The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-05-19
A PROBABLE INCENDIARY FIRE AT
ANDOVER.
Arrest of a Suspected Party.

Arrest Of Suspected Party.
In that part of Andover known as "East
hill, stands an ancient edifce, formerly
known as the civilian Warner place"
1t has been owned and occupied recent
ly by one Peter p. Wheeler Wheeler and
his "better half who by the by happens
to be his second wife, have been unable TO
see things in the same light, and as a con-
sequence have not lived together for at
least two years. Petitions for bills of d.
vorce have been prayed for by both par
tiesAby the wife for divorce and alimony,
but as yet none have been granted-the
husband, meanwhile, having withdrawn
his petition from court, and his presence
from the premises altogether. Madame,
however, having a homestead interest in
the place if nothing more, has been in
cllned to hold on to the "main chance"
and made the dwelling her home the larger
share of the time; still, has been absent a
portion of the time.
Sunday, the l4th inst, she was on the
premises, made calls on two neighbors,
nothing to the contrary being known, 1t
was supposed she Staid at the house Sun
day night. On Monday morning, quite
early, Abner w. Adams, who resides with
in few rods of the place, discovered
smoke pouring out of the two chmneys of
the house and thought 1t very singular, he
also thought the windows looked dark and
smokey. He went to the dwelling and
| looking through the windows as best he
could, a somewhat difficult job on account
of newspapers having been pinned up to
isfied that the house was on fire in the in.
side. Calling to neighbor who happened
to be in sight, the doors were tried and
found securely fastened. A door was
forced and one of the square rooms was
well under way. BY great perseverance
on the part of Mr.. A. water was thrown
upon the flames with so good effect that
the building, large two story house, wa'
saved.
We learn that every door susceptible Of
being fastened was so found that where
the fire originated, to all appearances, wa
in cupboard, and this door was found
locked. The fire, however, had burned
through the floor Of the cupboard and drop
ped into the cellar. The bottom of the
door had also burned through and the fire
extended across the floor and mp door ant
window castings on the opposite side OF thu
room. 1t is needless TO remark, perhaps
that no one was found on the premises.
There is strong flavor Of incendiarisn
hanging around the affair, there being
many other suspicious circumstances thar
those limited at above; but not wishing tt
forestall matters, or be the remotest mean!
of starting any understandable suspicious
against any one, we forbear to enlarge.
The case will, without doubt, be fully in
vestigated by the proper authorities, wheI
it is TO be hoped the whole affair will b
unraveled, and if there is any one SO cvi
disposed as to attempt the crime of incen
diarism, we sincerely pray they MAJ
be detected, ard legally dealt with
The exertions of Mr.. Abner w. Adams, il
subdung the flames, are briefly alluded t.
in the proper connection, but they are de
serving of more extended remark. Hi
own buildings stand in such close proximity
to the building in question, that had tn,
house then on fire burned, it is almos
morally certain they too would havt
burned this being the case, h
had oil the incentive that hi
could ask for, for his almost superhumar
exertions on this occasion. Being a stou
athletic man, it is believed, under the cir
cumstances, the grass grew but a triflle I'm
der his feet, while he bearded the fire ilCnt
in his den.
p. S.-Sinee the foregoing was written
we learn that States Attorney William ii
Walker, of Ludlow, has taken the matte
in hand, and will thoroughly Investigate
1t; the arrest of Mrs. Wheeler being tn
first step in the programme.