The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1901-1982, 1908-09-10
stiIlwen Arrest Causes Sensation.

stillweI Arrest Causes Sensation
The arrest of DR.. J. s. Stillwell'
wealthy professional and business
man. and prominent churchmall anu
Mason of Searcy, on a charge Oh al
son. has produced sensation WIN"
has only been surpassed IN me hi0
torv of the town by that which Iolow-
oil rho cxposure OF the famous LlShIle
insurance fraud about four years aso'
Following so closely after thal Ho
sational case. the arrest Oh III. gun
well ON n somewhat similar charge
has aroused more interest thah hilsi'
otherwise have attached TO the cast
Dr StiuwelI. who is now ulluei
bond 70 answer TO the charge vi
setting fire to the building Ill WHY"
his offices were located, mas peeh ~,
wears one of the most prominent cur
zens Of Searcy He had been lhe
leading dentist of the town for years.
and has been actively connected WIN
many successful business enterprises.
He is a steward of the Methoul''
Episcopal church, and for years mas
taught a class of young women Ill 'n'
SUNDAY school OF that church. lie
has also been2 member OF the chuFeh
choir. and it is said has not nlsseu d
choir practice in fifteen years.
DR. Stillwell is one of the largest
stockholders of the Peoples BANK
which owned the building which ne
is charged with attempting TO Durh'
and owns large amount OF other
nronartv He is reputed 10 be worth
at least $4,000
The building which. il is alleged
DR.. Stillwell attempted to burn is
two-story brick structure occupying
the most prominent corner OF the Dusl-
ness section of .Searcy. The building
was purchased last spring by the
Peoples bank officials TO renodeI III"
structure and convert it into modern
bank building. The bank paid Ss,ooo
for the property. After the deal was
made an architect was engaged 10
prepare plans for the reconstruction
! OF the building. but upon an lnVes9-
| cation the architect advised the Dahk
! officials that the walls OF the build
mo were unsafe. and that it would be
impossible TO remodel the structure.
II was then proposed that the build
ing should be torn down and new
one erected on the site. rms propo-
sition was under consideration Wheil
The attempt 10 burn the building was
! made
One night about three weeks ago at
about $50 O'Clock a fire was DIS
/ covered on the second floor OF the
! building in question When the
volunteer fremen responded to the
! alarm they found that an attempt had
been made to burn the structure. IN
/ the hallway on the second floor, I'M
mediately in front of the office OF Df.
| StillWell, they found a blazing box
which was about two feet square, had
been saturated with coal oil and
filed 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. 1t 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.
II 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 10 the ground from a real
doorway and no particular attention
was paid 10 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 Dir. Still
wells door.
Although the attempt 10 burn the
/ building was made three weeks age
and suspicion was directed shortly
afterward against Dr.. StillWell. the
officers proceeded slowly and DR.. Still
I we'll was not arrested until Tuesday
when an affidavit making the forma
! charge against him was filed by Pros
ecuting Attorney =. Il. Andrews O.
| Augusta.
The evidence against DR. Stillwel
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.