Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1882-08-02
JACOBS INSURANCE.
,ulted I'm a law suit,

TENDER, lSol-tnat strange yellow uhy tndJ dt-
tracted so much attention In the Eastern and
Middle states-and the place OF the trial was
Albany, n. y.
Jacobs fsrm.bouSe was near the Cove, about
seven miles below Albany. From his door he
could look down on the Hudson. The Cove,
by the old landing, with its decsyed houses,
was also visible The cars racing along the
further shore Of the river were lively feature.
A dozen miles lower down the valley the river
hides behind the Catskills.
Iu the house thus picturesquely situated,
Jacob and his ancestors had lived for ninety
years. The family name was an Inheritance.
Jacob was forty-two years old, TALL blonde,
with mobile face, and dash Of red In his
cheeks.
on the nth day of September, of the year
previous TO that Of the yellow day, Jacob was
awakened In the night. He heard his pigs
squealing and "bucking" as he termed 1t,
against his house. He went out, half dressed
and found the pig pen heapof embers. Mary,
his wife, and William, his boy, came out.
They found all the pigs, but they were scorched
and knocking about, and one died In q few
minutes of his burns. The family went to bed
again, but did not sleep much.
In the morning Jacob got out his insur-
ance policy, and he and Mary and Willie
looked 1t over. They did not see anything
about a pig-pen in it, so he put it away again.
A week later Jacobs small barn, four rods
south of his house, burned. 1t was in the day
time, in the af ernoon. Jacob came back from
Albany at five O'Clock and saw only the vacan-
| cy. Willie said that at three o'clock it was on
fire; Some Of the neighbors had come, but
nothing could be done. 1t was of pine boards,
thirty years old and empty.
The insurance policy had "all about barns
in 1t. Jacob therefore went down to "Silas' "
at the Cove and made an application for an
award, They had local insurance company
in town. They had seen enough OF large
companies; the mutual affair at home was
better. Jacobs policy was in the home com
pany
AS soon as Jacob told his story, silas said IL
was all right
The committee came next day. They
awarded Jacob ahundred dollars. II was salts
factory.
Five days later Jacobs large barn, further
away from the house and on the other side,
north Edwards Albany,) where all his hay and
wagons and implements and crops we're, sud
denly took fire and burned up.
1t was astonishing !" What could have
caused IL! 1t was heavy loss this time.
Jacob had hard work to get his horses out and
save them; all else was consumed. IL was a
very mysterious fire; all three OF the fires
had been mysterious. This last fire occurred
In the edge OF the evening, just as IL was
growing dark Jacob was at home Ia the
house, and did not know of the condagration
until woman came from the next house
screaming
~ didn't know you had any enemy, jacob"
!. ! didn't either" said Jacob, gloomly
There was comfort in the fact that the prop
erty had been insured. The uay after the
burning Jacob went again to the Cove and
made his application.
Something seems to be after you, Jacob"
said Silas, cycling him keenly.
Eyes" said Jacob, sadly.
Silas wrote the required papers and said the
committee would come up soon The very
next morning, at nine O'Clock, the committee
the barn had stood. They were "at it'' more
than two hours. There was great deal OF
measuring and making inquiries; they said IL
was a heavy loss Besides the long examina-
ton OF the place where the large barn had
been, they had the curiosity TO go and look
once more where the small barn had been, and
took some measurements there, and they
poked in the ashes of the hog-pen, and walked
about the premises. One Of them carried q
book, and jotted down the measurements and
other items.
The committee delayed making any award.
They said it was an important matter, and
they would take time
After three DAYS Jacob went down to the
Cove and inquired of Silas. The anwer was
that the board would meet before the end OF
the week, and that then something would be
done about it, some OF Jacobs own immedi-
ate friends and neighbors belonged to he
board. He spoke to them about IT. they
seemed retcenr.
There was delay, and another visit OF the
commi tee, with more measuring, and q first
and hen second meeting of the board. After
about fifteen days, however, silas walked up
from the Cove, distance OF two miles. and
left letter with Mary for Jacob.
When Jacob came in to dinner he got the
letter. 1t had the insurance company heading.
and said:
the barn on your promises, which burned on
the 10Th of September, 1880, IL is decided in
view of all the circumstances, that no award
will be made"
This was signed by sias, as Secretary of the
Aweek later Jacob was in lawyers Office
In Albany, in private consultation.
II don't want no lawing," said Jacob, "and
my wife says so, too, although we can not
stand II TO lose eighteen hundred doarsn
Are you going to let them say you burned
the buildingl" said the lawyer
"lhey dar MT say it," replied Jacob fiercely.
That Is the meaning OF II, ~ said the lawyer.
Jacob was silent. The old family name, dis
tinguishc d for honesty, was at stake, as well
as the property.
The papers were served in November, and In
January The cause was on the calendar at the
Albany circuit OF the Supreme Court of the
State. The calendar is always crowded and
there is delay In coming to trial. The cause
adjourned circuit, the day before the famous
yellow day, already alluded to-
The City Hall, In which the cour were held,
having been destroyed by fire short time be-
fore, the circuit was held In the Assembly
Chamber Of the old Capitol. IL seemed to
Jacob an imposing scene, as he entered the
famous room where so many laws were made,
and in which the law was to be administered In
his case. lie had TO wait, hanging around the
court for three days before his case was reached.
The time was not lost TO him. He heard sew
eral trials, which we're as interesting as story
books.
At five o'clock, on the evening OF the 9Th OF
September, number ninety on the calendar,
which was Jacobs case, was reached Jacobs
lawyer and the opposing counsel announced
themselves ready. Jacob was invited TO seat
beside his lawyer, and the drawing OF a Jury
began Immediately.
A few were rejected, but before six o'clock
the hour for adjournment--twelve men who
were satisfactory to both sides had been Sc
cured, and jacobs lawyer had opened the case,
and the trial was fairly begun.
The court accompanied its announcement of
the recess until morning with q warning to the
jury not to allow any one TO talk with them
about the case.
Jacob did not sleep that night. He was at
the American Hotel, a quarter OF mile down
state street, In front of the Capitol. lie and
his wife were on the third floor, at the end of
the hall, in room No. PAL. AS Jacob was going
10 MS room, large man, with dark piercing
eyes, standing In the door of room No. 239,
ohiu. y our case Is on, heys"
Yes " said Jacob, as he was passing
You had be ter look sharp" said the large
man.
"Why" inquired Jacob, wonderingly as he
paused
Rough business, burning down buildings, ~
SAID the large man, harshly, and he closed the
door OF his room with bang.
JACOB passed on TO HIS own apartment. There
ne talked over The events OF the day with his
VIE. When he tried to sleep that night, the
Assembly Chamber and the face of the large
man NJ room No. 30 haunted him
In the morning, after breakfast, down In the
front hall, Jacob met the large man again
Try twist NJ 1t o-day, ! s'posc, " said the
large man sharply TO Jacob.
Yes, the trial." answered Jacob, ner-
voualy.
somebody has been committing an awful
crime observed the large man. "lIavc you
scen the fkylr
yes; Il Is strange,n said Jacob, not per-
ccivng the connections.
"Ibey say IL is the eud of the world-Sodom
and GomOrrah,n said the large man; and he
turned and walked away.
AT ten o'clock the court convened. AZ ia
cob, approached the Capitol steps he saw