New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-07
NEWS FROM THE SUBURBS
BARN. BURNING EXTRAORDINARY.
ANOTHER STEP IN SERIES or NOVEL LAW
SUITS THAT HAVE. BEEN PENDING
FOR AROtTT TEN YEARS.

FOR ABOUT TEN YEARS.
decision was rendered by tho supreme Court
OF Errors sitting at bridgeport Conn, on Saturday
which, II Is expected viii bring tho suits of Alexander
Mead against David Hustled. both farmers OF Green
wfch, to an early close, they having occupied
the time Of the courts OF Connecticut more or less,
for period OF about ten years To make the case,
which rs an extremely novel one, understood, IL IL
necessary 10 60 back 10 1875, whe Alexander Mead,
Of Greenwich, farmer and florist, had large barn,
containing his crops. machinery and farming imple
ments, totally destroyed by fire. While the fire was
burning two young women. naghbors OF Mr. Mead,
went 10 him and said that they hal seen Mr. Hustled
standing in cellar right the street from the
barn. Before this time, Hustled had been arrested
the complaint Of the Glens Falls Insurance Com
pany for obtaining money under false pretences and
he lodged In the Glens Falls jail, and had 10
pay back all the assurance money be had obtained,
about $1,000, on his new house, which had been
burned in suspicious manner. Just previous to
the burning of Mr. Mead's barn, Hustled wac released
from Glens Fails Jail, and Mr. Mead was told by
neighbors that Huutcd blamed him for his arrest and
having TO pay back the money which the insurance
company had paid him on account OF his alleged
losses
The following summer Mr. Mead built another largo
barn, and filed II with his crops, ard In March,
1877, this barn was also burned to the ground. Mr.
Mead then went TO work, building another largo
barn on the same Foundation. This stood little
year. when in January, 1879, 1t was lkowisc
destroyed by fire, with fwentysevcn mead OF cattle
and all his crops Then Mr. Mead, under the advice
Of counsel, attached Hustcds farm, and brought suit
against him for burning the barns. The action was
tried In 1883, when the evidence pertaining to the
first fire ruled out, under the Statute Of Iimita
tons, and the Jury rendered verdict in favor OF
Hustled. Mr.. Mead then appealed 10 the Supreme
Court OF Errors and had now trial granted him,
and the Jury disagreed.
In the fall Of 1883 Mr. Mead had the case tried
again at Danbury and obtained verdict IN his favor
for $4,000 and costs. Hustled then appealed to the
supreme Court % Errors, which decided against him.
and the judgment in favor OF Mr.. Mead sustained
Mr. Mead's counsel demanded the payment OF tho
judgment for 60 900 and costs which Hustled declined
to pay. Mr. Mead then got out an execution against
Husteds house and thirty acres Of land surrounding
II. Husteds counsel then proposed that II Mr.. Mead
would stay proceedings until night, he would pay tho
amount OF Judgment and costs. Hustled And his
sci then hurried TO New-York and sold the land TO
william Rockefeller president OF the Standard OIL Com
pany, for 300 acre, and paid DIR. Mead's claim
of little over 10000, the balance remaining IN Mr..
Rockefcers hands. as Mr. Mead had attached Hustled
farm again for the burning OF another barn.
The money was left 10 await the result Of the trial
for the burning of the fourth barn with all its
tents OF cattle grain, machinery and farming nipple
mens. At this uncture tho authorities OF Greenwich
called special town meeting, AT which was decided
TO offer ~ 900 for Information which would lead 10 tho
arrest and conviction Of thu guilty party. The meet
Ing also authorized the APPROX raion OF $500 for tho
employment of detective TO fsrret oat the offender
Shortly after tho attachment obtained Hustled an
peaed for a new trial, the ground of having dis
covered new and important evidence A new trial
Court Of Errors to stop Hustled from having a new
trial This was tried In October last in Bridgeport
that no new trial would be granted The trial for
the burning of the barn IN 1884. upon which Mr. Mead
has an attachment on Hustcd's farm for "a O0o will
take place at an early dav