THE REPUBLICAN

June 18, 1886 (Friday)

 

Fire Bugs

Fred Chady and Ole Christianson in Limbo

 

            About 2 o’clock on Monday morning Sheriff Wm. Carroll, Policeman David Chesley and Irving P. Lord, (who were watching for their man) discovered Fred Chady go up the outside stairway to Ole Christianson’s saloon building and residence on Main Street in this city.  He no sooner went up than he came down and departed under the pale moonlight.  He was told to halt but he did not halt, even though several shots were fired at him.  In a minute more the fire bell called out the department and many people from their pleasant slumbers.  The steamer was on deck and soon the fire which was getting ready to break forth from the root of the building was wetted down so that it could gain but little headway. The boys tackled it from sides and front and although the fire fiend made sad havoc with the upper room it had to succumb to the good work of the Waupaca steamer.  While the fire was still hot the officers were in hot pursuit of Chady, and succeeded in catching him before the embers had stopped smoking.  Fred owned up the corn as son as he was caught and said that Ole hired him to touch the match, and he was to receive $50 for the job. As soon as daylight appeared, Sheriff Carroll and deputy Rowe went over and brought Ole Christianson into town.  Ole was surprised to think they would suspicion that a man would burn his own home, and said Ole, “any man ought to be hung that would do it.”  Monday afternoon the two arsonites were brought before Jas. Chesley, Esq., waived examination and bail was placed at $3,000 each.  Dist. Attorney Weed filed an information so as to give them an immediate trial in the circuit court.  On Tuesday morning they were brought before his honor Judge Webb.  Fred Chady plead guilty to the charge, but Ole Christianson plead “not guilty”.  In the afternoon he changed his mind and plead guilty. They will receive their sentence next week which will be some-where from three to fourteen years each.  It was a bad, bungling job and although when one thinks of the families of the culprits, it is a sad case.  But the swift justice that has overtaken them in their damnable work is but a just retribution which should be meted out to all who would deliberately plan or execute such crimes.  The circumstances of the affair show that Ole desired to have the building fired, probably to get the insurance. He previously had been to Rodney Chesley to get him to do the work, but Rodney did not need gold bad enough to do such work.  Ole told young Chesley he would shoot him if he told what he proposed, but Rodney was not afraid of that and the whole plan was laid before his uncle, Police Justice Chesley, and that is how the watch was set.  Ole went to Fred Cady with better result.  He had his family away in the country doing some visiting and sewing for a few days.  Ole it seems went out Thursday evening last expecting Rodney would do the job, but when he came in he found he would have business out on Sunday again. He took the precaution, however to have Fred Chady take care of a valuable gun, and although the mercury registered 90 in the shade, Ole took along a fur overcoat for fear the weather might change suddenly.  In the meantime all these movements were watched, and the way the house was arranged for firing, was known to the officers before Fred scratched the match.  The reason the fire was not noticed at first, was because of the windows being darkened so securely by blankets, and if it had not been for the excellent work of the steamer probably the whole corner of wooden buildings would have burned.  The building was insured for $800 in the Trader’s and the furniture for $300 in the Western.  Major Roberts holds a mortgage on the building.