INQUIRY INTO THE CAUSEOF THE LATE FIRE.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1875, 12 October 1874, Page 3

INQUIRY INTO THE CAUSEOF THE LATE FIRE.

On Saturday, an inquiry into the cause of the late fire which occurred on Thursday evening last on the premises of Murphy Brothers, Owen-street, was held before J. E. Macdonald, Esq., one of the Coroners for the district, and a jury, at the Warden's Court, Grahamsto,vn. The following jury were sworn:—E. J. Angove, W. J. Jacobs, 0. Butterworth, E. Wade, James Garvey, James Brown, John Head, Alexander Gillan, Louis Melhose, Thomas Baird, James Biggott, Henry Clery. Mr Clery was chosen as

After the jury l ia( l l) Con sworn Coroner soid he had been moved to summon the jury by a requisition from some of the partios interested. Ho had referred that requisition to the head of the police department, and from the information given byh.tn it appeared pretty clear where the fire commenced, and how it commsnced-that was to say, as to the actual burning. It remained for them to inquire how the burning came about Without thero being any suspicion or imputation upon any one, the cuu ao 'of the burning, if not attributable to direct neglect, disclosed a state of things which of itself was a danger constantly occurring from a certain fireplace. Tliey would be able to ascertain if this danger could bo avoided, and would also see how it was that this (ire, which might have caused so much damage, was so speedily extinguished. If the majority were of opinion that it would be better to adjourn the inquiry till Monday, ho had no objection, but in the meantime it would bo well for the jury to inspect the premisos. The jury then went and looked at the place where the fire had occurred. When the jury returned, some discussion took place as. to whether the inquiry should be procooded with at once, or should be adjourned till Monday. It was at last decided to adjourn till Monday'at one o'clock, an 1 111 ' jurynm were bound over to attend at thiit