The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-30
ACCUSING A PLAINTIFF OF ARSON.
Yet Another Coachman who Kan Away with
his Employers Daughter.

After stubbornly contested trial for nearly
a week that turned upon allegation OF arson
perjury. and fraud. n jury returned verdict in
Part III. OF the Marine Court. on Tuesday. in
favor OF Caroline Dnvids against the CONNER
cial Fire Insurance Company. The plaintiff is
the wife Of Henry ]. Davids. the lawyer who was
recently under arrest on charges Of defrauding
the Thompson dramatic troupe. whom he had
engaged TO play in the Stadt Theatre. Mrs.
Davids hns the title to n valuable farm in Pomp-
ton township. n. j.. ON which there was stone
dwelling house. various outhouses. eight or
ten horses. and n number OF carriages and
wagons. This property was insured in differ
cnt companies. wagon shed and large pig pen
being covered by policy OF the Commercial In
surnnce Company for 1900
At about IL O'Clock one night while Mrs.
Dayids and her husband wero absent on n
trip to New York fire broke out simutane-
uusly in the outhOuses and in the dwelling.
That in the latter was eXtineuished. but the
horses and carriages The insurance COM
panies resisted the claim to payment on their
policies. and suit against one tried IN Brook
yn. was decided adversely TO plaintiff The
issues in the trial that was concluded on Tues
day were substantially the same; but the result
Tho company alleged that the FIRE had been
kindled 10y the plaintiffs son. pursuant TO a
conspiracy with her. and that the valuations
fraudulent. As collateral evidences of tho over
valuation Of the wagon shed anu pig pen. they
We're permitted 20 produce witnesses who
sworo that certain horses that were burned.
and had been vnlued at 81 900 each. were really
not worth more than 500 to 500 each. = ans
and specifications 81 the consumed buildings
were also put in evidence. They had been fur
nishcd to the company by the plaintiff as cor
rct representations. but were alleged TO bear
no resemblance Whatever 10 the realities. Tho
NIX pen in the drawing had two stories. but
Witnesses testified that Il was only n very ordi-
NUnnnrAnnA a Slnl Wua
alleged TO be equally exaggerated.
a popularity Of the case was that one OF the
Witnesses on behalf OF tho company WINS for
mer goodman OF the plaintiff named Martin.
who had run away with Mrs. David's daughter.
Hoffman House on Fire Island. There had
and NJ pnvds The latter h 1YDI 1w9 hs arm
rest. and Martin got even by running away
with the daughter. He testified that the horses.
ordinary animals. worth 800 to $500 each; but
u was shown that on the trial in Brooklyn he
had testified that thor value was nearly twice
Another coachmnn Of the plaintiff. named
AgueW wus in the dwelling house on the night
ol the IRE. with his Wlle VINO served rs COOK.
lie had been discharged a. day or two before.
lie testified that he found pile Of kindling
the house. and TINT IRE had been applied TO Il;
that q large and ierpclous dog which ordinarily
WIS htpt IN tln 'eI!iiI WIS OF tlls hlElt III 81
rlously removed; that the Key 10 the cellar.
which usually hung beside tho door was in the
possession OF the plaintiffs son. samuel; that
the only possible entrance 10 the cellar was
through this door. He also testified 10 other
circumstances corroboratiye Of the inccndary
theory. 4 horse dealer named BiauVelt toati-
He'd that bee was driving pnst the farm late ut
night. and saw the plaintiffs son coming out Of
oar 90 thu outhouses with lantern.
The defence gave testimony in explanation
and contradiction Of these witnesses. and adj
yanced the theory that tho fire had been kim
died hy the coachman Agnew in revenge. There
had been enmty between him and the plain
tin : SON. and II was suggested that he expected
10 be aide Ia throw suspicion upon him, and
thus get even Testimony wis also ndduced TO
prove the valuations on the burnt property fair.
and TO explain tho mAgn flying and beauttying
81 the outnouses in the drawings. II was shown
that they We're made by an architect from recOl-
lection after they had been destroyed; but II
was also shown that the plaintiff had seen the
drawings and had furnished them 10 the COM
pany rs correct.
The company interposcd various technical
defences also. and these gave the plaintiff 4
counsel the opportunity. in summing up. IL
tell how "A Brooklyn Judge. before whom nu-
mrrous insurance cases have been tried, once
said that MS soon rs twelve previously honest
men became the directors Of an insurance
company and were seated around a table with
n sharp lawyer and m insurance adluster, II
lid seem rs though, by some mysterious agency
they became at once band OF thieves.
Tho jury speedily handed In a verdict In IA
vor VI the plaintiff for S4s6.4O.