The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-03-13
FOURTH DAY TRIAL
Read From Editorial.

Before the next witness was called
Joseph Waters read from a Current
History editorial that appeared in the
Topeka State Journal last Tuesday
afternoon. part of this editorial
set out that the Crawfords had offered
to settle their case for $1,000.
L. NJ. Crawford was then recalled
to the stand and testified he had eX-
amined the booth in the Grand the
alter today and found it fireproof. Nc
Crawford at the present time.
W. W. Webb, real estate and insur-
ance man, was the next witness called.
He stated he had had business rela-
lions and that the Crawfords carried
a total of $4,000 insurance on the
Grand and its contents in his COM
panies. Webb testified on direct ex-
amination that he did anot consider
hesGrand a special Hazard. He said
he did not make rates on buildings,
buttthe rates were made by special
insurance men.
On cross examination Webb said he
would not undertake to say what was
or what was not a hazardous rate.
The witness said he would not like to
saySwhether or not the Grand was a
hazardous risk. HE then explained
that both the Wolff Packing plant
as hazardous risks but that the
rate is much lower on the Wolff
plant because this plant has sprink-
Ter system installed.
Defense Scores Point.
Attorneys stated they believed the de-
their favor when w. T. Comstock treas
| urer at the Grand April II. 1916 was on the
stand Testifying under direct examination
Comstock stated that the publication of the
article containing the inspectors reports
| CAUSED business to fall off and that the fea-
ture film, The Battle Cry of Peace" which
was being shown did not draw in Topeka
| as tt did in other cities.
On. cross examination McKeever, attorney
for the defendant, produced the books of
| the Grand for the week of April IL, 1916.
From the receipt records he forced the wit
being shown before and after the article
was. published. Also, he forced Comstock
to admit that the attendance at the Grand
1ished and on ali smcceedings day sd than nut It
had been on the day before the publication
of the official reports.
Big Crowds at Shows.
Mekeever then went into the receipts
for several months preceding and directly
after the publication of. the article. He
had the witness tell the jury that the Ly
only 4SI people in February, 1916, and
that; the following August Damaged
Goods" drew a crowd of 1,439. He had
Comstock read from the record books of
the theater to show that the San Carlos
Opera Co. in February, 1916. drew Just
| three more patrons than the show Every
time after the publication of the article.
| Comstoek also testified that Forbes Rob-
ertsen had drawn little better than the
Every Woman" production despite the
fact that Forbes Robertson was at the
actors of the world. The witness also adj
mitted that the records showed the Y. NJ
G; A; MINISTRIES given on April IS and
Bunker Bean" which was shown in May
! drew larger crowds than the San Carlos
GGSmlpany o and almost as many patrons as
strels drew SIG persons and Bunker Bean
After the completion of the ComstocE
testimony the attorneys for the plaiptifi
| introduced as evidence a Current Com
ment' editorial that appeared in the To
| \. =. Perrine, who has run an iron shoI
! in Topeka for many years, was called.
| WOrkmen as witnesses.
Perrine testified that he was employed
escape on the north side of the Crane
several years ago. He said he thought i
was in. 1915. but upon cross-examinatioI
admitted thet it might have been in 191G
He said he/had made diligent search 70
some record that woula give the date bu
had been unable to find anything tina
would do so. Perrine stated that he place.
larger bolts in the fire escape and tina
cred. it safe. He also put in new braces
he said but could not tell whether or no
this was done after the publication o
the article He said the man who did TIL
work later left his shop and is now Il
France.
Abe Council. carpenter, was the las
witness called before adjournment Wednes
day afternoon. He said that he had bee
employed Wednesday morning to make re
pairs on the wooden stairway on the sout
side of the Grand and admitted that h
intended to charge the Crawforls til
union scale of so cents an hour for tn
time he spent while in the court house a
Witness Council said that in his In
specfion of the wooden stairway in tn
morning he had found few rotten tim
hers. but said he did not consider theI
dangerous. lie put on a new railing h
| said. Council. on eross-eXamination wa
| shown pictures of the wooden stairway an
admitted it would be safer if it wer
| wider.
| Local Mention.