Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-02-14

DISTRICT COCRT.
HoS. J. Scorr RIcssAS, Judge.
JOHN GALLlGAx, Cievk,
Nh. ALMEr sKsEi, BEin0 sworn,
testified - to his renting the room on the
fourth floor Of the building. and described
the manner and process Of making Rustic
Window Shades. Witness never obtained
permission from the owners or agents Of the
budding to use benzine on the premises.-
Was notsprssent when Nj. Swits and Ar.
veilc examined the rooms.
PATRICK PURCELL
Was employed a. . private watchman on
the building; the flames came out Of the
fourth story windows first
Mr.. HARrwELL WAS RECALLED,
and asked several questions which were OBJ
jectsd to. and the objection sustained by
the Court
Mr.. HOPKINS
has been in the insurance business for
twelve or fifteen years. Manufactures arc
classed as Especial hazards" name which
does not denote the degree Of risk, but thss
the rate is not fixed by any rule, aud varies;
il may be as low 40 Ordinary Hazards, or
higher than Extra Hazards. The risk, to .
building, would not be increased by haz
ardous business being carried on higher
than the first floor, but the risk on . stock
Of goods is greatly increased thereby, a. II
is more difficult to get them out in case Of
lre.
Nh. BABCoCK,
another Insurance Agent, testified substans
TALLY to the same state Of facts.
NH. hal A. KiD0ELEY.
IS a practical and anlytical chemist. He
described the nature and properties Of ben
zine. Stated that the gas from benzine 10
lighter than atmospheric air that benzine.
unless heated will no. burn when heated
10 1l2 de- sress Fahrenheit it evolves .
highly indammable gas, an can itself be
lighted. The odor arising from benxine 10
entirely different to the gas generated when
IS heated to the requisite degree, and is not
or dangerous.
Cour. then adjourned.
THIRD DAY.
THURSDAY. February, II.
MIR. WILSON.
mother Insurance Agent Was called and
testified to substantially the same ~ Mcssrs.
Hopkins, and then the defense rested their
,ase.
FOR THE PROSECUTION,
Mr. Harrison, Of the firm Of Harrison 4
druggists, testified ~ to how the
building was occupied. Knows that Mr..
actually had acted as agent for the
building His drug store was Insured in
three different companies. at the rate Of =
per cent. Wentsto Mr.. Swits' tr enquire
about how tho Shade Factory would affect
his insurance, and At Mr. Swits. suggestion,
Mr.. Verder, agent for the Underwriters,
accompanied them in their examination Of
The premises. (The prosecution wished to
prove that Mr. Verder had expressed
the opinion that the risk on the building
vas not increased ty the Factory, but the
defense objected TO tho witness detailing
my conversation between himself and Mr..
V erder, and the court sustained the objee
tion.)
Cross Examined. - Knows what other
offered 70 insure drug stocks for,
but his knowledge CT what companies GEM
orally insure drug stocks for is only hearssy.
Mr.. J. n. ELpRlDGE
has acted as sub-agent for Mr.. Newcomb,
The agent Of Mr.. Viclc, and is an insurance
agent The insurance policy was issued on
the building in January, 1865; at that time,
The fourth story was vacant. The doors Of
these rooms could not be kept locked. as
intrasons seemed to be constantly made in
them. Regards the risk to DO greater where
Tho rooms were vacant than when occupied.
Rented tho rooms to Messrs. Skeel and
Camp, for IN anufacturing the shades, and
knew the process Of manufasture. Went
over the building With Swits and Verder to
sec what the risk wss. Complaints had
been made about the risk being increased
in the fourth story. Found several causes
II complaint were no zmcs under the
stoves, and Mr.. verder ordered them to be
placed there. IGave directions about the
being taken up. which was done
that bsnzinc, &C., should be kept in tin
rans-nothing being said about what quao
tity Of benzine should be kept on hand at
pne time --and then Mr.. verder expressed
himself satisfied. Mr. verder said that The
E"bscco shop ON the third floor Was the moss
hazardous place in the building.
A question here arose about the selsvan-
y Of the testimony, Mr.. Dawson on the
part Of the defence. stating the policy called
or written permission to increase the risk,
md as this had not been done the risk Was
void and as this 10 vital question, It WAS
till afternoon.
AFTERNOON.
The question WAS debated with much
ability and at considerable length By the
council on both sides and authorities were
sited a length, but it had not been deci ded
when our reporter left.
OraRB CAogo.
The following cases, being that Of prison
srs who have pleaded esilty we're disposed
of during the recess yesterday noon, BY
their being brought in and sentenced:
Albset McI.sughlin-s case Of burglary,
ined $50 and costs.