Litchfield enquirer., 1879-11-20
The Abbott Trial.

! Waterbury with burning house owned by hi
 wife in Morris, with view of obtaining tht insurance. The house was situated near the l Lake, and was burnt on the 18th of August 1878. In 1876, Abbott had procured policy of insurance on this house from the Agricul tural Insurance Company, of Watertown N. r., for $2500. At the time of the fire Abbott and his wife had been staying for sev eral days with William Hali a relative, whose house is some 60 rods from that which was burnt. That place was at the time rented to 1 Sidney Glover, who was absent on the eevening Messrs. Hollister and Prescott appear with the States Attorney on behalf of the prosecution ; Graves, s. W. Kellogg of Waterbury, and E. B. Kellogg of this place, for the prisoner. l TESTIMONY OF THE STATE.
 r [. Jennings testified to distances of the | various houses from each other, of the distance l to the Lake, etc.
 c. 8. Abbott, resides in Waterbury agent | of the Agricultural Ins. Co. of Watertown, N Y, is no relative of the accused. Oct. 3, '76, insured the house and barn of Mrs. Jane T. Abbott, house for $2,5O0; barn, $500. My recollectionis that the accused represented the property worth what it was insured for. I think he said the house was about 50 years old, painted and in good repair.
 Gross Examined known MT. Abbott very we'll for 15 or 20 years. I had at the same time policies on other buildings in Wa terbury for Mir. and Mrs. Abbott; think in the same company. The house they live in, is insured in the same company. Have never cancelled any of the unexpired policies since the fire. We pay only the actual loss in case of fire; have an appraisal. Cannot swear that Abbott did not ask me to examine the proper ty. He may have said it would take $2, 800 to replace the buildIng have known some cases where the amount mentioned in the poll cies was greatly reduced by appraisal after the buildings were burnt. The company has not paid the insurance in this case.
 Sidney GloUer.-Was living in Abbott's house when it was burnt. The evening of the fire we built up fire of seasoned alder in a coal stove in the kitchen to get tea, in the main building The pipe went up and into the chimney. Left the house a little before seven. Cant say whether we left fire in the stove or not. While was milking out north of the house the accused came up and talked , to me. When I had finished asked him to go in. He said he wouldn't hinder me if I wanted to go to meeting, and did not go in. My wife took the pail. I got ready and we went away. When got back itwas between g and 10 and there was nothing standing but the chimney. Saw Abbott, he was speaking about the house being insured, he said he wanted to get my horse early the next morn- ing as he wanted to send letter to the insur- ance agent. I can't say positively whether left the stove shut or not. The front door was fastened. We fastened the kitchen door on the inside. think the door leading to the ell was not fastened, nor the hatchway door. There was barrel of shavings in the ell few feet culty in going from the ell or hatchway door all over the house. Our stove was a good tight stove-burnt coal in winter and wood in summer. The house was in poor repair. paid $1O0 rent for house and IS or 90 acres of land
 Gross eromaned. Cant say whether or not we left fire in the stove; think the hatchway door was open; can't say as to ell door, 1 think my wife fastened the kitchen door. The house was 40 feet square with two large front rooms-one sitting room and hall on the south high between joints I left for Footville between and 7. Went on Saturday to Thomaston left no one in the house. First time 1 saw Abbott was Thursday-in orchard west of the house-had some young apple trees there. Saw him Saturday, before went to Thomaston, think we had some conversa- ton think he came into the house, think told him we were going away. Did@ expect to get back till Sunday-can't say whether I'told Abbott on not. West roof ofhouse had been new shingled. The barn was shingled after went there. A new sill had been brought there, and hewed by Mir. Abbott to put under the ell He cautioned me about keeping ashes in bar rels Old fashioned stone chimney; fire places in chambers.
 Re Direct. ct.-Kept ashes in ash bin in cellar. 1 think the last fire built there before that of Sunday evening was Saturday morning.
 Mrs. Huldab G1ooer.-Wife of Sidney Glover. As we drove away to Thomaston, Saturday. saw MT Abbott coming down the road. As we stopped at Della Westovers' he passed us and said he hoped we should have prosperous journey. We came from Thomas ton to Footville, Sunday morning, and staid there through both services, and went back to the house little before four. Husband built fire and got tea. AS we were about sitting down 1 looked into the stove to see if there was fire enoug to heat water to wash dishes found only a few coals; shut up dampers and put on the kettle-looked at clock-not quite five. After tea, looked into stove and saw no live coals-about half past B. Stove tight one. Saw Mir. Abbott go by just after tea. When husband came in with milk looked out but did not see Abbott. Beforewe started for church 1 fastened kitchen and hall doors, but not the ell and hatchway doors. There was barrel of shavings in the ell, and shingles and chips in the woodhouse. Saw Abbott at the fire. The next morning he came and wanted to borrow the horse. I asked how much the house was insured for; said he didn't know, till he could look over his policies. I asked what he meant to do. He said if he got his insurance all right and had no trouble, he should put up new house. Said of course it ,Nf Io, 1ar k1,4 o1I kl~ would not be money enough to build one as large. Asked how soon he would probably begin to rebuild. He said the last of the week or the first of the next; it would depend on getting the insurance He asked where kept my matches-said in cupboard in northwest room. Wanted to know if I kept ashes in barrels-I said 1 kept them in cellar bin. Last time had taken out ashes was Tuesday or Wednesday before. Told him didn't see how there had been any carelessness of ours. He didn't think there was-all he wanted to know was what to tell the agent. No carpet on the kitchen floor, large piece of zince under stove After he was arrested he and Robert Hall came to Della Westover's. was in next room and heard him ask Della if Glovers things were insured. She thought not, He said he didn't know but they were insured so high that it would be an object for us to set the house on nro. She said 1 was in the next room and could answer TOT myself then went into the room and he asked if our tnlngo ware in. sured, told him they were not-think he said he would like to know how the fire did origi- nate-asked if we stopped anywhere on the road to church. 1 remember telling him that from what could learn the fire started on the northeast side near the stairs said he thought the same himself.
 Cross Examined d-Saw Mir. Abbott at work trying to smother the fire. The conversation about getting the insurance and rebuilding was the forenoon after the fire as we were com ing down from the ruins. He spoke of fixing temporary residence for us iE the barn. He afterward wrote that he could not do this as it would hurt the insurance. The reason I was SO anxious to see if Abbott was around after my husband came in from milking was so that I might fasten all the doors when we went away. Was told to do this by Mrs. French who lived there before us. Not seeing him, I did not think it necessary to fasten all the doors. Saw him Friday. Saw him Saturday morning. His little girl was with him. He sat down on the door sill. Wm. G. Hall was