Litchfield enquirer., 1879-11-27

coming up to the house, helped some people who had been down to the lake with their horses in our yard. Before we had finished hitching the horses, MT. Abbott came out oi our door, and I saw him standing on the steps looking at us. After the people were gone went down to the lake. Was down there till I heard horn blow, and heard cry of fire. Ran up crying fire as went. When l got there the fire had burst through the roof. Went to north side of house-fire seemed to be up stairs Broke into front door and took out a few things out of the hall. Too much fire and smoke to do more. Fire burnt through roof first. Thought it took from the chimney. Keeler drove down about three minutes behind the Glovers. It was almost no time after Keeler passed that Abbott came down. l was walking north along the bank had not gone more than five rods before Carrie recognized her father. fl.#
 Gross Ecanoined-Am cousin to Abbott. Did not watch either the Glovers or the Keel CTS, after they passed they were out of sight in turn of road within 25 rods. Abbott came to house on Thursday. Mury HaN. Am wife of William l.. Hall. Mir. Abbott is my husbands nephew. He usually comes up to our house for visit, sum- mers. Was in our front yard the evening of the fire. Saw the GloYers and Keelers go by Robert started up the road carrying Carrie Abbott on his shoulder. 1 heard her say q see papa p Couldn't see him then and went into the house before he came down. Mrs. Abbott, myself and the two girls went down to the lake when we got there found Robert and MT. Abbott there. Went back soon myself, leaving MT. and Mrs. Abbott there. In few minutes they returned, came into the south door. Was at the house 6 short time and Mir. and Mrs. Abbott were there while was. Heard singing down at the lake, went down. and staid there till my daughter came, and said they had all gone to bed Went up and found husband abed. Soon there was cry of fire. Husband told me to call David. Did so. He came down, asked for an old coat and ran to the fire. Mir. Keel CT had just passed when Carrie said 'there's papa"
 Gross Exanined. When Mir. Abbott came down stairs, told him the old red house waE afire
 Ma,y HaN.-Am daughter of Wm. l.. Hall Eleven years old. Was in front of house. Saw Robert take Carrie on his shoulder. MT. Keeler's team passed. Heard Carrie say "there's papa!" Heard singing at lake, and went down there. found Robert and MT. Ab- bolt there; Robert went up first, then mother and myself. Mir. Abbott came soon and went into sitting room. Pretty soon they went to bed. Then went down to the lake after moth CT. 7
 Gross Ex0nai1aed.-Have heard mother talk the matter over. MT. Abbott went to bed a minute after father The people heard sing ing were on the Island.
 Wns c. H0n.-Son of Wm. L. Hall, 20 years old. Saw MT. Abbott at milking time on night of fire. He said the Glovers had got back. Saw him in the sitting room, and after went to bed, heard the Abbotts go by to ped. Soon after heard horn blow twice, and heard mother say old red house afire. Went down stairs; soon Mir. Abbott came down and asked for an old coat Went up to fire-1t seemed to be little north of centre on east side.
 Cross Examined.- Can't say how long it was after the Abbotts came up to bed before l heard the horn blow-from % to 40 minutes. Stated that it was ten minutes when testifying before the magistrate; was mistaken, but didn't correct it then; didn't know that l could
 Dr. Curry 4. Miner.-Practiced medicine in Morris for 40 years. Know the David Westover house-think it worth from $1, 900 to $1, 1OO-not less than 1000.
 Gross Examined. know sill was routed off.
 Samuel ". Ensign. Live in Morris. Know Westover house. thlnk it worth not less than $1, ,000., $500 would make it as good as any house.
 Gross Examined. Didn't know the main timbers were rotted off. Clapboards were fair. We assess real estate at 60 per cent in Morris
 Samuel A. E1asign.-Know the Westover house. On the assumption that the main tim bers were sound, should call it worth from $500 to $1.O00.
 Gross Examined -Ques. If the timbers were rotten, the clapboards poor, windows out, and floors uneven, how much would it have been worth?'' Ans. "Not over $1O0."
 Charges s. Cook.-Have lived in Morris 20 years. My wife lived in this house till our marriage. Took charge of place the latter part of Mrs. Westover's life. Had care of it till sold to Abbott. Main timbers sound. An unusually we'll built house. At fair valua- tion, worth from $500 to $1 ,O00; rented for $100 right along.
 Gross Examined. The timbers were not badly routed.
 Leaois 3. HaM-Have known Westover house, thought of renting it, 12 or 15 years since, found it then in comfortable repair. With a little repair would have been worth from $500 to $l0O0.
 Edgar Azuord. Know Westover place very we'll. Its value, to stand there to rent, $500 to 5000.
 The following Waterbury gentlemen, who had known Abbott for many years, testified to his good character for honesty and integrity : A. E. Rice, L. T. Munson, James W. Davis, Harrison Whitney, L. s. Davis, J. 0. Hitch cock, Lewis Raymond, Ralph Bronson, B. L. Day, Dr. B. W, Blake, L, P. Mitchell, W. O.. Guilford, Chas. s. Abbott, and John W. Mcdonald (the two latter were witnesses sum- moned by the prosecution.J
 REBUrrlNG EVIDENCE FOR PROSECUTION.
 Edacord 8. Cob.-Attorney in Waterbury Cues, Did David H. Abbott swear to this statement before you" He did Qn this state- ment the value of the burnt house was estima- ted at $4,0OO Mir. Abbott came into my of- flee with a stranger, and said he wanted to swear to paper. He did so.
 Gross Examined. know Tn whose handwriting the paper was. It was not read to Mr. Abbott. The handwriting of the body of the instrument is not like that of the sigma ture.
 |. Charzes 8. Pite-Live in Waterbury. Know David H. Abbott. Cues. "What is his char acter for honesty?" Ans. ''So far as I have heard, it is bad"
 Cross Examined. Have had no difficulty with him. Had some trouble about some bills. Ques "Did you write the following letter ?" We have not seen this letter, but un- derstand that the following is nearly if not quite verbatim copy.-ED. ENo]
 WATERBURY, Oct 24th, 1879.
 D. 4. Abbott. Sr.-You will find it for your interest to pay those two little bills before your trial comes of next Monday. Yours,
 c. PIKE.
 Ans. I did write that letter. The Monday mentioned was the day this case was to be heard before the justice,
 Messrs. J. A. Godfrey, J. E. Gaylord, John B. Bunnell, W. K. Ellis, Hanly Manho, E. Wright, and F. H. Riley, citizens of Water bury, all testified that the accused bore bad character for honesty. All but two of the witnesses had had personal difficulty with him.
 MR HUNTINGToN's ARGUMENT.
 Argument of the case was then opened by the States Attorney in substance as follows:
 This case opens suspiciously for Mr. Abbott. He gave but $900 for the whole property, yet he puts the price of the house alone at $4, 800 to the insurance agent Messrs. Keeler. Sid ney Peck, Munroe Throop and other carpen- ters-men who know boards and timber-far-