The evening world., 1911-10-31
Rich Deacon of Old Bridge, y.
j., Accused of Latest Of
Many Fires There.
OWNS MOST OF TOWN.
Tar and Oil Stained Trousers
Chief Clues-Story of Six
Years "Reign of Terror"

Early this morning curious crowds
who had walked the seven miles from
New Brunswick TO Old Bridge gathered
about the Appleby homestead 10 catch
a glimpse OF slX~ty-year-old Ellis Ap-
pleby. wealthy land owner. deacon In
the Baptist Church and member Of one
OF the richest and most arlstocratlc
families of New Jersey. who was re-
leased on $50" bail following his arrest
yesterday charged with arson.
Intense excitement prevails all through
Middlesex County. as the arrest Of APP
pleby Is the hrst move made by the
police to end tho reign Of terror begun
six years ago with the firing of W
houses n which has been continued
with three murders, several robberles
and ten cases Of arson, all within "A
short distance OF the Applcby home,
and none OF them solved In any way to
this day.
Appleby was arrested yesterday after
noon and taken to the New Brunswick
Court House. where a specific charge Of
setting fire TO the store OF Miss Jessie
Brown. who lived opposite him, was
entered and bail fixed at 5000 by Judge
DAILY. Bond was furnished by q nephew
OF the prisoner. Leighton Appleby, after
the Court had refused to allow the pris-
oner to bail himself. On his release
Appleby wac followed TO his home.
where detectives employed by the state
n insurance companies are keeping
close watch on him.
The frs the deacon II accused OF set
ting IL tho latest OF a series which has
terrorized Old Bridge since 1905 when a
distillery was burned. A butcher shop
was set on Are a week later, and then
came four fires In the store of Charles
hodapp. who had come into the town
to set up opposition to tho Appleby
country store.
A short time after the fourth nre in
the Hodapp store Mrs. Rachael Wright.
an aged woman Of Old Bridge. was
fouad murdered In her bed. having been
beaten to death with a heavy club.
TWO WHO "kNEW THE SLAYER"
ARE MURDERED.
Wo WINS ~ Sobii w ihtCiiidis WIN
owned a saloon neal the Wright place.
was heard to say that he knew who had
set the Hres and killed Mrs. Wright. His
son was also present and said he, too.
knew the slayer and would communi'
cate with the police at once. That night
the whitemans. both father and son
we're murdered.
After this there was a let up for sew
erai months and then can't q fire of
in~cendisry origin In another store.
! whose owner had come to Old Bridge
a few months before. bringing new
methods and getting mucn trade.
The police to-day we're careful to
assure all who asked that there was
no relation between the present case
OF arson. which is charged against APP
pieby. and the fres and murders which
have gone before. n no other charge
win be made against Appleby by County
Prosecutor Booraem, at least for the
present.
Appleby Is connected with som Of
the wealthiest and most important peo-
pie IN the State, and these relatives, It
was learned to-day. will aid him when
the case comes to trial. lie IL an uncle
OF 7. Frank Appleby. Mayor OF Asbury
Park; n brother OF Postmaster Herbert
Appieby OF Old Bridge. Rev. Graham
Appleby ef Albany ana or Mrs Dona-
hue OF Bayonne. who is worth over a
million IN her W. right, and Is also
related to George a. Heime and John
w. Herbert of the American Tobacco
Co.
Last Friday Detective Clemens called
at the Appleby home and accused tn,
, old man OF the crime. Tho detectiv,
put the suspect through a third degre,
, proceeding which was entirely irregu'
lar but which Appleby stood for tive
r hours and then ordered the sleuth out
\ kERQSENE AND TAR uSEl To