Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-02-09
SK0WnEGAN
SUPREME COURT

ana Merclll, SkONHSSdi SSAiAiS inv 49,
case at that time assisting Attorney
William B. Brown, attorney 1or the
respondent. D. NJ. Nichols, chlef OF
the fire department at Madison was
recalled, and questioned concerning
origin of the fire and statements
made. Mr.. Nichols testified that he
had said that possibly the fire might
have. started from the electric wires.
Deputy Sheriff John A. Mooers OF
Skowhegan was the next witness ana
he told of going to Madison to the
Tupper house and emphasized the
fact that there were two distinct fires,
one in a cupboard in the kitchen ana
one in a cupboard in the cellar. Mr.
Mooers said that in talking with Mrs
Parsons he asked her II she could
suggest any plausible cause for the
fire and she said that possibly II
might have come from heated iron
which she had put into the cupboard
of the kitchen that morning after
finishing her ironing.
Julian Conroy, an insurance agent
of Skowhegan was then called ana
testified TO being in Madison solicit
ing insurance and on September ~,
less than a month before the nre
placing $500. insurance on the furnl-
.ure in the Topper house. which ne
took for granted belonged to Mrs.
Parsons, although she did not state
that it belonged to her.
County Attorney Thorne recalled
: Mrs. Edward Wescott. Mrs. Louise
| Burton, and Levi Tupper, for brle1
questioning. At this time Attorney
, Brown requested the privilege OF ad-
] dressing the Judge and asked that the
! Jurors retire. Judge Deasy granted
| this request and Brown made motion
I that the Judge direct L verdict for the
! respondent.
The Judge asked Mr.. Brown il the
defense rested. Mr.. Brown said that
| he didn't like to on the chance OF
getting q directed verdict and Judge
Deasy ordered that the defense be
put in. 1t was opened by Attorney
! Brown at 2.45. In his opening he
claimed that it might rave caught IN
many ways which he enumerated.
that the fire was only one continuous
fire burning in different sections OF
the cupboard which went through the
kitchen to the cellar. that Mrs. Far
sens had no motives Tor setting the
fire because she had only taken a
very few things away from the house
and that she and the other members
of her family had furniture and per-
scnal effects In the house which were
several hundred dollars more Valu-
able than the fact Of the insurance
policy.
He also claimed that others had
lust as good an opportunity TO set
the fire as she. If it had been set
and that she had no ill-Will toward
the Tuppers. nor for MIR. and Mrs.
Burton and their little son who lived
upstairs. He said further that II she
had set the fire she would never
have taken her kitten of which she
was very found from the yard into
the house the last thing before she
drove away.
Four witnesses were sworn for the
defense. They were Mr.. and Mrs. AL
bert W. Parsons. Mrs. Resale Scott
n daughter of the respondent ana
Evan Adams an expert electrician
Mrs. Parsons was the first wit
ness to testify. She told of ironing
end placing the iron possibly in the
cupboard but was not sure where
she actuallr did place it. She also
said that she had nothing but the
liindliest feelings for Mr.. and Mrs.
Topper and the Burtons living up
Slttll - 'ub tii'bt 'o'iS N'A>' 49, -
fire and did not know INV 1t start
ed.
MIR. PARSONS was cailed. lie Salu
, that his wife worked nights, beln% a
right operator Tor the FARMERS
Telephone. He got up ana got MS
breakfast mat morning ana TOOK
ashes from the COOK stove put thern
into a corrugated iron pan ana car
rled them down stars. lie estlmateu
the value of their belongings IN the
mouse 10 ne Sl,o"o or 81 Eoo.
Mr. Adams, the electrician undeI
whoSes upervlslon TIC mouse nae
been wired Tor electrlclt" described
at conslderaple length from a cnait
the WIRING ana admltteu tnat NHile
he did not consider 1t propanie ne
would say that 1t was possible that
the lire caught from the eiectrlc
Wlrln" Another witness was sworn
at this time for the defense. inns
was Oswald WOOD. GRANDSON OIL
Mrs. Parsons VINO was at the mouse
that morning.
He said that he was there all OF
the time that morning ana that he
went to the new nome with Hrs.
PARSONS and SAID that MS aunt.
Mrs. Scott was there too and that