The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-01-10
AWITNESSWHO LOST SIT, 600
Money Said 10 Have Been Sunk in the
Real Estate Deal al Beaulieu.

Value and Condition Of Col. Ways
House and Furniture-That Alleged
Conversation With the Witness C. H.
Love About How the Fire Might Have
Started-Witnesses for the Defense
Testify That Col. Ways House Was
Not in An Exceptionally Good Condi-
ton.
While interesting at times, the testimony
in the Way insurance case in the city
court yesterday was scarcely as entertain
ing as that which has gone before.
The morning session of the court was
consumed by the plaintiff, but the testi-
mony on that side Of the case was con
cluded early in the afternoon, and Mr.
Richards began TO examine the witnesses
for the defense. It was expected that he
would bring out some questions of a de-
cidedly interesting nature. but if he had
any he held them in reserve for his other
witnesses. who will be put on the stand
to-day.
H. Bartlett. a contractor, was examined
as to the cost Of the house. He submitted
an estimate Of $4,000 for replacing it as
it stood before the fire. Z. Krlorin sub
mitted a similar estimate, placing the fig
ures at $1,000.
Capt. George w. lamar was put on the
stand to testify as to the steps taken to
have an appraiser appointed. His testi-
mony went to show that no agreement
with the adjuster could be reached with
regard to this matter. Mr.. Nicolson then
read some letters upon this subject, show
ing the efforts that had been made TO have
an appraiser aSDointed without success.
Mr.. John NIcolson, Jr., then took the
stand TO testify as to some technical facts,
among them the submission to the COM
pany in proper form of the proofs of
loss. He stated that Adjuster Hawkes.
told him that If the offer was made the
company would probably give $4,000 in
settlement of the claim. This Mr.. Nicol
son says was refused and it was also
shown that afterward Mr. Hawkes. had
denied making any such offer of settle
ment.
Mr.. Edward J. Thomas testified merely
as to the general character and condi-
ton of the house and furniture. The fur
niture. he said, was very fine and in good
condition, and he stated also that so far
as he could remember there was very lit
tie repairing to the house necessary.
The testimony for the plaintiff closed
and c. H. Love was the next witness
called. He appeared for the defense. He
stated that he had had a conversation
with Col Way in which the latter said
that the fire must have originated from
a spark dropped on the grass from his
pipe or from pipe, he did not remember
which. In a conversation with Mrs. Way he
said she stated to him that she had told
a little girl to go up stairs and start a
fire, and she thought the fire must have
originated either from this girl having put
u. 4
having left too much light wood in front
of the fire. He did not believe it possi-
BILE for the fire to have caught from a
spark in the grass in front of the house
as suggested by Col. Way. He stated that
the house was an old one and was badly
in need Of paint.
Mr.. Love, senior. the father of the form
er witnesswas the next on the stand He
testified first as to Col Ways owing him a
little bill which was still unpaid and then
in answer to some questions from Mr..
Richards, stated that the window cas-
ings and other parts of the house had
rotted and the building was badly in
need of coat Of paint.
Mr.. o. A. Murphy, the special agent
who adjusted the loss on Col Ways house
from the ire of 1893 was the next wit
ness called. He said the loss on the fur
niture on that occasion was appraised
at $S3S. 49, but on Col. Ways protest, this
was raised about $3.50. He said $3.50 was
allowed for the piano, which was burned
at that time, and about $125 was allowed
as damages to the house. The total
amount allowed for this fire was about
T,700, he said. This fire, he said, burned a
hole in the parlor floor. His company
paid for an entirely new floor, as Col.
Way had stated that new plank would
not look well in an old floor. Whether
the new floor had ever been put down or
not he did not know. Mr. Richards ques-
toned him about the picture Purity Chas-
Using Love. He described il as a picture
of a woman whipping Cupid. He did not
recollect positively whether his company
had paid any damages on this picture at
that time or not.
Mr.. Murphy stated that he went through
every room in the house, but the furnish
ings did not strike him as especially eIab-
crate. He said Col Way had claimed
damages on everything in the parlor at
that time. The company, however had
refused to pay for some clothing which
belonged to a servant, and for an over
coat which was the property of Col.
Ways nephew. Its policies, he said. did
not take in the property of sisters ana
cousins and aunts.
Mr.. John T. Blount of Atlanta testi-
fed that he knew Col. Way. and that
500 acres OF land at Beaulieu belonged
to him, neither Col. Way or anyone else
ever having paid him a cent for it. He
stated that he had been at Col Way's
house on one pr two occasions. and
that when Col. Way returned from Rus
sia he told him that he had only 800 or
$500 in his pocket, he had forgotten which
the amount was He said that Col. Way
had talked to him about his financial
condition, and had always represented
to him that he never had any money.
That, Mr. Blount said. was why he had
never paid any money on the land He
stated he had lent Col. Way money in
1885. taking as security a mortgage on
his household furniture. In the real es-
tate transaction at Beaulieu he stated
he had lost about $1,000 with interest
on it.
Thomas Norton was the last witness
examined. He stated that In October or
November, 1898. a wagon load of furniture
had been sent to Peter Fox's place from
Col Ways house to be sold There
We're eleven pieces. he stated. in the lot
it being a parlor suit of rosewood. He
stated that one piece of the furniture
had been sold, and the rest was still at
the place. The defense will continue
Il king testimony on its side this morn
ina.
TSle importations during 1891 Of @ IT