Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-02-05
Defrauding an Insurance COmpa.
ny.
THE BURNING OF THE McGILvRAY BLOCK IN
STOCKTON IN 1884.

| Tuesday of this week the trial of a case
commenced in the Superior Civil Court, Bos-
ton, Judge Bodgett presiding. in which reve-
lations appeared concerning the burning of
the McGlvray block at Stockton in April
| 1884 The following facts we find in the
Boston Herald of Wednesday. An action
was brought by J. NJ. Lafoly of Stockton,
Me-, to compel the Boylston Mutual Insur-
ance Company TO pay apolcy of Sll00, which
had been otained on the goods in his store.
| Prior to the commencement OF the action,
Henry w. Colson, one of gang of produce
swindlers, who had been sentenced to the
House of Correction for three wears for his
share in the rascality, made an affidavit be-
fore Gen. W. w. Blackmar in which he
made a confession as to the manner in which
the building known as the McGilvray block
q, Stockton, Me-, was burned, in substance
as follows:
During my connection with the produce
swindlers they conceived the idea of selling
a brick block at Stockton, Me-, to the in.ur-
ance companies. as one of the partners ex-
pressed it This block was known as the
McGilvray block c. Roberts, who had
| obtained possession of the block from the
Searsport Savings Bank, made overtures to
me TO take one corner oft as he expressed it.
| fie told me the others were with him in the
venture. and that they were going to purchase
the block insure it we'll, and sell it t. the in
surance companies refused to have any,
thing to do with the scheme, whereupon
Roberts offered Osmer w. Roper chance to
purchase a share; but he also refused, be-
ing With him at the time the proposition was
made 1t appears that at this time Roberts
| owed Roper about $500. and assured him that
he could not pay the bill until after the 'pur-
| chase by the insurance companies of the
block in question. Roberts continued urging
Roper to take share. saving that -four of
them would purchase the block that it would
not cost them a great deal, and they would
get good stake out of it But Roper stead
| lily refused to have anything to do with it..
| Finding persuasion useless, Roberts aban-
dpned the idea of securing myself and Roper
as partners, and subsequently, together with
one other, subscribed 5000 apiece, which sum
was forwarded to the Searsport Savings Bank
on the 9TH of June, 1888, the understanding
being that the balance was to be paid on or
before Jan. |. 1884 On the second day of
| November 1888, he sold his interest to a
young lawyer living in this city, and Jan. 4,
| 1884. the balance was paid and Y quit claim
deed given to the property"
In this connection it should be stated tina
the lawyer claims to have purchased the
property in good faith, and to have afterward
offered to sell it to Mr.. Ran iall of Stockton,
Me-, and there is nothing that would go to
show that he was not acting honestly in the
matter, or that would indicate that he had any
knowledge that an attempt was going to be
made to fire the building. Colson, so he says,
when informed that the lawyer had signified
m thn ort nj,
dentally inquired if he was aware that the
insurance companies we're selected for the
high honor of purchasing the property when
the pecunisry necessities of its owners COM
PEELED quick sale, but was informed that he
did not; that he was simply told that they
wanted him to hold it as an accomm odation
until they had succeeded in getting free from
some pecuuiary or other embarrassments.
, In April. 1884, the McGilvray block was
discovered by the townspeople to be in flames
and go rapidly did it burn that in 80 minutes
from the time the alarm sounded the wall.
fell in. The next step was to secure from the
insurance companies the amount of the poll
cies. The Etna company promptly settled
as did also the Neptune, but the suspicious OF
the Boylston's officials were aroused, and
they made an emphatic kick" aud were
promptly sued by Mr.. Eugene p. Carver OF
Boston, who retained as Lafollv'.
counsel
Colson subsequently made q trip to Stock
ton, and claimed to have obtsined a conse.
sion as to the manner in which the block had
been fired, which evidence he placed in the
hand. of an eminent lawyer of Boston, who
secured for him an affidavit as to the truth OF
the statement he had made.
The man who is alleged to have made the
confession as to how the McGivrsy block
WAS burned, Henry 5. Stowell, is credited
with saying: Everything being in readiness
l took large box and filled it two-thrd.
, full of pitch pine blocks split mp fine, and
then put in some shavings. l next bored
some holes in the top of the box. cut two
, in each end of the box, end ran a narrow
strip Of board right through the middle.
placed candle on this strip of board, Their
put in some more shavings, and thoroughly
saturated the whole business with kerosene
r l soaked it so it would burn first rate Then,
as there were several barrels of kerosene oil
in the back room. just before left the store
I left the oil running pretty lively. TIL.
, next step was to place a basket with
, just holes enough in it to furnish a
good draught and yet prevent the
light from shining into the street. liph,
the candle. lock up the store and go away
This wss late in the evening The fire wa.
discovered between l and o'clock in the
morning, and. as previously stated, it burned
so fercely that in 80 minutes from the time