Imperial Valley press., 1915-12-16
BasSett Tells
Of Fire Plot

Frequent objections on the part Of
Wilson and Sweet, attorneys for the
defense, marked developments in the
Truax trial today. George Archer, an
insurance adjuster of Los Angeles,
who said he had been an insurance
adjuster for IA years, told Of his in
vestigations of the Bassett fire.
Although an Independent adiuster
he testified he had been especially re
tanned by the Springfield Fire and
Marine Insurance Company, which, he
said bore the reputation of being a
corporation. He identified the dia-
gram of the destroyed house, which,
he said, had been handed to him by
PasSett when ,he cam to Ca!eEicG iG
the summer Of 1913 to adjust for the
insurance company. The inventory Of
the household goods, which had also
been handed to him by Bassett, was
likewise identified, the settlement hay
ing been based entirely upon the docu-
ment, he testified.
Under cross-eXamination by Attor-
new Sweet, Archer stated that he had
made no further Investigations Of the
fire aside from the questions which
had been answered by Bassett
Didn't you know Bassett had n
wife," demanded Attorney Sweet.
IA not - A ucbor 1.a,,1iaJ
"Then your Investigations into the
fire dealt only between you and Bas-
sett?' the attorney asked
81 made my inquiries of the person
in whose name the insurance was
made, who is the only one the COM
pany recognizes" responded the adj
juster.
There was slight pickering between
attorneys for the defense and Dis
trict Attorney Nichols over the eXclu-
sion of witnesses from the court room
when it was discovered that several
were seated listening to the eXamina-
tion of Archer.
District Attorney Nichols suggest
ed that witnesses for the state leave
the court room, the dispute being fin
ally settled when Mrs. TruaX left the
room. The court held that the insur-
ance men, who, District Attorney
Nichols stated, counsel for the defense
had agreed the day before might re-
main in court, would not have to
leave.
In commenting on his decision, Su-
perior Judge Cole employed the word
Conspiracy" in a reference. "We OBJ
iect to that word conspiracy" At
torney Wilson declared, and then the
court explained that it had no bear
ing on the case now being tried.
George Bassett, himself awaiting
trial for implication in the arson plot
in which he declared TruaX also par
ticiDated. took the witness stand this
morning and told in graphic fashion
of the plot to burn his home to col
lect the insurance.
TruaX, he testified, came to him and
suggested that the house be destroyed
enabling Bassett to get some "easy
money" TruaX, he said, further sug-
gested that a third person come ir
on the plan and the same, day or
which the plot was proposed TruaX
called at the Bassett house again
bringing Charles Burright with him.
At the conclusion Of the discussion
Truax gave Bassett 81 with which to
get insurance for 81 400 in the house
the confessed arsonist declared. Aft
err the policy had been secured, fur
ther plans for the destruction OF the
house were made, he testified the
night before the execution OF the plot
Burright bringing 5 gallons OF gaso,
line and as much turpentine to start
the fire. Burright, Bassett declared
had demurred to the plans after they
bad haan laid and after bringing the