Daily Republican., 1886-05-27
NOT FINISHED YET.
THE PIERsON INSURANCE CASE
STILL ON TRIAL.
The Defendants AIiose Fraud TO Re
cover tho Insurance-Evidence Of
the Adjusters.


VI Immediately after Court opened We,
terday afternoon Elisha O. Irwin wa
recalled and his cross examination re
, sumed. He was shown the inventor,
and said that his experience viii
smoked papers, and with that pape
ESPECIALLY, led him to believe that /
had been smoked. The witness in
structed Mr.. Woolley not to give Mr.
Pierson any information In regard :,
making his proof of loss, because b
thought it was fraud.
James Woolley testified that he is Al
insurance agent, and has been engaged
In the business for the past twent,
Iyears. He placed insurance for VIM
ID. Pierson on his goods to the amour,
Of $9, 900, and on the building for "a 0C0
Il He saw Mr.. Pierson the next dax
after the fire, and told him that a,
Everything was pretty well burned ur
he had better get 1t cleared away before
the adjusters came, so that Gbev could
make up bis loss. He then notified the
com panies, by letter, of the fire. The
next oay MIR. Irwin came, and he took
MIN 10 the Huntsberger building, where
they met Mr.. Pierson. From there Lbey
went to the scene of the fire, and on the
way Mr.. Pierson said that he was ao .
cused OF setting fire to the place, and
Mr.. Irwin told him not to mind what
people said. He also stated that che
hre was caused by the explosion of a
coal Oil lamp In the adjoining building
The witness afterwards notified Mr.
Plerson to have his books ready for the
aoJusters, and he said thoy were not tit
10 produce, as Frank had not given
proper attention to them.
AT the third interview with Mr.. Pier.
son he said that he did not possess a
copy Of the inventory and could not
lind the ledger for 1881. Mr.. Irwin took
the ledger for 1882, and after he had ex
amined the figures called Mr.. Pierson's a
attention to them, and he trembled a
sood Dit, and then said the figures had
seen altered, and Mr.. Irwin replied that
ne could not settle according to that
book, and that he would have to have
the ledger for 1881, but Mr.. Pierson said
IL could not be found. After Pierson
admitted that the figures had been al
tered mis- son Frank came in, and when
asked about the matter denied that any
change had been made. Mr.. irwin
again asked Pierson for the inventory.
and he said Il had been DESTROYED. when
The witness took him aside and said that
ne owed 1t to himself to produce IL,
Plerson then went away but returned
IN about half an hour, and handed him
the inventory; 1t had the appearance oft
having been in the fire and smelled
strong OF smoke. He did not hear Mr..
irwin call Frank Pierson a liar. and
ala not think he did. Mr. Pierson alsoI
produced the ledger for 1881, and when
the witness spoke TO him about the fip-
nres having been altered, he said that
he had changed them for the purpose of
cheating his brother George. He after
wards told the witness that the figures
had been changed for the purpose oil
establishing his business standing with
the commercial agencies as, on accountI
OF the withdrawal from the business of
ms brother George, and his brother'sI
iatner1n 1n-law, Captain Kelly, he would
Dc deprived OF a certain amount OIL
cro1lt' ana ne wanted to make his
books stand right.
me witnesss was CROSS examined at
length by Mr.. Nields, and when he
closed the witness said in answer To Mr.
blrd, that he was not personally inter-
ested In the result of this suit 10 the
amount ofOne cent
Juror Filling asked the witness what
the companies expected him to do? III
they wanted him to examine property
Ihat was offered for insurance, or lust
SIT in bis office and take the owner's
he replied that he always examined
property offered for insurance. but in
this case he did not so to Mr.. PIerson's
place when the policies were renewed.
Edward o. Weeks was sworn and tes
titled that he was one of the adiustersi
sent TO this city by the insurance com.
panles, in relation to the fire, and arriv.
ed here on the following Wednesday.
when he met Mr.. Pierson for the frsi
time.
In conversation Mr.. Pierson stated to
the witness that he had contemplated
tearing down his building and erecting
new one within the next week or two
II the hre had not occurred. The wit
ness was interested in the insurance on
me building, and when he returned toI
tne city the next day be saw Mr.. Irwin,
Win Mr.. Woolley and Mr.. Piersop, at
me Huntsberger Building. Mr.. Irwin
was examining one of the books, and
\ men ne asked Mr.. Pierson about the
ngures Deing changed he said that 1t
n ras 9one ior the the purpose of getting
ahead of his brother George. who haI
-ried to cheat him. The remainder OIL
nis testimony corroborated that already
gwen by Messrs. Wolley and Irwin.
| ne witness was ross.examined bv Mr.. Il
Nleids' but his testimony was not
shaken In any respect.
William Q. Goodrich was sworn. and
stated that he resides In PhiIadeiphiaI
And Is special agent of the Etna Ip-I
,urance Company.
AT the time Persons place was !
burned he was away from home. and {
l 10 not come to this city until Septem-
1er 49, when he met Mr.. Pierson at the
6a,untsDerRer building. He asked Mr., ID
rierson to allow him to see his books, {
,nd ne replied that they were on the
less and ne could look at them. Upop c
y lnolhg that the figures had been Z
lhanged, he asked Pierson why he did
10 ana he replied for the purpose of de-
iielylng the mercantile agencies. Mr..
ti., ttrvlh, VINO was present, called Mr..
ieE sol q attention 60 the fact that he +
lau Told him he changed them for the t
,nfpose OF getting even with his t
'lother, to which Mr.. Pierson did not q
spy; Ihe witness then told him thatl
: ut hao any claim against the Etna Z
Insurance Company to make 1t out .
.cIoruing TO the instructions on theI Q
loiiey' de has been in the insurance c
~ J,Isiness since 1851, and has had con- .
experience in adjusting losses.
10 was cross examined by Mr.. Nields.
p, on re direct examination by Mr.
niu, Ghe witness said that Mr.. Pierson | =
~ 'puiu nave ascertained the amount oil
me ioss from his ledger, If his fiQuresl
lau DB0n cnrract