Litchfield enquirer., 1879-11-20

l William R. Keeler. Live second house from the house burnt. Was coming back fyoin Morris that evening with my daughter. North l of Wm B. Halls we smelt something burn l ing. She asked what it was. I told her it was
 brush cut in the swamp week before. This was little before nine. After we passed Ab- bott's house turned around and saw bright 1 light at the north chamber window, also at the garret window; supposed at the time that
 it was lamp light-it was brighter than candle 1 light. Went home, unharnessed horse, and
 had not been in house over ten minutes when
 my wife said there was a fire. I put on hat
 and went down. The windows on north side l were all gone and flames reached up to the 1 roof. The heft of the fire was on the north
 and east. 1 am confidant there was no light l in the southeast room, but there was in the northwest room. Saw Abbott at fire. I ask l ed if house was insured and for what. Said he couldn't say till he went home and consult ed his papers. Said he kept all his buildings
 insured We spoke of the fireplace in north chamber; neither knew of it the room had been ceiled up and the fireplace filled with stones. Abbott said he was glad he was there to know the circumstances of the fire. Have lived within half a mile of house for fifty years. House had run down in repair; not painted within my remembrance. It was not
 worth over $10O for any purpose (objected to- Was there at David Westovers funeral in 1871. Abbott was there, he said he would give as much for the place without as with the buildings; didn't consider them worth any thing. l said the barn was worth $1O0 even to move off. The house I didn't consider worth anything except to tear down. He said $100 would go considerably towards building better barn. West house roof has been shin
 lied since Abbott had place.. The houses was Ont oh rinfor lad deal of repair to make it tenantable should have considered the southwest room the only comfortable room for winter
 Gross Ec1ms7aed. d.-SOmetime after fire, I went at request of Wm. l.. Burgess up to Hol- listers office, was there introduced by E. o. Peck to Mir. Patterson, agent of the Water town Insurance company. Was there another time. Mr. Abbott assisted in bringing water to the fire. There was no clay between stones filling up the fireplace in the northwest cham Der; probably there were holes between the stones. After got there and after the tim bers fell in, the chimney burnt out. It was still, the fore part of the evening. After fire broke out there was wind from the northwest
 Dett0 West00er. Live next house south of the fire. The first saw of the fire was about From my back door saw fire shining out of east windows Went out and called Marshall Glover. when I went back the fire was just coming out of the north roof. Then blew a fsh-horn and hollered fire. Met Robert Hall and Chas Curtiss going to fire and went back. Soon Wm. Hall came for my axe Saw Mir. Abbott go up. After his arrest Abbott enquir- ed if Glover's things were insured. said he didn't know but they were insured for enough to make it an object to burn the house. Told him Mrs. Glover was in next room and could answer for herself called her in. After fire he said he couldn't say how much the house was insured for till he could examine his poli- cies: The house was in very bad repair.
 Cross Ec0,niaaed.- T can't tell how long it was before Mir. KeeIer and MT. Curtiss passed. I heard people singing down on the Island-a party was camping there. Abbott came to my what kind of matches the Glovers used and where they kept there ashes.
 The court adjourned till Tuesday of this week, Insurance agent Abbott was then re- called.
 C. 8. A5bott.-CThe application for insur- ance made by accused in behalf of his wife was offered; objected to; The house was de- scribed as 50 years old, in good repair, valued at $4, 500; barn valued at $950; land and buildings $s, 0O0) All this was written by me on representations made by the accused
 over application to Abbott. He might have said it would cost $45OO to replace the house. Remember his saying it was nice place on the Lake and he wanted to sell it to some New York party for summer residence. Had talked(or hadan ofer) of selling it for $8 900 or $10,000. find that the accused has no poli- cies from me-all in name of his wife. (Paper proving loss was offered stating that the house was in good repair, and worth $4000 at time of fire objected to).
 I've have no space for further report in this case, which will be completed in our next.- EE ENo