Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-01-19


psr, was arrested at l o'clock this after
noon on warrant sworn out by officer
Hannifin, charging him with
SETTING THE FIRE
which destroyed the Newhall house On
Wednesday morning last. The arrest
was made by Lieutenant Jansen and
Officer Hannifn in Roth's "Quiet
House." corner of Mason street and
Broadway.
did not seem very much surprised and
made no statement. He looked pretty
badly broken up. He has been drink
ing heavily since the fire, and his face
shows the effects of his spree.
THE PRISONER WAS LOCKED UP
on charge of carson and was i'm
mediately transferred to the county
jail, where he was locked up in an up
per cell. He did not speak to the
jailer.
The officers are very reicent about
the details of the arrest.
THE EVIDENCE.
1t is reported that Scheller was ar
rested principally on the statement of
Linehan and another employe, who
claim they saw Scheller in the wood
room where Linehan says the fire
and that he was there after
3 o'clock A. NJ.
THE PRISONER.
Application was made at the sheriff
office by Journal reporter for al oE-
portunity to talk with the prisoner,
which, in the absence of the sheriff,
was refused. District Attorney Clark
also refused to let any one see Scheller,
his excuse being that he is afraid an
attempt will be made to lynch him.
The following is
A COPY OF THE WARRANT:
John Hannifiu has this day COM
planned in writing to the municipal
court of said Milwaukee county, on
oath, that George Scheller, alias, on the
10th day of January, 1888, at the city
of Milwaukee, at or about the hour of
3 o'clock of the time of that day, then
and there with force and arms, in GER
tain dwelling house, there situate,
known as the Newhall house, of which
he, the above named George ScheIler,
was then and there the tenant, then
and there feloniousiy, willfully and ma
liciously did set fire to the said house,
ther and there, by the kindllng of such
fire; did feloniously, willfully and ma
l;oin,clxy b,,r,, and consume onntraru
to the statute in such case made and
provided, and against the peace and
dignity of the state of Wisconsin, and
and prayed that the said George Schel-
Ter, alias, might be arrested and dealt
with according to law.
Now, therefore, in the name of Wis
consln, you are commanded forthwith
to apprehend the said George Scheller,
alias, and to bring him before the said
municipal court to be dealt with ac-
cording to the law.
Witness, the Hon. James A. Mallory,
municipal judge of said county, a.:
Milwaukee, the 10th day of January,
1883.
julius MEIswINKEL,
Clerk of the Municipal Court.
J.C. MKENNEY
is Scheller's attorney.
LINEHAN,
the engineer of the Newhall, Is out of
his room to-day, and states that the
various tales about the fire originating
in the second or third stories is all bOsh,
let people say what they will. Mr..
Linehan. when the announcement of
the fire was made, went iuto the wood
room in the basement and there found
PILE OF WOOD
burning In corner. The brick walls
were blackened, which was caused by
the fire burning agains- it sometime. as
may be seen at present, and that there
was NO other fire above or below, nor
in any part of the room. The smoke
was ascending through. the floors above
and spreading
THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING.
In further proof that the fire origi-
mated in that very spot where it was
found burning brightly by the engineer,
there can be found no other blackened
wall from the same or other cause in
any part of the basement or elsewhere
Mr.. Linchan accuses no one of lighting
the torch ,ino matter what he may think
concerning it, but he does not hesitate
to say that the
FIRE NEVER CAME THERE BY ACCIDENT,
as there was no fire anywhere near,
and there was no possibility of il
originating by combustion, and, con-
seQuently the conclusion IS inevitable
that some one in the still watches oi
the night struck the fatal match in the
interest of some one else, perhaps, bot
to the horrible loss of hundreds, and
then crept to his retreat, to avoid his
damnable reward.
SCHILLER WAS SPOKEN TO
shortly before arrest and was told that
for his arrest. The news startled him
and he said that such surely could not
be the case. 81 would rather drop dead
than be so accused" he said, and if his
appearance.has anything to do with the
matter he was telling the truth. There
was talk that Scheller had SET
his house on fire at North Point
when he burned out two years ago
It was afterward clearly proven
that he wss not at home at the time oi
the fire. Scheller has always borne
GOOD REPUTATION,
but his unfortunate connection with
the Mascotte saloon on Market street
caused many people to lose respect for
him. He ran 8 saloon, place Of low
repute, contrary to the wishes of al
his friends, as well as of everybody in
the vicinity of where it was located.
Scheller is about 80 years cid, married
and has small family.
TALK or LYSCHISG.
Tonight messengers reported at the
sherifs Office, that excited knots were
on the streets, with talk of lynch.
ing. It Is feared there vii
be trouble when it become:
generally known that Scheller is il
custody on foul charge and the police
snd sheriffs are prepared to defend
him TO the last. An extra guard vii
be kept at the jail all night.
Schaller has been
In FINANCIAL STRAITS
of late. He attempted last Friday e
raise 500 on chattel morsgsge from
Charles Sholes, gambler. bnE failed
A liquor dealer furnishing the bar room