Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-04-12

indication the Jury also includes Mr..
tiackett. the owner OF the house. ana
he friends of these Two men are rejoicing
in their triumph.
For Il long time now. pittsheid mas beeh
feasting on Excitement or various kinds.
First ii was over railroad matters. then
over whipping affair, and then over IN.
Uathorn house fire. On all these Inc
town took sides and the feeling was bll-
ter. For the last two weeks nothing mas
5een talked of on the streets and IN pl@ce'
IF business except the fire. There nave
neen many theories. and now that The IN
quest IS over and the verdict rendered.
no doubt the good people Will keep Oh
.alkiag. just the same.
All last week. behind closed doors. 4
title Jury of three. with only a few pres
mt. have been trying to get an answer u
he question "What was the origin ~
fhe Hathorn house lire Of March IA,
There is a long story connected with inns
case which has become celebrated AL
over the State. Some say there are Il
number of chapters yet to he written.
Fhc case has in it the clements OF a score
# novels and romances.
The house in question was putt ny
Ralph Hathorn in 1910 and cost SlZ.VOo'
being one of the finest residences IN TINS
section 1t stands some 200 yards west
If the Maine Central track, in pam sign
* one comes into the PittSheld station.
l large. square mansion with hip ROOF
md cupola, and a large ell in the rear.
IN July, 1926. Allen Hackett and Frank w
4ovey, both Of Pittsiield, bought IL ior
5000. on the Sd of last November Mf.
Hovey disposed of his half interest 10
Mr. IIackett for $4o00, and at the time Oh
ba fire Mr. Hackett was sole owner, ana
he insurance of $1,000, in the agency OF
Roothby of WaterVilie. was all in ms
name Mr. Hovey acted as agent IN
charge of the property, as Mr.. Hackett
IS away from home most OF the Tune
About the middle of Marcn, he let the
house to w. B. Mills OF Plttsiicio' anu
turned over the keys to him.
on the a afternoon of March II, Mr.. Mills
was at the house and had several fires
there At about II O'Clock that eVehlhs'
the house was discovered to be on hre.
the flames having made considera bic
headway in the interior. The Odd tei-
lows had been holding meeting, that
evening. and large crowd was very
coon at the fire 1t had evidently started
in a chamber in the ell over the room
where a fire had been built in the Stove
in the afternoon The flames worked
;nto Tho main house and did extensive
1amaee TO the interior and burst through
fhe roof in several places. The hre was
,,,t under control without destroying tne
buildings, and the crowd dispersed httie
thinking of all the excitement that Wds
to follow. .... .ho+
usually follows a fire. little was heard
for n few days. and then ugly runors
were afloat and a mysterious atmosphere
began to envelope the aHaf. heti'iiiie
George e. Macomber of Augusta. rep
resenting the insurance COMPANIES, "p
peared on the scene. ne
Greeley of lewiston as one OF .he ~
iustors: MIR. Hackett selected Preston
Jersey of Pittsfield, and these two Sc
iected A. p. McMaster of Pittsleld- They
agreed upon the loss as S55oio'. ana .his
was acceptable to all parties ms was
settled. March %. -
BY this time Detective Ira True ap-
neared in town and went to work to LOOK
up evidence regarding the origin OF IN"
fire. Just who was pushing the matter
did not appear on the lace OF 1t, - !
was not the town authorities nor the IN
surance companies. me iive hre war
dens of the town. d. NJ. Parks. L. >
Dexter. c. NJ Hersey, n. G. Pooler an.
". ]. Mcfarland. visited the house ana
made a thorough investigation AS re-
suit they were divided in their opinions.
Some thought the fire was beyond
doubt accidental, whiie one or Two
thought they detected signs of the work
If an inccndiary A day or two later. the
seIectmen of the town called on the sher
If of Somerset county to hold an inquest
as to the causes of the fire. The jury |
which was composed of Gordon Dobson |
D, III. Drake ana II. D. JetiklHS. an pioih- |
nent Pittsfeld gentlemen, met. last Mon |
day. and the inquest continued until
Thursday night
rho inquest was behind closed doors |
md the public was kept in profound ig- |
norance of the proceedings. The only |
persons present besides the jury and the |
three selectmen of the town. Were Law |
Yer E. N Merrill of Skownegan. repre-
senting those Gust who it not an I
who were endeavoring to prove |
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