Imperial Valley press., 1915-12-16

gasoline and turpentine, declared that
he would not start the fire for fear he
would be seen about the house.
A sewing machine, bed, wash
ing machine, were brought to the
house before the day set for the fire
Bassett stated on the stand, and in
addition TrUaX bought some casters, =
number of hinges and metal knobs on
dressers, and scattered them about the
house to give the impression that con-
siderable furniture had been de-
stroyed
The material for the fire was
mixed the night before the house was
touched off, Bassett asserted. When
Mrs. Bassett stepped outside the house
on the date which had been prear-
ranged, the oil and gasoline were
scattered about the house and twisted
napers drenched with the fluid placed
! in number Of places to assure the
fire Of gaining a quick start
Bassett, on the stand, admitted hav-
ing applied the match to the inflam-
mables which totally destroyed the
house.
Clothes valued at $50, belonging to
him and his wife, were removed from
the house the night before, he con-
fessed.
Charles Burright, likewise a con-
fesscd arsonist, will take the stand at
the resumption of court this after
noon.
Attorney Wilson expressed the be-
lief that the trial will last until We'd
ncsday
One witness told yesterday of the
alleged plot and destruction of the
house to collect the insurance, in
which it is charged Truax aided.
George N. Bassett. whose arrest fol-
lowed after TruaX's preliminary hear
ing had been held, confessed that he
had set fire to his home at CaleXico
lin November. 1913, and implicated
lTruaX in the alleged conspiracy to
defraUd the Springfield Fire and Ma
irine Insurance Company of 81 ,260. The
second witness was II. II. Griswold
agent at Calexico for the insurance
company, who issued the policy COW
ering the Bassett property.
Under a searching examination by
District Attorney Nichols, Bassett told
in detail of the events which led up
to the burning of the house and iden-
titled an alleged house plan and a
property list, both of which he ad-
mitted were at least partially false
1t was through these papers, he said
he had been able to obtain fire in
surance. He also identified draf,
for $1,260 which is said to have beer
sent by the insurance company in set.
tlement of the claim.
Griswold related the incidents in
the soliciting of the insurance policy
on the Bassett home. He appeared
haZy under close examination by Dis
tflcJ Attorney NlCnOlS ana was ull-
able to state with certainty whether
he had asked for the business in this
particular instance. He asserted
however, that it was his custom to
solicit business when he saw new
house under construction.
The jury box was filled late yes
terday afternoon, the examination of
the talesmen by Attorneys Sweet and
Wilson, for the defense, and District
Attorney Nichols and Deputy District
Attorney Simon having taken most of
the day.
Counsel for Truax in the selection
of jurors usually sought to determine
whether each prospective juror was
related to an insurance man or had
ever been in the insurance business
The jury box was filled yesterday
the following having qualified: H. M.
Mccall, Imperial; Leslie Mcconnell,
Seeley; C. f. Sprouse, El Centre; Viii
lard Carpenter, Holtyille; II. S. Jerni-
gan, L. r. Ellsworth, Brawley. The
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