The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-03-02
WEATHER BUREAU LORE.
The Government Macaroni Wheat
Propaganda.
GUY ELLIOTT Mitchell.

Hhile the Weather Bureau and its
forecasts have been the subject of many
Jokes and puns at the hands of the
newspapers yet seriously the Weather
Bureau records are now having I'm.
creased use as evidence in the courts
OF the country.
Turing the past ten years observers
OF the weather Bureau have appeared
Win records in court nearly three
thousand times. Evidence as to the
weather Is a great factor In a variety
OF cases. both civil and criminal. Civil
cases are largely personal injury, dam
age 10 perishable goods, as by freezing
or rain, and loss by fire. The criminal
cases are usually confined to murder
Trials. In most cases claims for dam.
ages are almost always settled outside
OF court information as to the existing
Weatner conditions having been secured
py Dotn sides. As usual thing when an
ihcial OF the Weather Bureau appears in
court WITH records to give testimony, he
does not know the character of the suit
on trial, Tor it is generally arranged
by the attorneys to put him on the
stand Immediately upon his arrival
testimony has been given.
An observer of the Weather Bureau
was once called in a case in which the
plaintiff had stated that while she was
riding in a street car she attempted
TO shut window in order to keep out |
the raw cold weather. AS the car
reached a curve she was suddenly |
thrown headlong into the street. The
railway introduced the weather record
to show that on the date of the alleged |
accident the weather was warm and
sunny and there was no occasion for
shutting window. The wind recordsJ
of the Weather Bureau are valuable
during trials involving damage by
wind, such as blowing down of build.
ings, super structures and flag STATS,
the wrecking of vessels on the lakes
and ocean ETC., and seldom is a suit
for damage caused byhig wind brought
in any of the large cities that the
Weather records are not called into
court.
Evidence Is sometimes desired in a
case Of damage by lightning. Several
years ago a building in Illinois col
lapsed during a severe Thunderstorm.
II was insured by loss against light
ming and not against loss by wind The ,
owner claimed full insurance on the
ground that the destruction of the (
house was caused by bolt of light I,
ming. The matter was placed in the {
hands of the adjuster who in turn /
called to his assistance . scientist, then
In charge of one of the principal wealth
er bureau offices, to whom by mutual
consent the decision was left.
No Mud on His Boots. ]
The subject Of rainfall was important !
In a peculiar way in a trial in Con-
necticut some years ago. A burglary
had been attempted one night in a !.
prominent residence and the occupants !
believed that they recognized as the !
intruder their own coachman who lived !
near by in a stable. A thunder storm Z
With heavy rain prevailed at that time
md shortly afterwards the officers y
who had been summoned put the coach
nan under arrest. He denied the .
,harge and called attention to the fact
hat his shoes were not wet and muddy. Y
During the trial the Weather records Q
we're produced showing heavy rain at G
he time and the jury concluded that
t was case of mistaken identity, and e
he man was discharged. r
Saved His Life.
Weather Bureau records have figured
4 some of the most notable murder !,
RAILS. In one instance an observer was =
allied by the defense to show that the - -
light the victim disappeared was dark - !.
nd threatening. This evidence con- -
addicted that given witness for ~
le prosecution who had testified that, q
Though distant several hundred feet, a. a.
g saw the accused take the victim into ~ Il
factory. ~ -,
The relations between the Judiciary ca