The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-05-10
SOMEWHAT OF A SENSATION.
A Prominent BslIalrs Merchant Charged
With Arson, and Arrested at the
IRitaucs Of He Brother


Bellaire are two brothers, named respect
lively Max and Solomon Miller. Both
have been in business in that city for sew
eral years, undergoing various vicissitudes
Of trade il that time. Some two years or
so ago Max became embarrassed in BUSH
ness, aud made an assignment. Mrs.
Miller being, under the Ohio laws, enh-
tied TO a certain value from the goods
owned by her husband, chose in lieu oil
household implements and furniture to
take the allotted amount in merchandise
from the store, and with this she opened
another store on the corner OF Union and
Bridge streets, In Bellaire, with Max as
her agent and manager. This establish
ment was conducted in this manner for a
abort time, when the Millers again be:
came involved in financial difficulties, and
Mrs Henrietta Miller, wife Of Max, made
an assignment to W. II. Tallman, an attor-
ney at law. ,.,
the time covered by these occurrences,
had established store Anew doors distant
from that OF his brother, on the same
street, but afterwards moved TO Belmont
street, several squares distant. The COM
peiition and other sources OF jealousy be-
tween the two families bred deep feud,
and for some months the families were at
enmity. ,,., NJ,
Tallman was made on the last Monday in
October, 1878, and Mr.. Miller again re-
served a certain amount OF goods in lieu
Of the Homestead allowed her by law,
and these goods she stored in the rooms
Immediately over the store, which were
occupied by the family as q residence.
On the Thursday night following the as
Segment, shortly after midnight, the
house was set atire by an incendiary, who,
10 make sure OF his work, kindled the fire
in three places. Though the fire was ex-
tipguished before 1t had made much head
way, the stock Of goods covered by the
assignment was ruined. Grave suspicious
were created in the minds OF the public
by the circumstances attending the hre.
| No tangible proof could be obtained by
the interested parties, however, and the
matter was quietly dropped.
Some time ago Max and his brother,
who had all along been enemies only in
appearance, really fell out, and the form
or revealed state OF things which his
wife states that she had long suspected,
but could not substantiate. These mat
ters all came out in trial before Mayor
Oriswell, OF Bellaire, Saturday, the story
being sworn to by Max and contradicted
by the other Miller.
Max charges that during the time his
wife owned the store and be conducted 1t
lor her, there was corrupt bargain be-
tween himself and brother, and that by
this arrangement he had at divers times
delivered goods orpaid over monies to Sol,
which really belonged to his, Max's wife,
TO the amount, as he alleges, OF 5000 or
upward. His story is that his brother,
Sol, represented to him that Henrietta,
his wife, cared nothing for him, but was
using him as a tool, and that when 1t
suited her purpose she would discard him
and be would then have no resources to
fall back on. Working on his mind in
this way, he induced him TO deposit the
valuables with him, Sol, that he might
have them in an. available position when
his wife turned him out. Max sTears that
Sol once even went 80 far as to attempt to
induce him to poison his wife, and re-
peatedly urged this course upon him, and
insiduously poisoned his mind, with the
view to eGecting this end.
As a result OF the disagreement between
the two brothers, Mrs. Miller has entered
suit by ]. B. Smith, her attorney, to recover
the 81 900 which it is alleged Is due her
from Sol. Max also sued his brother last
Monday for money claimed to be due him
personally, and recovered q verdict Tor
S505, the amount claimed.
These difficulties becoming public, the
matter OF the fire was recalled TO the
minds OF the people, and some more
: tangible proof seeming available, on Satur-
! day morning last Max swore out warrant
: before Mayor Criswell, charging his
! brother, S. /. Miller, with having set fire
: to Mrs. Miller's store IN October, 1850.
, At the preliminary hearing Mrs. Miller
swore that she was up attending to a sick
child Just previous 10 the fire, and that
she saw S. l. Miller in the back yard. Her
little girl also testified 10 having seen him
there. Upon this testimony Mrs. Miller
had desired to cause his arrest at the time,
and consulted Mr.. Smith, her lawyer, with
view TO doing 30, but he advised her not
to do II on her own testimony. Recently
she was informed that John Turner, q
German citizen OF Bellaire, had seen
Miller in the vicinity OF the store just be.
fore the fire broke out, and on his testi'
mony the arrest was made. He was called
to the stand, and said that on the night oil
the fire he saw S. /. Miller come out oil
Max Miller's yard and go west on Bridge
street to Belmont rapidly. he followed
him short distance, but was recalled by
; the alarm OF fire, and found the storeroom
in flames.
The testimony on behalf OF the defence
went to establish an abb. hr, Miller also
introduced documentary evidence In the
shape OF notes to show that instead OF his
owing Max or his wife any money, they
were really indebted to him.
The justice, however, in view oil all the
circumstances recognized Mr.. Miller to
the County Court. He promptly gave se-
curity, and was released.
The SECOND AND LAST CONCERT ny TIE
FISK JUBILEE SINdERs.-The extreme heat
OF Saturday, for a May day, and oppres-
siyeness incident TO 1t no doubt kept many
away from this delightful concert who
otherwise would have been present. But,
Notwithstanding all the circumstances
under which these concerts were given,
the attendance was good and the enjoy
ment OF the persons present very apparent
BY the manner in which every piece was
received. The programme OF Saturday
night was entirely different, with one or
two exceptions, from that Of Friday night,
and to many minds the singing was even
,wna,a. Nj Tnudinia haaa annU yna