The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1904-07-20
FIRE JURY AT WORK
INVESTIGATING DESTRUCTION OF
LUMBER PLANT.
Messrs. Lasseter, Gardner ana MnoA
Appointed BY Sheriff wafer 10
Take Testlmony-Wili Meet
This Afternoon.


A fire jury, consisting of L. Lasseter.
w. ]. Gardner and william Knox. Will
begin this afternoon to take testimony
concerning the destruction by hre ear
ly Sunday morning of the big plant Oh
the Alabama Rift Flooring Company
In West Montgomery.
The loss by the fire, which has been
declared to have been of incendlary
origin, was estimated at 100000. the
plant and lumber in the yards was IN
sured for s54.350.
A legal investigation of the cause OF
the fire was ordered yesterday by Hon.
e. r. McDavid. State Insurance Com
missioner, at the request of insurance
agents interested in the loss. The in
vestigation was ordered and will be
conducted under Sections zoos. 2609.
2s1o and 2611 Of the State Code, and
1t Is said will be the second investi-
cation of its kind ever made In Mont
gomery. The first investigation was
as to the cause of a fire in an apart
ment house on South Court street about
three years ago.
Section 260S of the Code provides
that the sheriff of each county shall,
when required by the Insurance Com
missioner, in addition to his duties now
required by law, appoint a competent
jury. who shall be property holders. of
not more than three citizens of the
same county to investigate the cause,
origin and circumstances of every fire
occurring or threatened in such county
In which insured property has been de-
stroyed or damaged or threatened to be
destroyed or damaged by fire, who shall
be paid out of the insurance fund
per diem of one dollar and fifty cents
and mileage of three cents per mile.
Such investigation shall be begun with
In two days, not including the Lord s
day. of the occurrence of such fire, and
the sheriff shall direct such investiga-
ton. The jury investigating shall.
within one week after investigation be-
gins. furnish to said sheriff a written
statement of all the facts relating to
the cause and origin of the fire. the
kind, value and ownership of the prop
erty destroyed, and such other infor-
nation as may be required by the sher-
If or insurance commissioner. The
sheriff of each county shall keep a
complete record of all fires where prop
erty has been insured, occurring in his
county, as may be required of him by
the Insurance Commissioner. which re-
cord shall at all times be open to pub
lie inspection, and such portions of 1t
as the Insurance Commissioner may
desire must be Transcribed and for
warded to him.
Under the act the sheriff is given the
power of a Justice of the peace to sum-
mons witnesses. He is also authorized
to enter buildings for the purpose of
making Investigations and Is given dis
erection as to whether the investiga-
tions shall be conducted openly or in
private The sheriff is also authorized
to employ such clerks and assistants
n n n hn
The expenses of the investigation are
to be paid out of the insurance fund of
the State.
Mr.. McDavid yesterday wrote to
Sheriff Waller directing him to ap-
point jury and begin an investigation
of the flooring company fire as author
ICED by law.
Sheriff Waller at once announced the
appointment of jury. w. T. Robert
son. retail grocery merchant, was
one of the first citizens appointed, but
he was excused owing to the fact that
he Is kinsman of interested insur-
ance agents Mr.. Knox was appointed
in his place. Mr.. Lasseter is a whole
sale grocery merchant, Mr.. Gardner
conducts saloon. and Mr.. Knox is re-
tired from business.
The jury met in the office of the
sheriff at the Court House at $50
o'clock. organized, was sworn in and
adjourned until 4 o'clock this after
noon. Names of several witnesses were
given to Deputy Sheriffs, and they will
be summoned to appear this afternoon.
1t is expected that the investigation
will continue two or three days. The
jury will sit in the sheriff's Office
Sheriff Waller will probably appoint
clerk for the jury to-day. All of the
testimony will be transcribed and for
warded to the Insurance Commissioner.