The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-01-25
THE NEWHALL HOUSE HORROR.
Newhan House Bar-room. on a Charge
of Having Set Fire to the Hotel Through

Newha1 House Bar-rOOm, on q Charge
of Having Set Fire to the Hotel Through
Spite.
MILWAUKEE, January 10.
George Scheller, proprietor of the Newhall
House bar, was arrested at one O clock this
afternoon on a warrant sworn out by Officer
Hannifan charging him with setting the fire
which destroyed the Newhall House Wednes-
day morning. The arrest was made by Lieu
tenant Jansen and Officer Hannifin, in Roth's
"quiet house." corner of Mason street and
Broadway. Scheller did not seem very much
surprised. ami 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 the spree. The prisoner was
locked up on the charge of "arson,' and was
Immediately transferred to the county JAIL
where he was looked up in an upper cell. He
did not speak to the Jailer. The officers are
very reticent about the details of the arrest
1t Is reported that Scheller wns arrested prin-
cipally on the statement of Linehan and
another employe, who claim that they saw
Scheller in the wood-room, where Linehan says
the fire originated, and that he was there after
three o'clock a. m. Application was made at
the Sheriff's office for an opportunity to talk
with the prisoner, which was refused.
District-Attorney Clark also refused to let
any one see Sch sller, his excuse being that he
is afraid an attempt will be made to lynch him.
fin reads:
John Hannifin, being duly sworn complains
to the Nun cipal Court of Milwaukee County
that George Scheller talasl, on tho 10th day Of
w.ukee, in said county, at about the hour of
tnrcc o'clock Of the night-tm of that day,
dwelling,house there situated known as the
Hewhall Hou g, of which he, the ab1ye named
George Scheller (alias) was there and then the
tenant, then and there feloniously, willfully
end malciously d d set fire to the said house,
then and by the kindling of such fire did
eel tniously, willfully and maliciousIy bu n and
consume, contr Try to the statute in such case
dignity of the state of Wisconsin, as said de-
George Scheller (alas) may be arrested and
dealt with according to the law
Lfnehan, engineer of the NewhalI House, is
out of his room to-day. He states that the va
rious tales about the fire originating in the SEQ
ond or third stories is all bosh. let people say
what they will. Linehan when the announce
ment of the fire was made, went into the wood
room in the basement and there found pile
Of WOOD burning in a corner. The brick walls
were blackened, which was caused by the
burning against it some time, as may be seen
at present, and that there was no other fire
above or below nor in any other part of the
room. The smoke was ascending through the
floors above and spreading throughout the
building.
In further proof that the fire originated 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.
Linehan accuses no one of lighting the
torch, no matter what he may think concern
ing 1t, but he does not hesit, te to say that
THAT fire never camo the by accident" as
there was fire anywhere near, ar there
was no possib ,lity of it originating by combus-
lon, and consequently the conclusion is IN
egitable that some one in the still watches of
tile n 2ht struck the fatal matci-in the in
terest of some one else, perhaI s, but to the
horrible 10 s of hundreds-ani then crept to
his retreat to avoid his damn ible reward.
sche!ler was spoken t. sho: tly before hif
rest. He was told that there was some talk of
warrant being out for his arrest. The ucws
startled him, and he said that such surely
could not be the case. Il would rather drop
dead Than to be so accused" be said, and if
his ap earance hal anything to do with the
matter he W. telling the truth.
There was talk that Scheler had set his
mouse on fire at Nor h Po mt, which burned
two years ago. 1t was afterwards clear
proven that he was n at home at the time tf
the fire. Schesler has always borne a coed
reputation, but his unfortunate connection
with the disr putable Mascotte saloon on Mar
ket street eau jed many people to lose respect
for him. He ran saloon place of low repute,
contrary to the wishes of all his friends, as
well as everybody in the vicinity of where it
is located. Scheller is about thirty three years
old, and has small family
Tonight me SIS ngers reported at the
Sherih's office, that excited knots were on the
streets. with talk of lynching 1t is feared
there VIII be trouble when it becomes gener-
ally known thst Scheller is in custody on the
awful charge, and the police and Sheriffs are
prepared to defend him to the last. An extra
guard will be kept at the Jail all night.
Scheller has en- in financial straits of late.
An attempt made last Friday to raise $500 on
a chattel mortgage from Charles Scholes, the
gambler, failed. The hquor-dealer who fur
n!shed the barroOm holds a note of 500
against Scheller, which he offers for ten
cents.
The afternoon before the fire. when Scheller
was Intoxicated, Landlord Antisdel gave him
talking to, warning him to mend his ways.
Scheller was afterwards talked to by Tfce,
chief clerk of the hotel, and lett in high dud-
geon, proceeding on n regular carouse. He
claims baving left the bar-roo;n in the hotel at
L 80 a. III. the morning of the lire. but con-
elusive evidence has been secured to show
that he was out until 3:3J a. m.-half an hour
before the fire-with Will Sanderson, of Ed
ward Sanderson s. Co., Tom Dunbar, of the
Milwaukee Driving Park, and Joe Henderer
saloonfst under the gambling den of Sholes
and Newbauer.
The feeling is intense, but a great many
people who know Scheler will declare he is
not capable of the deed.