New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-15
DIR. NEWELDS STRANGE STORY.
AN UNKNOWN MAN SENT HIM THEATRE
TICKETS.
WHILE HE WAS AT THE PLAY HE HEARD THAT
HIS WINE HAD CARTED OFF HIS FURNI-
TURE-THAT NIGHT THERE WAS AN IN
cr~r1,py FIRE IN HIS HOUSE.
CENDIARY FIRE ~ HIS HOUSE.

TURE-THAT NIGHT THERE WAS AN IN
cENDIARY FIRE IN HIS HOUSE.
Dr. William II. Newell, of No. POI Paiisade-
ave-, Jersey City, informed the sergeant at the
desk in the Third Police Precinct Station yester-
day that his wife lad gone away He did not
know where she had gone, but he did know that
three van loads of his household furniture dis
appeared with her. lie said that man whose
name he would not tell went with wife and
furniture DR.. Newell also declared that some one
had tried TO burn down his house, and as proof
Of this he placed an armfu Of wood and paper that
had been saturated with kerosene oil, and piece
of candle and long lampwick, on the sergeant
desk, which, he said he had found on fire IN his
cellar on Saturday night. Relieved OF this loao'
he told his story.
few weeks ago Mrs Newell caused the arrest
of the doctor in the middle of the night. She
said that he had assaulted her and had threatened
70 shoot her. When a policeman arrested hIn he
had q revolver in his hand The doctor said In
the police court that the presence OF Dr Deldy
in his house as his wifes guest was dlstastclul 70
him. and he simply wanted to get Deldy out OF
the house Deidy went away the next day. anu
Justice Davis succeeded in settling the dliHcui'S
between the doctor and Mrs. Newell From tAat
time until last Thursday night, Dr. Newell de-
bovever. when he entered the house after short
absence he found man there making himself
able to Mrs. Newell. The doctor says that
lis enraoed him and he quarrelled with his wife.
He refused to make known the name of the man,
who he declared was there. On the following
dav friday the doctor received note signed
/" J. H." which asked him TO accept the enclosed
six tickets TO the Madison Square Garden tleatre.
The physician told his daughter that he would
take her and four Of her friends on the SATURDAY
night following. The daughter invited TOUT
friends. and the party OF six went to MADISON
Souare Garden Dr. Newell says that about 10
o'clock. while he and his party were IN poN.
Alonzo Cuttincham. son Of ncighbor, entered
the box and told him that the ncighbors had re-
ouested him to tell DR.. Newell that his wi'e was
having all his furniture moved away from his
house. Dr. Newell was astOunded at TINS, ana
he returned home oS quickly as possible lie
learned that three vans had been loaded WIN MS
furniture bv twelve men as rapidly as possible
in the evening and had been driven away y
neirbbor told the doctor that he had noticed that
one Of the vans had on it "Fifth-ave and Ihlr-
,eenth-st."
While Dr. Newell and his daughter in amaze
ment gazed at the desolate house, the servant
Nellie Riley. came TO them. She said that soon
after the theatre party went away Mrs Newch
insisted upon the girls spending the evening away
from the house DR.. NewelPs boy. twelve years
old said that after the vans were loaded his
mother dressed herself in her best gown and
asked him to 60 away with her. lie refused to
do this and waited for his father.
DR.. Newell saws that he told his son and dangh-
fer and the servant to arrange beds in the house
and they would remain there for that night. IhiS
was DONE and soea after all retired the boy awak-
ened his father and said he smellcd smoke DE-
Newell says he smeled it too, and he and his
son searched the house for tho fire.
The doctor declares that he found it IN II, the
cellar. He says heap of paper ana klnahhg
wood was burning. lie ran 10 the bathroom on
the second floor and brought down two pans hilcd
with water which was sufficient 10 eNtlAgnlsh
the fire. The doctors house caught lire I'VE years
ago, and since then he has kept MS DatilIup Iuli
oil water and pals near by for such an emergency
as arose on Saturday night Dr. NeWel louhd
that the paper and wood had been saturated WIN
kerosene oil He discovered piece OF candle
10 which was attached long wick which had also
been soaked in kerosene. The wick led 10 the
papers and wood. He reported the case 10 inc
police as soon rs he could
Dr. Newell said 10 q Tribune reporter that he
believed his wife had eloped He refused 10 tell
tbr mans name Ills wife took away all OF her
clothing and the doctor says. many articleS th;t'
did not belong 10 her DR.. Newell sald that he
had been married 70 Mrs. Newell for seventeen
Years and that i'm the last ten years she had acted
strangely. She passed nearly one year al thc
Morris Plains Asylum for the Insane several years
AGO Her husband says Mrs. Newell has IRE
qnently threatened to Kill him ana her t"o cilF
dTen. IL, - 49,.
DR. Newell has established a reputation for pos
sessinr an crratic disposition, and the ponce 90
rot believe entirely his statements. Ihey VIII
investigate his story.