Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-04-21
OVERRULES MOTION
Judge Eichelberger Refuses New
Trial in Case of Brown We. Huff. I
INVOLVED WILL OF MIRA DENTON.
INSTRUMENT Was Set Aside During jan
uary Term Of court-serious Fire at
Home of J. F.. Rawlins Averted by
d Prompt Action Of Department.

Bloomfield, April 20.-(Courier Spe-
tcial Service. "A motion for new
trial was argued before Judge Eichel-
berger here Saturday in the case OF
Is. M. Brown ct al VS. j. N. Huff. III
viii be remembered that the case was
tried during the January term OF court
at which time the will OF. the late MIRA
Denton of Wapello county was set
aside Mira Denton was sister OF the
defendant, j. N. Huff. and died at ms
home about a year ago, leaving a Will
by the terms of which she decreed the,
bulk of her property to Mr.. HUFF fIhls
will was set aside on the ground OF
undue influence. In the argument OF
the motion for new trial. certain al
Z fidavits were read by the attorneys OF
some of the trail jurors to the effect
that the instructions of the judge had
been changed by someone. and counter
affidayits were filed to the effect that
the said instructions had been chang
ed. and that they were not as he had
given them, and he prepared new set
of instructions like those given in the
first place. Payne & Somers, attorn-
4 eys for the defendant. also filed an affi-
davit stating in effect that they knew
nothing about any change in said in
structions. Taylor & Scarborough
represented the plaintiffs. Judge Eich-
elberger oyerruled the motion for a
new trial.
Serious Fire Averted. a
Saturday morning about 4::30 O'Clock
the residence of ex-County Recorder
John F. Rawlings, who lives less than
block south of the public square, was
adiscoyered to be on fire. The fire
alarm was Immediately sounded and
the fire department and numerous cit
liens hurried to the scene of the con
Migration, and by prompt action ex
tinguished the flames. and saved thu
house Considerable damage ncwev
er, was done to the household goods
Mr.. Rawlings carried small amour
Hof insurance on his household goods
and it is thought that it is sufficient tt
cover the loss.
1t is not known definitely how tn
fire originated. 1t is supposed howeve
! that the fire was started by droppin
"a match among some papers whicl
We're scattered on the floor, as MI
! rawlings and family had been engage
. III 1lOuSS~ ClcdlilS sluSIG WSIG pc
,spers left on the floor The family ros
early Saturday morning and it is SUI
posed that in starting fire in one {
the stoves, the match was droppe
which caused the damage.
Other Bloomfield News.
A. C. Warthen of Spirit Lake, arri'
ed in this city, Wednesday evening Il
few days visit with his brother,
G. Warthen. and sister Mrs. Carl Ian
Mr. Warthen departed yesterday eve
ing for Chicago, accompanies by D
J. j. Shelton and l.. c. Warthen. whel
he will have surgical operation pc
formed OF serious nature for an afil
ton from which he has been suffer
for several months. Mr.. Warthen WI
reared in Davis county and is W.
known to many citizens here. a
County Attorney Fred d. Everett
Abba arrived in this city Saturday e,
ming for short visit with his moth,
and other relatives and friends. n
Everett is a former Davis county b
and has wide circle of friends
Bloomfield and vicinity who are plei
ed to note that he is progressing nj,
~ in the county of Monroe, where