Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1883-01-19
i.rre3teo.

charging hun with setting the nrc Whlch
destroyed the Newall house Wednesday
morning. The arrest was made by Lieut..
Jansen and Officer Hsnnifin in Roth's
"Quiet House," corner Mason street and
Broadway. Scheller did not seem very
much surprised and made no statement.
He looked pretty badly broken up. He
has been drinking 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 an upper cell. He did not speak to
the jailor. Officers are very reticent about
the details of the arrest. 1t is reported
that Scheller was arrested principally on
the statement Of Lcnchan and another
cmploye, who clam they saw Schellcr in
the Woodroom where Lenchan says the
fire originated. Application was made at
the shcriff's office to-day for au op-
rortunity to talk with the prisoner, which
was refused. District Attorney Clark
also refused 10 let any one see Schellcr, his
exc,,s:. heing that he is afraid an attempt
TO lynch him will be made.
Ths warran: sworn out by Detective
llannin reads: "John Hannifn beng
duly sworn complains o the municipal
"ourt Of Milwaukee county that George
Scl'tllcr, al,a~, ON the l0'h day Of January,
\. D. 1883, 1T the said city Of Milwaukee
II sad cnnn:v, A. aH"ut The hour Of 3
o'c| OK # he n gil, Of that day then and
hc,c will, force and ar;Hs a certain dwell
ng house there situated and known as
the NtwhnlI house If which he, the
above named Geo Schcllrr, alias, was
then and there the tenant, then and there
feloniously, wilfu'ly and malic,ou.ly did
set fire to the 8 I'D 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 prsys that
the said George Scl'elcr, alias, may he
arrested and dealt with according to the
law. Lenchan, engineer of Newhall
house, is out Of his room Today and states
that numerous tales about the fire origi-
mating in second or third floor is all bosh.
Let people say what they will Lenehsn,
when the announcement of fire was made,
went into the wood room in the basement
and there found pile of wood burning
in the corner and the brick walls black.
cned which was caused by the fire burn
ing against it sometime, as may be seen
at present and that there was no other fire
above or below nor IN any other part Of
the room. Smoke was ascending through
the floors above and spreading through.
out the building. In further proof that
the fire originated in that very spot where
it was found burning brightly. Engineer
said there could be found no other black
wall in any part Of the basement or else
where. Lenehan accused no one of light
ing the torch no matter what he thinks
concerning it, but does not hesitate to ssy
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.
cluson is invitable that some one in the
still watch of the night struck the fatal
match In the interest of some else per.
ha,s, but to the horrible loss of hundreds
and then crcpt TO his retreat to avoid hia
damuable reward.
SchcIler was spoken to shortly before
arrest and was told there was talk of .
warrant out for his arrest. The news
startled him aud he SAID such surely
could not be the case. would rather
drop dead than be SO accused, he said,
aud II his appearance had anything to do
with the matter he was telling the truth.
There was talk that Schellcr had set his
house on fire ut North Point when it
burned two years ago hut 1t was after
wards clearly proved that he was home at
the time Of the fire. Scheller has always
borue good reputation but unfortunate
connection with the Mascotte saloon on
Mark It street caused many people " lose
respect for him. lie ran saloon place
Ut low rcputc contrary 10 the wishes of xl
his friends as we'll ms everybody IN vlcini
" Of where il was located. Scheller is
about 33 years o!a, married and has
small family, Tonight messenger re-
ported al shcriff's office excited knots of
people ON the streets with talk of lynch
ing. 1t is feared that there will be trou-
BILE when it becomes generally known
that SchelIer IS in custody on thu awful
charge aud police and sheriffs are pre-.
pared to defend him to the last.
An extra guard will be kept at the Jail ell
night. Schellcr has been iD financial
straits of late. His attempt made last
Friday to raise $500 on chattel mortgage
from Charles Sholes, q gambler, but
failed. Liquor dealer furnishing bar
room holds note Of 600 against Scheller
which he offered for ten cents. The
| afternoon before the fire, when Scheller
was intoxicated, Landlord Ant,sdel gave
HIM talking to warning him to mend
ways. Scheller was afterwards talked to
by Tice, chief clerk of the hotel, and left
IN high du6Geon proceeding in regular
carouse. Scheller claims having left the
bar room of the hotel at l:3O .. N. on the
morning of the fire, but conclusive evl-
dence has been secured to show he wa
out until $50 q. m. half an hour before
the fire.