Manter v. Boston Fire Insurance

There seems to be no doubt that the fire originated in the kitchen chimney. From the kitchen a passage ran to a dance hall in the rear. The kitchen chimney projected into this passage, and there was a clean-out door opening into the passage from the chimney.

Mrs. Whitehouse, who was with Mrs. Gove at the time of the fire, testified that when it was discovered that the chimney was afire, they went out into the passage and found that the clean-out door was open. Mrs. Whitehouse described the fire as presenting no danger, but said that Mrs. Gove kindled a fire in the passage near the chimney.…