The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-04-10

elss Connected with Ease, and Which
Were COmponsd of InfIAmmnbiO Ma
torIal-AtJOur ,nsnt Taken Unun To-
day, with Grandson Stll on the stand.
The examination of William Eaton.
charged with setting fire to the Turner
building on Main street. for the purpose
OF derraudinG insurance companies, was
resumed before Justice Fitzpatrick, in
Abe criminal court room yesterday
morning, The day dragged along with
out any sensational disclosures. the
bulk OF the evidence being given by in
suOnce men to establish tho fact OF the
over insurance Of the stock. 1t remain
cd to tina closing hours TO tinGe the
testimony with 4 sensational hue ON the
evidence given by Albert Grandson,
the colorrd porter employed by Eaton.
Adjournment was taken Mt o'clock,
until 5 o'clock this morning, with Gran
Olson still on the stand. and his story
apparently but half told.
GrandiSon's testimony so FAR as II
went showed that Eaton was in the pos
session OF box containing three small
bulb shaped articles all connected with
a fuse to one of larger size, OF the same
character that Grandson had seen Ea-
ton light and throw in stove, and
from which some time afterwards Ea-
ton lit his cigar. He took pains to
say TO Grandson at the time: albert,
/ suppose you think 1t strange for me
10 have those things about. I'll tell you
what am going TO do with them. am
EoIng 10 sell them to keep dainpness
out OF houses in the spring
The voluntary explanation OK Ea-
tons about keeping dampneSs out Of
houses" struck the insurance men pres
ent as being rather humorous In the
1ISht OF recent events, and they ell
smiled. At this point The examination
was adjourned, with the promise ot
s,IIl further startling developments to-
day, when Grandson resumes the
stand. Yesterdays testimony in detail!
follows:
Mr., D. C. Morgan, FIRE insurance
auent was thc first witness OF the
day. He first met Eaton about Feeru-
Hry IS OF -. In his place, 1909 Main
street. He had talked with Agen:
Rice and then visited Eaton'o place,
Nvhere he found Eaton and a colored
man. The colored man was putting
boxes on the elevator. Eaton had APP
piled to Rice for 1880 insurance which
was issued. and applied for another
$3.50, claiming the value OF hts stock
20 l,e 5000, and more goods arriving.
Another 1880 was issued by Rice,
witness understood. This $500, with
the insurance. The next day Eaton call
ed on witness and applied for $1,000 IN
surance and claimed he had at least
$4,000 worth of goods. He said his fun
stock would be worth fully $1,000. de
said the only other concurrent insuT-
ance Was two 1850 policies. one In the
Rodgers agency Eaton at first ap-
piled 10 witness for $1,000 insurance, put
later wanted 5000. This WAS on the
SATURDAY before the fire, and Eaton had
told witness he then had a stock worth
$4,000 Morgan issued the $1,000 iusur-
ancc in the London Assurance anu
Reading Companies. After the policies
we're issued. Morgan heard bad reports
OF Eaton and tried to md Eaton, but
was unsuccessful on Monday morning.
ne failed 20 find Eaton. but later heard
Eaton was about to leave for Pitts
burEh, and found him ut the Pan Han
die station. Eaton said he would re-
turn Friday Morgan tried 10 get his
policies. but was unsuccessful. Eaton
had told Morgan he was going 70 PITTS
burEh to sell goods. He next saw Ea-
ton one or two days after the FIRE, When
Eaton notified him OF the loss. Witness
wanted policies before the fire because
he feared something would happen"
The onIy effort TO coIlec: the INSURANCE ;
was the filing OF proof OF loss at the
Rome offices OF the companies He first
learned OF the fire at . q. m, when w,
Il. Rice and another Weakened him. He
went to the scene OF the fire, and 1t was
burning az the time. Witness entered
the store-room later and saw n stock
Of ly paper, fishing tackle, etc, most
" located on the second floor. The
goods were scattered about the place.
The fig paper crates were piled SO as
20 leave space-pIled up like open
brlck-Uork There were boxes piled
around the fire escape, and at the front
near the windows was n pile OF empty
boxes Some photographs, ne under
stood were made: he saw photograph
or Tappan 90 IN the place.
To Mr.. BoyCe witness could not say
whether the failure to pay the preni-
um would invalldate the policies he had
IsrSued Witness had not made an eX-
animation OF the stock before tho Are.
His first examination was five or six
Eours after the fire. Part Of the state Of
confusion OF the stock might have been
caused by the firemen IN working at
the fire. Then there was quite squab-
ole between Messrs. Boyce and Som
rnerviiia and between Mr.. Boyce and
the witness, relative to the value Of the
stock. Witness had asked Eaton II he
did not know his place was on fire when
he was In Pittsburgh.
At this point Messrs. SOmmervllle
and Boyce again came 20 n wordy war.
The latter complained Of lack OF cnur-
tesy and Mr.. Sommerviile said counsel
for the other side had been inviting
lack OF courtesy.
To Mr.. Sommcrville witness said an
appraisement OF the stock had been
made by Messrs. b. F. Caldwell, L. Il.
Dovrits, r., and Robert Simpson.
Insurance Agent W. Il. Rice was the
second witness. He had met Eaton
February 10, at No. 1909 Main street, to
see him about writing Insurance on the
stock. Eaton said he had $1,000 al
ready IN the Continental. Of New York.
Mr. Hilles objected because witness
was speaking Of the WestchnBtcr Com
many. while the charge against Eaton
Is defrauding the London Assurance
Company. He moved 70 exclude all cV-
idenCe not bearing on the charge
against the defendant.
Mr.. Sommcrvilc s1ll the evidence
was relevant because It bears on Tho
burning OF the same stock and build
ing.
The court ruled that the evidence
could be heard and considered later.
hUI hDnFN ttI mn . bH F.F