Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1916-10-25
BARN BURNED DOWN
HIGH WINDS TOOK 1T AT BLUE
RIVER LAST APRIL BUT SOLD
MANI HOWARD NOT TO BLAME.

NAN IhVW AID NUT IU BLAME
Cornelius Howard, a venerable citi-s
zen of Blue River, was in court last
Wednesday afternoon principally be-
cause Of high wind
It seems that on April 10Th Mr.. How
ard was engaged in the commendabla
act OF cleaning up his premises, an
annual spring affair nearly every
where In particular he cleaned the
rubbish out Of his barn and burned it
in pile.
rms started about a. M. About II.
Q, CLOCK Mr.. Howard saw that the, wind.
which had begun as playful zephyr
IN the early morning hours, approach
ing gale, and as best he could, raked
the ire out. To be further sure hea
poured water On the embers. Then
Mrs. Howard wanted a loaf of bread
for dinner and directed Mr.. Howard, as
dutiful husband, to proceed hence
forth to the village bakery and pro-
cure the same forthwith Mr.. Howard
did so.
He had only proceeded short dis
lance on his errand when his little
grandchild came running after him
with the startling news that the barn
was on fire. Mr.. Howard then hurried
the other way.
What became of that loaf Of bread
did not further appear.
The fire spread and the neighbors@
came. Pretty soon it had consumed
Mr.. Towards barn and was eating
away at that Of his neighbours, Mr..
Thomas Taylor. Mr.. Taylor bemoaned
the loss of his barn and after some
, cogitation thought Mr.. Howard ought
, to pay for what he considered his, Mr..
f Towards, carelessness.
So they came to court about it.
} Robert Gore, the village carpenter,
' testified that the Taylor barn was
worth $500. That is "if it was mine
t Asked if it was someone's else, Mr.
Gore contended that the $500 should
4 stand.
Mr.. Howard took the stand and cor
: roborated the opening Of this story. He
: said that after the fire he had found
some matches in the pocket of his
grandchild, aged 6 years. Old man
Howard has five grandchildren and
Byron Peer, determined looking
man, said that the barn lumber was
worth $13 1000 if it was built Of ma
tive lumber and $35 per 1000 if it. was
built of pine.
e There was nothing brought out to
! dispute Mr.. Peers testimony.
: Olaf Larson, town chairman, took
0 the stand and only said he didn't
! know much about it."
! Martin Heggerstrom who built the
barn, wasn't quite. sure but thought it
q cost 1859.
: Oscar Steele, a fisherman, was on his.
: way fishing and went through the
4 Howard property, but saw no fire. Mr.
V Steele testified that he didn't catch
= any fish
l. Four questions were submitted to
: | the jury after considerable argument,
: two OF which We're answered:
l. /, Did the fire that burned down
IL the plaintiffs barn start from the fire
t the defendant had started on his own
}premises about eight o'clock in the
) forenoon to burn up the rubbish
dhere- AnSWer-No. SD
- When about 10, O'clock tbot
aiprnlng the wind had raised, did tha
defendant exercise the care that m
de1 all the circumstances a man 81
olnlnary care and prudence engaged
IL IKE WORK should do to- control and
eAthgulsh the rubbish fire there hnr,,
ing SO that it would not endanger bie
own property or his neighbours mos ao
erty? Answer-Yes prop
And so "Old Man" Howard % hta
attorneys called him, went homo fo us
ing more at ease than when bn coz 1pea