Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-04-09

call vouT attention to the manner III
which those boxes were piled!
Yes They were piled in such
NAV &C To shut out the light, and act as
= barricade when we attempted to en-
fer the building. About the stairway
leading TO the second floor, goods were
also piled. a., e.s+
witness said he was one OF the nTsI
nersous to enter the building. ne
could not say what proportion OF the
goods we're destroyed. On cross-eXam-
ination. he stated that the boxes were
niled about six feet high. Goods were
nlaced all around the skylight in the
centre of the floor. On redirect exam
inaticn. witness said he did not notice
anv stoves or fire places about the
building. and could not say how it was
heated or lighted The fire covered
space in length of about 80 feet.
VI. Rodgers testified that he first
met Eaton at his place of business on
February 18th. He had been at wit
ness office prior to that to take out in
surance. He issued two $1,000 policies
70 Eaton. He said he would probably
need more when he got more goods IN.
Eaton stated that he had in the build
ing and al the DEPOT about $4,000 worth
of stock. but had been delayed in get
ting the goods in. Witness did not eX-
anime the goods. Eaton stated that he
was manufacturers agent, and the build
ing would be used simply as a store
house. Witness examined the stock al
ter the fire. and employed Waterman.
He also induced several business men
to examine into the quality and condl-
ton of the goods. He found 800 or GOO
crates of fly plates. a lot of cases.
quantity of stamped tinware. clothes
lines. toys. fishing tackle. and a small
quantity Of hardware. There were two
dozen large empty boxes in the front
part of the second floor. Some or the
boxes had a Huntington mark on them.
The empty boxes were marked ne
Hub" One large box contained Moth
ing but excelsior II had Chcaso
mark on it. One box contained the
contents Of 4 waste basket from Shirley
G. Co Of Chicago. envelopes, kilograms,
mart of letters. etc. The indications
we're that the fire occurred in two
nlaces. at the foot of the stairs leading
70 the third story. and about the centre
Of the room. There were no stoves or
fire Dlaces at either point. The goods
in the store after the fire were apprais-
ed bv B. T. Caldwell, Robert DeVrles
and 4. c. Davis. Asked the Value OF
the goods. witness said: Il would not
have carted them away for them lie
knew of no effort having been maze
since the fire to collect the insurance,
On cross-examination witness stated
that he did not think the fly plates were
worth hauling away. They we're co'er-
ed with rosin. which he could zmell.
The excelsior was packed in so tight
that it could not be tramped back IN.
Cant. R. T. McNichol, of the west
Virginia Secret Service Bureau. sat be-
side counsel for the State, and Attorney
Rovce asked that he be sworn as d
witness for the defense, in order 10 eK-
c1rdo him with the other witnesses.
Geo 7 Nathison testified that Eaton
called at his Office some time Ia en- u
arv to get insurance on what ne rep
resented to be druggists and groceIs
snn6ries az No. 1902 Main street. lie
900 for $4,000 worth Of insurance
Wines made no personal examination
90 tba stock. He did not insure the
Goods because he did not think the
49, 49, irstifed the amount of insurance
asked. .,,.. ,,.o-
nostpcned until nine o'clock TINS morn
ing.