The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-01-17
THE GROUND FOR sCHELLER's ARREST

in their resistance to machine dictation.
THE GROUND FOR sCHELLER's ARREST
George Scheller, proprietor of the New
hall House saloon, was arrested at l O'Clock
this afternoon on a warrant sworn out by
Officer Hannafn, charging him with set
ting the fire which destroyed the Newhall
House on Wednesday morning. The ar
rest was made by Lieutenant Jansen and
Officer Hannafin in Roth's House, corner
of Mason street and Broadway Scheller
did not seem much surprised and made no
statement. He has been drinking very
heavily since the fire and his face shows
the effects of spree The prisoner was
locked up on the charge of arson, and was
| Immediately transferred to the county jail,
| where he was locked up in upper cell.
He did not speak to the janitor. The
| officers are very reticent about the details
| of the arrest. 1t is reported that Scheller
was arrested principally on the statement
of Linehan and another employee, who
claim they saw Scheller in the wood room,
where Linehan says the fire started, and
| that he was there after 8 o'clock in the
| morning 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 Scheller, his excuse being that
he is afraid an attempt will be made to
lynch him. Linehan, engineer of the
house, says the tale about the fire origina-
ting in the second or third story are all bosh
let the people say what they will.
Linehan, when the announcement of the
fire was made, went into the wood room
in the basement and found a pile of wood
burning in the corner. The brick walls
were blackened, which was caused by the
fire burning against them for 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 base |
ment or elsewhere.
Linehan accuses no one of lighting the |
torch, no matter what he may think CON |
corning it, but he does not hesitate to say |
that. that fire never came there by acct |
dent" As there was ne fire anywhere |
near and there was no possibility of it |
originating by combustion, and conse-
quently the conclusion is inevitable that |
some one in the still watches of the night
struck the fatal match Tonight mes
sengers reported at the Sherif's office that
excited knots were on the streets with talk
of lynching It is feared there will be
trouble when it becomes generally known
that Scheller is in custody The police and
sheriff are prepared to defend him 10 the
last. An extra guard will be Kept at the
Jail all night. This afternoon, before the
fire, when
SCHILLER WAS INTOXICATED
Landlord Antisdel gave him talking to
warning him to mend his ways. Scheller
vas afterwards talked to by Tice, chief |
;lerk of the hotel, and left in high dun
yeon, proceeding on regular carouse. He
claims having left the car room at 80 a.
n. on the morning of the fire, but concIu-
i've evidence has been secured to show i
hat he was out till $50 a. m, half an hour z
before the fire, with Will. Sanderson of 8
Edward Sanderson & Co.. Tom Dunbar, i
# the Milwaukee Driving Park, and Joe 1
henderson, saloonist, under the gambling !
Zen of Sheles 1t Newboner The feeling is {
intense. but great many people who /
now Scheller well declare that he is not | |
apable of the deed. /
When the safe was opened this evening \
mere were numerous papers and docu- @
dents and three blank books, but no regis |
er, no transfer book, no memorandum of O
uests or employees could be. found.s Mr. v
Antisdel hurrfedfy threw the matter into 2
asket and with his man left the scene at | a
nee. The theories advanced as to the Ii
ause Of the disappearance of the all i'm
ortant volumes are numerous. but none
re satisfactory. In view of the fact that
'apers and books of every size and kind
re found in every direction only partially n
0nsumed the vanishing of such solid d
ooks as the register and its companion is L
egarded as mysterious and unexplainable q
Dther books known to have been in the e
flee are found in part, but none to show +
hat those which would now be precious
eyond all price ever existed rewards the a
most searching investigation {