Norwich bulletin., 1911-09-25

, owner of considerable land in Wash inston county, is defendant in a series of suits for damages for losses in- cured by reason of the forest fires w<Ach burned over hundreds of acres of timber and farmland between Us Quepaugh and West Kingston last May. The first case now on trial be- fore Judge Elmer Rathbun and a jury in the superior court is brought by Benjamin Locke. Judge John w. Swee- ney of Westerly representing plaintiff and Albert B. Crafts and John Will liams defendant. It is claimed that the bad fire was due to the negligence of Mir Palmer.
 Benjamin Locke told of the damage done on his land. and Gideon Palmer testified that the fire came first from the William Palmer place and passed over his own farm before running on to the Locke property. Nine other witnesses testified to the effect that the fire was first seen on William Palmer's land and that the defendant and others were engaged in fighting the blaze.
 William A. H. Carter testified that he saw the fire on the Palmer land and said Mir Palmer told him he had lighted a cigar and thrown the burn ing match away, and soon thereafter saw a fire had been started. MT. Palmer. according to the witness, de- clared that the fire got the best of 0lTn ana spread fdplulN. AIHolu w. Tefft and Edmund R. Sheldon, who ap- praised much of the timberland burned, fixed MT. Locke's damage at $99I.50 This concluded the plaintiffs side of the case
 Attorney Williams in opening said the defense absolutely denied that Mir Palmer set the fire or that any fire arose through any negligence of de- fendant. He said it would be shown that the fire on his land started near the road and that tramp was seen in that vicinity just before the fire. MT Williams declared that fire was seen on the east side of Queens river prior tu the time that the fire began on the Palmer land. and that the defense had no knowledge whatever of the origin of the fire that burned over the plain tiff7s land.
 Wendell Phillips, forest warden for the town of Richmond. testified that he made investigation of the fire the day after it occurred, and that W. A. IT. Potter and Archie Kenyon. when he consulted with them, made no state ment. with reference to alleged expla nation made by MT. Palmer as to how the fire started. The trial of the case is to be continued today (Monday), when it is probable that the judge and jury will visit the premises.
 The perjury case of Elder George Adams whe was in charge of Taber- nscls No. 2, Westerly, Church of God and Saints of Christ. heads the attor- day, and will be the first criminal case called for trial. The perjury charge fH an outcome of testimony given by the elder when testifying in his own behalf on the charge of arson.
 The other cases are: Indictment against Ernest A. Moore. assault with dangerous weapon: Indictment, Abbie Sweet nuisance: complaint John R. Wilcox against Ambrose Carone and Laura Carone; indictment, Thomas J. Ramon. nuisance; complaint, Willis E. Almy. keeping for sale: complaint. Bill Jones. larceny: complaint. Thomas Rhodes, nen-support; complaint, against Sidney l.. Rogers.
 There has been general change in the conduct of the White Rock mill since the retirement of Superintendent Perrber. Besides a new superintendent there is a new overseer in every room and the whole establishment is man. aged upon stricter lines than formerly and the operatives are expected to comply with the rules and regulations of the mill. Last Thursday two weav- CTS. sisters left the mill 10 minutes tefore bell time, although warned not to leave by the overseer. and they were discharged. Another sister failed to return to work in the afternoon and the president of the Textile Workers union called a meeting of the opera tives and nearly all hands quit work. One of the sisters then asked for her hill and was paid off but was not dis charged as were the two who left the mill in violation of the rules. The union workers decided to remain out until the two discharged weavers were reinstated
 Albert Hubbard secretary of the In- terurban Textile Workers union. was p0fffad of the condition and came to Westerly. There was a meeting of the mem bers of the textile union. a confer ence with the superintendent, and it was agreed that the operatives would return to work Monday morning. The girl who asked for her bill was given back her looms and the other two sis ters who were dischareed will be per rlitted to work provided they make application for employment to the superintendent. This will be done and the work at the mill will go forward a . usual.