gained headway rapidly,
and in very short space or time the entire building



A MASS OF FLAMES.


The entire village turned out 10 save the buildings,
but effect and the following morning disclosed to
the saddened gaze Of the many men thrown out OF
ploymont the backened ruins OF the mills.
named Mccarthy, employed as night watchman was
terribly burned and in TWO weeks died from the effects
OF the wounds which he received In the meantime
suspicion was directed toward Carroll and taking
first train no made good his escape But although out
OF the way the law the events Of that night weighed
heavy upon his soul, and his conscience smote him
when no thought Of the sad fate of Mccarthy, the
watchman and OF the condition Of the men whom his
villany had thrown out Of employment The mills
were owned by Thomas Vanderwort, and he offered
large reward for the capture OF the ncendiary The
ABOVE recital is taken from the confession Of Carroll,
now on file in the archives Of the Police Department
at Headquarters Sergeant Briscoe al rsl doubted the
mans statement and for the County Physician in



official arrived and pronounced the perfectly sane


Seeking AToSEhENT


In tho meantime Carroll's trouble seemed to weigh
upon him deeply On the 18th inst he was found
hanging the top of his cell by rope and was cut
down by Station Keeper Shuman. He stated res-
for his rash attempt that ne wished for the
crime he had copmttcd. Wishing to ascertain the
facts in the matter and the man to justice If
the story which he told was true, the Superintendent
of Police sent the following despatch to Dunkrk.-


CHICAGO, Dec 20, 1875
SHERIFF on CONSTABLE, Dunkirk, ~ "


Was planning mill destroyed by fire in Dunkrk in 1874
Do you want Thomas Carroll Z


N Z: HICKEY General Superintendent Police.
To which the following answer was reccivtd:-


puEKIRK Dec. 20, 1875
NJ c. HrcKEy Superintendent Police -


Vanderwor planning mill burned on the st OF June
1874. We want CARROLL SHERIFF.
on the 2lst the Chief OF Police telegraphed TO Dun
kirk that he had Carroll his custody and the sheriff
arrived here this morning took trip 10 West Chicago
avenue and fully identified tho prisoner. Yesterday
morning Carroll again attempted suicide, this time with
a case knife he inflicted cash on his throat but
prevented from ending his existence by the cook The
sheriff will leave with his prisoner at four O'Clock this
afternoon.