Koch v. Southern Cities Distributing Co.

A. & J., Incorporated, own a building three stories high, divided into three stores, at the corner of Louisiana avenue and Milam street, Shreveport, La., all fronting on Milam street, known generally as the Saenger building. The corner store was occupied by the Hawkins Drug Company, Inc., of which plaintiff was president.

On the morning of January 12, 1930, plaintiff came to the store about 7 a. m., opened it up, and lighted the coffee urn. • Underneath the building there is a basement. There was a trapdoor leading from the drug store into the basement, and which was kept closed. The gas meter…