Swift v. Patrons' Androscoggin Mutual Fire Insurance

This is an action on a fire insurance policy brought by the plaintiff as conservator of his ward’s estate. The case is before this court upon an agreed statement of facts.

It appears that while Wadleigh Brothers, of Belgrade, were engaged in pressing'the assured’s hay, using a combination gasoline engine and hay press assembled in a single unit, which, without the knowledge of the assured or his conservator, was located and in operation in a barn covered by the policy, the barn burned. The cause of the fire is not stated, and the originating responsibility of the engine is left problematical.

Th…