The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-01-19

WHY SCHILLER i SUSPECTED-THE HOTEL
NEARLY BLOWN UP--FEARS OF MOB yIO-
LENCE.
A Milwaukee telegram Of the 18th says ::
Nothing was done this morning about
bringing Schcller into court for cXamina-
ton. The District Attorney will fully eX-
anime the case to-day. Mcssrs. Ebbits and
McKInny have been retained ~ Scheler.
10 is not known Just when the police began
the investigation which resulted in Schel-
lers arrest. On Sunday night last infor-
nation was lodged with the police concern
ing Scheller's whereabouts on the morning
OF the fire. Precautions were taken last
night TO protect the prisoner from a mob
in case one formed. and this afternoon w.
III. Ehbils visited Chief Wason and
the sheriff to urge upon them the necessity
Of removing Scheller 10 Racine to protect
him from the threatened vengeance OF the
Third and Fourth-Warders. He argued
that 10 keep the prisoner in Jail here would
be to place him at the mercy OF mob.
The Mayor was then called upon. and he
visited the Chief. II was arranged to ascer-
tain the state Of feeling III the Third and
Fourth Wards, and also to arrange for
special train 10 carry Scheler TO Racine in
ease there were signs OF trouble. n loco
motive was held in readiness, and a num-
Der Of policemen were kept at police head
quarters.
Schcller came TO Milwaukee with Mr..
Antisdel from Detroit about nine years
ago. when the latter assumed charge OF the
Newhall House. He had been chief clerk
in the Biddle House in that city when Mr..
Antisdel kept il. The two men, it Is said.
have always been warm personal friends.
Schcller learned the printers trade in his
youth, and worked at in Detroit for six
wears. Besides Scheller'S well-known
financial difficulties and his high insurance,
another thing which gave rise TO the first
suspicion was the proof OF his alleged Al
tempt to blow up the Newhall House by a
gas-eXplosiOn two weeks ago. About this
affair William Hughes, the head porter at
the Newhall House, makes the following
statement:
II am in the habit Of going 10 the hotel
about 6 O'Clock in the morning. One
morning about two weeks ago | went up
the main entrance, and when got near the
elevator | Smeled gas. The smell was
very strong. and seemed to come from the
bar-room. / opened the door aud was
nearly knocked down, the odor being so
overpowering. just a | opened the door
/ the bar-keeper, Henry Mccormick, came in
/ the front way. asked him what the trou.
/ BILE was. He said he didn't know, butthought
1t was the gas-meter. We both rushed in and
/ looked at the meter, butitwas alright. We
came out into the bar-roOm and threw open
the outside doors. then noticed IA small
blue fame on one OF the burners away back
in the room. then looked up and found
that every one OF the six chandeliers had
the gas turned on full force. could hard
" believe what saw, and said to McC0r-
mick: MY God, what's this for:' He
said he did not know, and that Scheller
was i'm the place when he left. We then
turned all the gas of, and | went up
stairs. | told Mr.. Antisdel about il,
and he asked me il l lit n match. |
told him l did not, and he said | did
wrong. Scheller did not come around
next day at all. 1t was three days before
he showed up, and said lie had been sick.
He was asked about the gas, and said:
Some one must have had a key to the
door. and got in and turned them all on
Hughes says that boy known rs Little
Pete who worked in the bar-rOOm, said
he left Schelcr in the place about 3 O'Clock
that morning"
1t is learned tonight that Scheller has
been secretly removed from the Jail by the
authorities for fear that an attempt would
be made to lynch him, and it is believed
he has been sent to Waukesha.
The number OF wOrkmen at the ruins
was reduced to-day, and the work is eX-
pectcd to be complete on Saturday. Five
bodies were recovered to-day, making a
total OF As burned beyond recognition.
There are % identified dead, and it is sup
posed that from 10 to 20 are still missing.
The CHIEF of police states tonight that he
has learned that one OF the clerks started
to run out Of the burning hotel with the
register. but stumbled downstairs and lost
the book The trlnsier-boOk has not been
henrd OF vet.