Putnam patriot., 1913-11-07

George Champlin who said fire was near fair grounds. Turned back. Went under Arch bridge. Met Cain and Howarth coming towards them. Asked them where they had been. They replied up to the wreck. Went and turned hose wagons backs as soon as he learned fire was across the river, then went to fair grounds. He and Arnold, George Ghamplin, Howarth and Cain were there. No one appear. ed at burning building. Wentsto fair grounds fire. Buildings burned down when he got there.
 On cross examinationn he illustrated the lay of the land with three law books, pen rack and pile of legal papers. This was at request of At torney Harvey. Cross examined said | Howarth and Cain came from direct i ion of the main line railroad. FireIwas 1 burning where the wreck was. All came back as far as Arch bridge to- l gether. He and Arnold returned to ! Arnold's house. Redirect examina- i tion said wreck was 800 yards from | Priests Island. Rebuttal, said ma i tural way to come from wreck was over railroad bridge and up the street where Howarth and Cane came from. 1 Richard Gorman told of insuring | Howarth's s cars. Insured Nielie and Chalmers. Former for $500 and lat ter for sl400. Howarth gave him num- Der of one car the other he took him. l self while car was in front of his of. flee. Howarth told him he paid 1 Sl400 for each car. Thought he had owned Chalmers about three days. h. surance was placed in March 1913.
 Witness was cross examined at some length regarding method Of in- surfing ears.
 After the noon recess Morris Pen ] rose of Hartford, an insurance ad- juster took the stand. lie investigated l Howarth's loss. Howarth swore to l his loss claiming an actual loss of ] Sl 900 on Nielie and insurance less of i $500. On Chalmers actual loss Sl400 | insurance loss SI400. Howarth stated that Vielie cost Sl2S5 and Chalmers l $l400. Cross examined said he only | saw Howarth once about the matter i but went to Boston on the case.
 Cortland D. Arnold corroborated the testimony of NJ. R. Joy. Told of starting for fire, turning back and meeting Cain and Howarth and their statement that they had been to wreck.
 H. c. Way said that he was a painter in the shop on the fair ground. Howarth had two machines Tn the shop. Left shop at five o'clock night of the fire. Heard of fire next morn- ing. Howarth put one machine In shop Saturday before the fire. Other ihe ruins with little kerosene oil in 1t. He called Howarth's attention to it, and asked him to smell of 1t. How arth called 1t kerosene oil. Witness said something about the fire being set. HOwarth said can would have no bearing as evidence. Left can where ] he found it. Saw one other can there Howarth had Vielie car painted about ten days before the fire. He brought it in the shop the Saturday be- fore the fire to have the wind shield and lamps painted black. Witness said he could not do it at once. How arth said he wasn't going to use the machine until the following Wednes- day and left it. Cross examined said he was not looking for evidence when he found can. Had never been eau toned about keeping fires in building. Never had been found fault with about it. No kerosene on premises. Neither lamps or lantern of lights of any kind. Had little or no oil, some varnish and ! paint. Was out of gasoline.
 George F. Holbrook, A. s. Mae. donald and Robert Hurley told of cans found near ruins that snelled of ker- osene.
 Henry Duryea, who lives near fair grounds woke up in the night and sat smoking when he discovered fire on south east corner of building. Tele. phoned but couldn't get any firemen until buildings were burned. Saw no one before the ire. Saw to men one tall and the other short. Were near house. Stopped to light a cigarette. They then went toward the cattle shed. He later pointed out route they look 10 officer Hurley.
 Mark Wilson, Chief of the Putnam fire department at the time of the ] fires gave the time of each and what ne saw. Found fifemen putting out excelsior at Bradley building. First fire at Muilan building found bufIap soaked with Kerosene. Same place later found old sleigh with excelsior and waste soaked with kerosene. At The Clarke fire found leaves, shingles and kindling where fire was set. At Wheaton fire went in coal yard. Fire was big as hogshead. Saw blue flame spread over it and sfneIied oil. Gross examined said there were several good sized bentires in the streets election night. Thought IL necessary to get out