Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1883-01-29
THE BELLEVUE HORROR.
MRS. ELLA NEWTON BURNED ALIVE
IN HER HOME.
Was 1t Suicide, Murder, or Accident
A Mystery that May Never Be Solved
Various Theories on the Subject.

Bellevue Sun, Jan. 81.
At half past one this morning sew
eral persons heard two shots on Third
street, which were followed in few
minutes by an alarm of fire. The re-
ports were heard by Miss Furey, l.. II.
McIrwin. Judge G.. l.. Waters, and
others. When the cry of fire was
heard, Judge Waters. who was sitting
in his Office above Charley Behrma MS
saloon, on Main street, ran down and
gave the alarm to those who were still
zap, and, while some gave the cry of
fire, others beat the triangle to arouse
the slumbering. When the first ones
arrived at the house, the front part of
which was built of lumber and the
rear of log, it was in flames. Fearing
that Mrs. Newton mi ght be inside, the
front door was broke in. The men
looked into the room, where the
flames were leapiny in their madness,
but she could not be seen. Not till
the heat was so intense that the door
wav could not be reached was it dis
covered that the door had fallen on
her PROSTATE form. Every attempt,
without avail, was made to get at her,
and in short time the building was
entirely consumed, when the cllarred
remains were removed to cabin near
bv. The limbs were burned entirely
off-nothing but the trunk, skull and
short bones of the arms remaining.
One Of these extended straight out,
while the other, extending to her
mouth, stands as a mute witness Of
the agonics she suffered, and her prob
able endeavor to prevent sut1ocation
by the flames.
Two revolvers were found outside
the front door, one of which was
empty, and the other containing two
shells, both of which had been
snapped, the imprint of the hammer
being plainly visible Oh them. They
could not possibly have been exploded
by the heat of the fire, and this leads
some to suspect that all is not right.
Others think that when the top of
the trunk, which was near the door,
and filled with clothing, was dragged
from the fire, that the revolvers were
in it, which accounts for their being
found outside. Whether the two
shots fired were at the consumed
house, or by whom fired, is not known
The deceased was aged 36, and had
been for long time resident of Ida
no Territory. She resided at Silver
City, Owyhee county, a number OF
years: also at Boise City; afterwards
moved to Atlanta, where she lived
nine months, and married Mr.. Lew
Newton, who is also we'll known
Her former name was Ella O'Neil
Mr.. Newton and her moved to Galena
on Wood River, where he had Il
butcher shop, and she restaurant.
Last August they moved to Vienna
on the head of the Salmon and ran q
restaurant and lod ging house. From
there they removed to Bellevue
about the middle OF last November
and Mr.. Newton short v alterwart
went to the junction, she occupying
the house where the fire took place.
Mrs. Newton has been for tim,
in poor circumstances, financially
and pawned pair OF bracelets shor
time ago for $40 with which to pur
chase provisions. Last evening sh'
gave Mike Rose full diamond rim.
: and requested him to pawn it for pro
visions; but, instead, he purchased thu
= things she needed and took them t.
her; also returning the ring, which
, she dropped into glass tumbler OF
the table.
. Knowing the nature of the woman
and her pride, we incline to the opin
, ion that the case was one of suicide
=, and the house burned to cover up tn,
deed. Deceased was one Of thos'
:, women who would rather die than lie
the public know OF her destitute cir
!, cumstances. She was industrious
= and kind-hearted to such degree a
to suffer financial losses by keepin!
! those who did not deserve assistance
9 The most reasonable hypothesis is