The Nevada County picayune., 1908-09-10
stiIlweu Ares. Causes Sensation.


 wealthy professional and business man, and prominent churchman and Mason of Searcy, on a charge Of ar son, has produced sensation which has only been surpassed in the his tory of the town by that which follow ed the exposure of the famous Lightle insurance fraud about four years ago. Following so closely after that sen- sational case. the arrest of Dr. Still- well on a somewhat similar charge has aroused more interest than might otherwise have attached to the case.
 Dr. Stillwell, who is now under bond to answer to the charge or setting fire to the building in which his offices were located, has been for years one of the most prominent citi- zens of Searcy He had been the leading dentist of the town for years, and has been actively connected with many successful business enterprises. He is a steward of the Methodist Episcopal church, and for years has taught class of young women in the Sunday school of that church. He has also been . member of the church choir, and it is said has not missed choir practice in fifteen years
 Dr. Stillwell is one of the largest stockholders of the Peoples bank, which owned the building which he is charged with attempting to burn, and owns a large amount of other property. He is reputed to be worth at least $50,O0O.
 The building which, it is alleged, Dr. Stillwell attempted to burn is a two-story brick structure occupying the most prominent corner of the busi- ness section of Searcy. The building was purchased last spring by the Peoples bank officials to remodel the structure and convert it into modern bank building. The bank paid $8,000 for the property. After the deal was made an architect was engaged to prepare plans for the reconstruction of the building, but upon an investi- gation the architect advised the bank officials that the walls of the build ing were unsafe, and that it would be
 
 It was then proposed that the build ing should be torn down and new one erected on the site. This propo- sition was under consideration when the attempt to burn the building was made.
 One night about three weeks ago at about 9:30 o'clock fire was dis covered on the second floor of the building in question. When the volunteer firemen responded to the alarm they found that an attempt had been made to burn the structure. In the hallway on the second floor, inn mediately in front of the office of Dr. Stillwell, they found blazing box. which was about two feet square, had been saturated with coal oil and filled with cotton and small pieces of wool. which had also been saturated with oil. The box was standing upon a rug, which had also been subjected to a bath of oil It is the theory adopted by the officers that lighted candle had been placed in this box. with the idea that it would burn down and ignite the cotton and other con- tents at some time during the night. It is supposed that the candle was overturned and the fire occurred ahead of the schedule time. No candle was found, but it is thought possible that it might have been lost after the fire, as the burning box was thrown tO the ground from a rear doorway and no particular attention was paid to it until the following morning. The flames were extin- guished before they had done any damage aside from scorching the walls of the hallway around Dr. Still. wells door
 Although the attempt to burn the building was made three weeks ago and suspicion was directed shortly afterward against Dr. Stillwell, the officers proceeded slowly and Dr. Still we'll was not arrested until Tuesday, when an affidavit making the formal charge against him was filed by Pros ecuting Attorney P R. Andrews of Augusta.
 The evidence against Dr. Stillwell is entirely circumstantial and is based chiefly upon the fact that he was seen coming from the building about five minutes before the fire was dis. covered.
 Almost Severed Head From Body.