Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-05-29
Was IT A MURDER
Startling Charges in the Case
of Adam Alday.
POISONED DURING ILLNESS
His Former Wife Arrested
For Burning the House.
Joseph Kipp Confesses to
Having Done the Job.


Having Done the Job.
Developments Of startling nature
are gradually coming to light in the
case of the late Adam Alday, Of Mo-
lire, and il what his sons, william
and Edward Alday, claim, can be
substantiated by facts. someone will
probably have to answer to q charge
Of murder. Adam Aldsy. who was
an extensive property holder. died
| in October, 1895. His residence was
destroyed by fire in January, 1896.
It was always looked upon rs . mys-
terious affair, and accusations Of in
cendiarism were freely made. Last
night, Mrs. Mary Osbar, Mr.. Alday's
former wife, was arrested at her
home in Davenport by Deputy Sher-
if Hull. She 10 accused Of arson.
Her preliminary hearing was con-
tinued BY Magistrate Stafford until
June s, she being released on IS 500
bail, which was furnished by her
husband, Hans Osbar, and Peter
Fries.
Joseph Kipp. the old man. arrested
q few days ago, accused OF setting
fire to the Alday house. has con.
fessed his crime. In an AFFIDAVIT,
sworn to before County Clerk h.
Kohler. May ~. kipp says:
ION the 18th day Of January, 1896.
1 set fire to the residence OF Adam
Aidsy, at the instigation OF Mrs
Alday. for jersey COW and NO. l
chopped kindling wood. and piled It
in the cellar. being provided with
five gallons Ct kerosene. and broke
the stairway and partition 90 - to
give o draft even TO the tower. !
raised the windows two inches on
the upper floor, and placed all the
paper and carpet, saturated with
kerosene. on the stairway, when
Mrs Alday was about to leave for
Davenport, so as to be ont OF the
way of suspicion. The house being
prepared. l told her I would not set
it afire il the wind was not In the
proper direction; late at night ]
entered the house, and set
it afre under the stai.-
way of the main house
and then under the kitchen. Then
went home and remained there until
between 6 and O'Clock. The two
trunks we're inside Of the building
near the door when went up in the
morning; not burned and contents
saved. was there of and on two
weeks in the day time until about
four days before Adam Alday's death.
During that time saw the doctor
there once before he died. We fed
him whisky, soda - ater and ginger
ale. We gave him no medicine dur.
ing the time 1 was there. did not
hear the doctor say that he must not
have anything 5u, whisky. I did
not want the COW, because 1t would
arouse suspicion, and William Alday
was to sell the COW and l Was to get
the proceeds. but did not get them,
he keeping the money"
| A. 20 HIS Death
In his will, Adam Alday left three
lots apiece to his sons, Edward and
William. The remainder of his es-
tnte was bequeathed To his wife. who
afterward married Hans Osbar. of
Davenport. The Alday boys are now
attempting to break the will. They
have retained Maj Beardsley and c.
j Searls. They charge that undue
influence was exercised over their
father in making the will. They
also claim that mis- death vas causen
bv foul means, alleging that poison
was administered during his last ill.
ness
The arrest of Mrs. Osbar 10 the
Gu min nation Of what was referred to
in last nights ARGUS Mrs. Osbsr
before her marriage to Adam Alday
was Mrs. Reimers. She was for
many years employed in the Aldsy
househould Adam Aldsy's fret
wife died in Minnesota three years
ago. Her death, which IL VA
claimed was samewhat of mystery.
, created no little talk ut the time.
Mr.. Alday was shortly afterward
, married to Mrs. Reimers.
s. s Hull, who was employed o.
d tec'ive by the Aldsy boys to gather
evidence to assist them in breakine
the will. says he has row discovered
, that the houses belonging to Adam
Alday in Minnesota were destroyed
BY IRE several years ago. The mo-
tive for burning the Moline home
} stead 10 not stated. and who admin
. istered the poison. II it was admin
istered. 10 not clear Just now. bu'
} Detective Hull claims that the col
of evidence is rapidly coming TO
gether.
There is some talk Of exhumins
: Adam Alday's remains.