The Mount Eden Fire

Auckland Star, Volume XI, Issue 3235, 2 December 1880, Page 3

The Mount Eden Fire

CORONER'S INQUEST.

AN outline ai the evidence adduced at the fne inquest yesterday afternoon appeared in our last impression. We now give thu testimony of William Sibbiu and Sergeant Clark at greater length :—

William Sibhin deposed that he was a clerk in the office of the National Insurance Company, and fpsidcj at the Horth Shore. He knew Richard Owen by sight. (Prisoner identified.) He had heard of Mr Edward's house being destroyed on the 14th ult. -About a fortnight prior to that date an application was made by Owen to insure the building m the National, He brought in a £1 note with which to pay the policy. Having ascertained trom him that the house was detached, witness said that £1 would insure for £120. From further inqniiies, however, witness learned that the detachment waa under 30 feet. When he told him that the house could not be insuredffor so much, Owen then said that ho would call in again and see Mr Williams, as he was acquainted with the place. He did not call again, however. Iv answer to a question Owen had said that Mrs Edwards sent him to insure. To Mr Russell: There was nothing in Owen's manner to excite suspicion of anything being wrong. Sergeant Clark deposed that on the night of the fire he was aroused at 12.25, aud that he proceeded at once to the scene. He enquired from Owen how the lire originated, and in what way he received the alarm. He replied that ho was awoke by the noise which the lining and the ceiling above hia bed made in burning. Witnes.3 suggested that he might have been reading in bed, and have dropped on" to sleep before the light went out. He said that he had only half-an-inch of candle by which to read and that after it went out he wont to sleep. Witness then asked if there had been any fire in the hearth? Owen then answered, " Very little." He next remarked that some fire might have dropped on the floor, but Owen replied :" No; there was very little fire on the hearth.' Witness then left him, but returned to him after a while, when he said that the fire must have originated in the kitchen because it was full o£ smokowhen ne awoke and the partition was on fire. Witness ask6d him how he reconciled this witii hU former statement, but he could make no answer. He subsequently admitted that ne had made a fire on the hearth. Detective Jeffrey also gave evidence as to statements made to him by Owen on the night of the fire. Charles Williamson, house and land, a^ent, deposed to having had Mr Edward s property (the house which has been destroyed) in his hands ior sale. It was placed in his hands on the 9th of August by Richard Owen, on behalf of Ed warns. (The authority to sell wu=i producel.) The amount was £300, and this was afterwards reduced to £260. He did not sell. This being all the evidence the jury retired in order to confer together. After an hour's deliberation they found " that there is not sufficient evidence to show how the fire originated.'1 The Foreman informed Mr E. Hesketh (solicitor for the United Insurance Association) that the jury expected, to receive some payment for the time they baa spent at the inquest, while Mr Evinsonalso looked for some remuneration for the use of his Mr: Hesketh promised to represent the matter to the Association.