The Detroit times., 1909-06-09
F|XEL DENIES
LOO7|NG' STORE
Took Only One Piece Of Goods and
This Was Given Him by Mrs.
Dillon, He Says.

Adolph Ffxel's testimony, Wednes-
day morning. In the suit of Hugh Dill.
Ion against Craig. Wright & Walker.
insurance adjusters. In progress IN
Judge Mandell's court. was a complete
denial or the sensational testimony
given by Mrs. Dillon several days ago.
What about that piece of brown
goods Mrs. Dillon said you carried
away?" he was asked.
Brown goods were scarce at that
time, and when saw the piece on tho
shelves | asked to see IT," he answered.
The clerk informed me there was
seven yards In the piece, and 1t was
worth $3.50 per yard. l said. That Is
the full price. surely You are not
charging that price since the Are
The clerk referred me To Mrs. Dillon,
who was standing near and l asked
said: You have always been good
friend of ours. take 1t along. II Will
cost you nothing"
What about the testimony OF Mrs.
Dillon-P Powell. that you never came In
the store but what you lugged away a
lot OF stuff?"
Only Thing FlxeI Got.
THAT piece OF brown goods Is all
I ever carried away from the store
either before or since the fire sale
started"
THE clerk who waited on you upon
that occasion, testified that you said'
after he had wrapped up the parcel,
Forget It, Is that so?"
1T is not So"
Mr.. Fixel then told OF converse
ton heshAd with Mrs. Dillon In her
home orIgx Sunday following the fire.
He said she proposed at that time To
settle with the creditors at 7b cents
on the dollar, for the present. paying
the balance in a year. told
her that there was already
81 cents in sight for the
creditors. and that some OF them
would never agree TO such a settle
ment. I asked her why she wanted
to retain the balance, and she said
they wanted to start In business again
on Woodward-ave. tod her then
they were unfit to conduct a Wood
ward-ave. business, that they had done
well In Merrill. and that that Is
where they had better remain. II was
in this same conversation | told Mrs.
Dillon that Mr. Wright had told me
that she had confessed to him sho
had padded their inventory $4,000 30
as to get credit from the Old Detroit
She did not deny IT."
when Mrs Dillon told you tha'
they had engaged a lawyer did you
threaten to take the rings from heI
fingers?"
mo. told her that Sloman would
get all the creditors left. | added 1ok'
ingly that II they had couple or nun
dred dollars to throw away they might
as we'll give 1t to me-"
did you ever tell Mrs. Dillon thar
she would have to do as you said?'
"Do AZ ! Say" Said Fixe'.
"The only time | ever told her that
was when she refused TO give to
| Bowen. Douglas e. Whiting a cheek
for a claim entrusted to them ior set
Element. She said she didn't IKE 10
have her checks going through law
yers' hands. and told her that law
yers didn't like to have COLLECTIONS
paid directly, as they occasionally iost
their fees. | then told her to do as !
said"
Inst before court adjourned at noon
Mr. Fixeps cross-examination started:
Mr.. Fixel's testimony. Tuesday art
ernoon. was a complete history or MS
dealings with the billions from the
time he became acquainted with them
in Merrill. Mich, IA years ago, down
to the events following the fire IN FeD'
ruary. 1907. when their Woodwaru-a'e.
| store was destroyed.
His testimony was a denial Oh the
Testimony OF the billions almost Ell.
ltirely. He declared that he never py
threats or inducements got them 70
employ Craig. Wright & walker 70
adjust the loss, or that ne eve.
threatened prosecution when he hearu
that the billions had engaged an at
ltornev He also denied taking any
nart in the fire sale, or sending men
tn the store to manage the sale OF 10
handle the cash He eaid he never
heard them protest against the Slo.
ooO fee collected by Craig, Wright a.
Walker.
Another Dillon Fire.
| An interesting part CT Fixels testi'
tmony was his story OF a fire In the
DiIlon store about a month before the
fire which caused the present suit. On
that occasion, he said, Mrs. Dillon call
cd him 10 the store and showed MIN
where the fire had started on the
fourth floor. He said she wanted 20.
600 To cover the loss but he could see
no damage. He said Mrs Dillon com
plained OF the smell of smoke In the
silks. and he told her that IL the win
dows were opened the smell would
soon disappear Fixel said he advised
MRS. Dillon not TO press the claim, as
the insurance companies might regard
Lar as a fake claim and cancel their
policies.
On the morning following the big
fire. he said Mrs. Dillon was crying
land saying that they were ruined. She
told him then that they owed $4,000
and had $4,000 insurance. Later IL
was found that they owed over $40,
900.
The witness said that the Dillons
themselves proposed the engaging OF
Craig. Wright G. Walker to adjust the
Iloss and talked with them regarding
IA before he did. He said he told Mrs
Dillon TO make a bargain with the ad
busters before they undertook the
work as they were good chargers
Later Mrs. Dillon told him the adjus
tiers we're to have all they got over
$40. 900.
after the settlement was made