Grand Hotel Fire.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 154, 1 July 1901, Page 2

Grand Hotel Fire.

'JESSIE MINNS' SENSATIONAL

EVIDENCE

THE INQUEST ADJOURNED.

The examination of the pantry-1 maid, Jessie Minns, at the inquest on the Grand Hotel fire, occupied the greater part of .Saturday. It will be remembered that she deposed tlmt ehe saw three men in the hotel the night before the lire, with parcels of gunpowder and a fuse; that they frightened her into silence by their threats; that she saw them in the hotel again not loug before the fire broke out; and that after the lire they climbed over the back fence, and after saying good-bye to her, mingled with the crowd and disappeared. The concluding portion of the girl's evidence, given in response to Sub-In-spector Mitchell's questions, is reprinted from Saturday's second edition: How did you recognise fuse when [you saw it? I have seen fuse at home. My father iwas a miner and used it at the house. When you mentioned powder, you (did not mean loose powder, did you?

Yes, sir. It was loose powder, in la brown paper parcel.

How long is it since you first saw Ithose three young men?

I was going out one Sunday afternoon, and as I went up the passage they were standing at the corner of the' hotel. That would be about three ■weeks after 1 went to the hotel.

From Sunday onwards, how often did you see them? I saw them once again that week, and again after that. During the month before the fire how often did you see them?

I think I saw them every day for a month before the -fire. Where? In the hotel. You mean these men frequented the Grand Hotel for a month before the fire?

Yes, they used to come in every day. They would mostly be in the billiardroom.

How' often would any of them speak to you during that month? Oh, I didn't like the look of them. They would wish me " Good morning1 " or " Good afternoon," but I wouldn't reply. Had you heard any noises in the dining-room at night before? About six weeks before the fire Mr Johnston lost some silver, and that night I heard noises overhead in the dining-room. J Were they similar noises to what, you heard before the fire? No, sir. These were distinct, not muffled noises. Is there anything more that you ■would like to tell us? No, sir. At the close of Miss Minn's evidence ihe Coroner and jury conferred with Sub-Inspector Mitchell in camera, the press representatives being asked to retire. , n When the inquest was resumed beorge Sage, the billiard-marker, was recalled, and deposed that he took charge of the billiard-room on the Monday before the fire. On the Thursday three men who appeared to he mates came in to play billiards. He did not think that any one was in the billiard-room in the forenoons during the week that he was there. At this stage the inquest was adjourned till 10 a.m. next Thursday.