The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-03-15
BOX OF DEBRIS
IN EVIDENCE
EFFORT TO EXPLAIN ORIGIN OF
THORNTON FIRE.
Kerosene Oil Can That Had Been in
a Blaze and Was Picked UP in the
Hallway of the Burned House Is
Among the Contents of the Box.
Plaintiff Alleges 1t Was Put in the
Debris by the Insurance Men.
Testimony of Expert Fireman.
Evidence All In.

All the evidence in the Thornton in
surance cases in United States circuit
court was in at 2:10 yesterday after
noon and the addresses to the jury are
now being made. 1t Is expected the
case will be given to the Jury Monday.
At the, opening of the trial yester-
day morning the defense introduced q
large dry goods box filled with debris
gathered UP in the hallway where the
fire is alleged to have originated. Part
of the debris was two quart oil can,
with its spout and handle melted
away.
John Toole, a drayman, and Patrick
Weir and William De Silva, who were
hired by the insurance companies to
watch the burned premises. testified
to the gathering up of the debris, eight
days after the fire and the finding of
the Oil can in the hallway not far dis
tant from the spot where the blaze
is supposed to have started. The
jurors were called upon to sniff the
contents of the box to discover the
odor of kerosene.
When the plaintiff came to present
rebuttal testimony, he had his wife and
his servant girl, Miss Caffrey, testify
that no oil can was kept in their house
and that what little oil they used was
contained In an earthenware jug.
SAW NO OIL CAN.
Mr.. Thornton and Mrs. Thomas Jones
who lived near the scene of the fire tes
titled to having gone through the prem
ises the day after the fire and of having
failed to notice any oil can lying in the
I,.,I n .l., g.,
having seen three persons leaving the
Thornton home about 9:45 the night of
the fire and that one OF them at least
was woman. This was in corrobora
ton of the testimony of Mr.. and Mrs.
Thornton and their friend, Mr.. Golden,
that the two left together fully forty
minutes before the blaze was discov-
cred
f. r. Morgan. secretary of the
Kingston Coal company, testified that
he was awakened by his daughter
about 1O:05 p. IN. the night of the fire
and told that smoke was coming from
the house across the street. His daugh-
ter had been entertaining some young
men from Kingston seminary and went
with them to the door. AS she was
locking ithe door she discovered the
smoke. He fixed the time at 10 o'clock
or thereabouts because the young men
from the seminary are required to be
back in their rooms at that hour. Mr..
Morgan also told that it was Insurance
Agent Hoban and not Mr.. Thornton
who engaged the storeroom from Mr..
Darte. The renting of the room was
done by phone from his house.
NO ODOR OF OIL.
Mr.. Mills, one of the Kingston fire
men. was recalled to testify that he
did not detect any odor of oil in the
hallway. He further stated in the
most positive manner that an eXper-
not there is kerosene in Il blaze, for
just as soon as water is put on it, there
is sizzling and flashing.
The closing address for the plaintiff
was made by Mr.. Garahan. He occu-
pied an hour and a half in summing
up the stories told by the witnesses
and emphasizing the theory Of the
plaintiff. He laid particular stress on
the alleged variety of defenses put up
by the insurance companies and con-
tradictions in the defendants Witness
es' testimony.
Mr.. Lenahan was just opening his
address when adjourning time arrived.
He will resume this morning. EX-
Judge Willard is to reply for the plain
tiff. The charge of Judge Archibald
will probably not be made before Mon
day morning