Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-01-17
, PROTESTS HIS INNOCENCE.

MINIATURES, Jan. 16.-George Scheller,
proprietor of the NeThall house bar, was
arrested at l o'clock this afternoon on a
warrant sworn out by Officer Hannifn,
charging him with setting the fire which
destroyed the Newhall house last Wednes
day morning. The arrest was made by
Lieut.. Jansen and Officer Hanniin in
Roth's ''Quiet House," corner of Mason
street and Broadway. Scheller did not
seem very much surprised, and made no
statement. He looked pretty badly
broken up, has been drinking heavily since
the fire and his face shows the effects of
spree. The prisoner was locked up on a
charge of arson and was Immediately
transferred to the county Jail, where he
was locked up in an upper cell. He did
not speak to the iailer. The
OFFICERS ARE VERY RETICENT
about the details of the arrest. 1t is re-
ported that SchelIer was arrested princi-
pally on the statement of Linehan and an
other employe who claim that they saw
Scheller in the wood room where Linehan
says the fire originated. An application
was made at the sherif's Office for an op-
portunity to talk with the prisoner, which
was refused. District Attorney Clark also
refused to let anyone see Scheller, his ex-
cuse being that he is afraid that an at
tempt to lynch him will be made. The
warrant as sworn out by Detective Hanni-
fin, reads, John Hannifn, being duly
sworn, complains to the municipal court
of Milwaukee county, that George Scheller,
on the 10th day of January, A. D., 1888, at
the said city of Milwaukee in said
county, at about the hour of 3 o'clock of
the night time of that day, then and there,
with force and arms did with a certain
dwelling house there situated, known as
the Newhall house, of which he, the above
named George Scheller, was there and
then the tenant, and then aud there
feloniousIy, wilfulIy and maliciously did
set fire to the said house, then and by the
kindling of such fire did feloniously, will
fully and maliciously burn and consume,
contrary to the statute in such case made
and provided, and against the peace and
dignity of the state of Wisconsin, as said
deponent verify believes; and prays that
the said George Scheller may be arrested
and dealt with according to law"
WHERE THE FIRE STARTED.
Linehan, the engineer of the Newhall,
is out IF his room to-day, and states that
the various tales about the fire originating
in the second or third stories is all bosb.
Let people say what they will, Linehan,
when the announcement of the fire
was made, went into the wood
room in the basement and there found
pile of wood burning in the corner. The
brick walls were blackened, which was
caused by the fire burning against it for
some time, as may be seen at present and
that there was no other fire above or be-
low, nor in any other part of the room.
Smoke was descending through the floors
above and spreading throughout the build
ing. 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 black
wall from the same or other cause in any
other part of the basement or elsewhere.
Linehan accused no one of lighting the
torch, no matter what he may think con-
cerning it, but 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 it originating by
combustion, and consequently the con-
clusion is inevitable that some one, in the
still watches of the night, struck the
else, perhaps, but to the horrible loss of
hundreds, and then crept to his retreat
to avoid his damnable reward.
sCHELLER
was spoken to shortly before a arrest,
and was told of the talk of the warrant
being out for his arrest. The news startled
him, and he said such surely could not be
the case. II wonld rather drop dead than be
so accused" he said, and if his appearance
had 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 it burned two years ago.
1t was afterwards clearly proved that he
was home at the time of the
fire. Scheller has always borne a good
reputation, but an unfortunate connection
with the Mascotte saloon on Market street
caused many people to lose respect for
him. He ran saloon in place of low
repute, contrary to the wishes of ali his
friends as we'll as everybody in the vicin-
ity of where it was located. Scheller is
about thirty three years old, married and
has a small family.
Tonight messengers reported at the
sherif's Office that there we're excited knots
of people on the streets, with
TALK OF LYNcHING.
1t is feared there will be trouble when il
becomes generally known. Scheller is II
custody on an awful charge, and the police
and sherifs are prepared to defend him tc
the last An extra guard will be kept at tht
Ieil all night. Scheller has been in inancia
straits of late. An attempt made las
Friday to raise $500 on a chattel mortgag,
from Charles Shole, a gambler, failed
A liquor dealer furnishing the bar room
holds a note of 5000 against Scheller
which he offers for ten cents. In the after
noon before the fire, when Scheller was in
toxicated, the landlord Antisdel, gave hin
a talking to, warning him to mend his ways
Scheller was afterwards talked to by Tice
chief clerk of the hotel, and left in higl
dudgeon, proceeding on a regular carouse
Scheller claims having left the bar room