The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1858-03-09
From tho st. Louis Intslsonesr. 2sfh.,
CONSPIRACY, ARSON AND MURDER.
The Pacific Hotel Disaster.
The Supposed Murderer aad hsoendiayy
ldii9Hn eel Arrested. ii

The Stpposed Murderer aad Aacendiayy
9uii9aH aei % Arrested. 'ffa
'y Almost every citizen of ST. Louis has,
no doubt, had strong suspicious that tho
Pacific Hotel disaster was tho result of tue
most diabolical inccndiarism, and crcum-
stances arc now being developed, which
tend to confirm that suspicion beyond the
possibility Of u doubt. Ever sinco tho
event, our very efficient md sagacious Su.
pcrintcndent Of Fires, Cnpt. J. E. D.
Couzins, has been conducting an cxamna.
ton into the cause, which bids fair to bo
crowned with the most complete success.
II appears that Mr.. Doane, ono Of tho
unfortunatcs who was supposed to have
lost his life by the fire, and whose remains
wcrc recovered from the ruins, retired to
he'd about ten O'Clock, in tho room adjoin
ing that usually occupied by man named
Charles L. Taylor alias Sanders, and sepn.
rated from it by board partition, reach
ing only part way to tho ceiling. About
one O'clock on the morning Of the fro, the
watchman of the Pacific Hotel met TAYLOR
in the street, and in conversation with him,
Taylor stated that Doane had $4,000 in
his room with him.
At two O'clock tho same morning, Tay.
lor went to said hotel and went to bed
At quarter past three o'clock, he went
to the Townsley House, and took bed for
the night, and slept there. lie had no
boots on at the time. In the morning the
bed in which he slept was found consdera.
bly, stained with blood, and no wound was
found on the person Of Taylor. The room
at the Pacific Hotel occupied 10y Doanc
was in part Of the building affording the
best chance for his escape, had he been
alius. When his remains wero rccov-
cred, they wero upon the bed on
which he had slcpt, and it was saturated
a0iM blood. There were other unmistak-
able indications that he had been murder.
ed. t
Taking all these circumstances into con-
sideraton, suspicion rested 80 strongly up.
on Taylor, thai he was arrested on the
charge of murder and arson.
Dr.. D. w. Strader, tho landlord Of tho
Hotel, was its reputed proprietor, but it
now appears that he had not dollar Of in.
tercst in it; but that it belonged to per.
sons with whom the DR.. was Mt feud. He,
also, has therefore been arrested on the
charge Of conspiring with Taylor in the
preparation Of this dcmoniacal act.
An investigation Of the affair was TO
have taken place before Justice Herckon
rath this morning, but to give the accused
an opportunity to consult with their coun-
sci, has been continued until tomorrow
morning at nine o':lock. In the mean.
time Taylor is committed to Jail, and DR.
Strader is detained under survcillancc.-
The suspicion against him is very slight,
and the investigation tomorrow may dissi-
pate it entirely. His arrest was moro on
the ground of possibility than probability.
Taylor has been about st. Louis occa-
sionally for long time, and few years
ago was clerk for Chouteau & Barlow
He was also, at one time, Assistant City
Engineer, as we arc Informed. 1t is also
reported, on pretty good authority, that
he had been convicted Of felony in Cali
folnia, and had served term in the chain
gang at San Francisco. A few months
ago, he was arrested for An extensive rob
berry at the City Hotel in this city, but
was discharged on account of the man who
was robbed, not remaining to prosecute.-
He was so alarmed that he fed the city a
a few minutes after the robbery.
II. Taylor is good sized, good looking
mar, and somewhat noted for his reckless
dissipation. Since his return to the city,
lie has been known by the namc of San
dcrs only, but we lean ho has several
aliases, one Of which is Sanders Taylor.
Charles Waldrup, the Waterman Of tho
Pacific Hotel, has also been arrested, and
We learn is detained as a witness, to pre-
vent him from being bought of or scques-
trated by the guilty parties. We will to-
morrow give all the particulars Of the af
fair that may be developed previous to our
going to press.