THE LATE FIRE AT MR. GOULD'S.

Press, Volume XII, Issue 1580, 29 November 1867, Page 2

THE LATE FIRE AT MR. GOULD'S.

An inquiry into tho ori«iu of the firo which lately occurred at Mr Gould's premises was held yesterday at the Carlton hotel, beforo the coroner, J. W. S. Coward, Esq. Mr J. P. Jameson was chosen foreman of the jury.

The first witness examined was Mr George Gould, who deposed—On the morning of tha 23rd November, about half-past three o'clock, I was awoke by my servant rushing into the room and exclaiming that the house was on tire I immediately got out, of bed and j enquired where tho fire was. I was told that it wms in the servants' room. I could see t hrough the cracks in the boards that tho fire was on the outside. I ran down stairs and went outside, thinking to get at the firo but found it out of my reach. I then thought of the upstairs window, and at once wont back telling the servants to follow with water. I got outside on the top of the leads, and the servants handed mc water from the bath-room, and in a few minutes the firo was subdued. The fire was burning in tho gutter, and had not got through into the inside. I found a shaving near the back door, and another on lho belt. The shavings were fresh ones, and had not been lying about for any time. By the Police—l went to bed at twelve o'clock ; the building was then all right. I was the last person to go to bed. There was no chimney or fireplace near where the fire broke out. It must have originated on the outside. The gutter was twelve feet from the ground, and there would be no difficulty ia throwing fire into it. I a;i not aware'of any object that could be gained by Betting the house on fire.

By the Jury—The roof is shingled whore the tire took hold ; the gutter is leaded. Ann Roskrougo deposed—l am a servant living at Mr Gould's. On Saturday morning last, a little after three o'clock, I was awoke by the smell of Bmoke. I got up and looked out of tlie window. 1 could not see where the fire was. I then heard a crackling, as of fire overhead on the roof. I immediately called Mrs Williams, and then called Mr Gould. I saw the flames when I returned from calling Mr Gould. The flame was to be seen through the cracks in the roofing boards. I went to bed at ten o'clock, and put out my candle. There was no fire about the Bpot where the fire originated.

By the Police—Mrs Williams, the cook, slept in the same room with mc; she saw tho candle put out. There is no possibility of fire getting on to the spot accidentally. It must hive been put there. All the servants went to bed at the usual time.

By the Jury—l do not think that the fire could have been caused accidentally.

Inspector Pender deposed—On the morning of the fire I went to Mr Gould's house. The | fire had been extinguished by the time I I arrived. I went out on the roof and examined the place. The fire had originated in a gutter near the servants' room. There was a portion |of the gutter melted, so that the fire must ' have been very strong to molt the lead before it got on to the roof. It is quite evident that the fire originated from some amair combustible substance thrown upon the roof. I examined the place where the fire recently occurred at St. Luke's school, and it presented a very similar appearance ; and from what I know of tlie fire which recently occured at the College, that fire must ako have originated ia a similar manner. The fire at Mr Gould's must have been caused by something thrown into the gutter. I have no doubt whatever but that the fire was the work of an incendiary.

By the Jury—The lead went under the shingles, which must have been burning wlule the lead was melting. Common shavings could not produce sufficient heat to melt tho lead in the manner in which it had been done. I think some very combustible chemical must have been thrown upon the roof. The Inspector stated that he had no further evidence to bring forward at present, and asked that the case should be adjourned for a fortnight. The Foreman coincided that no Btone should be left unturned to find out the perpetrators; the matter was one of the utmost importance to all.

The Coroner then adjourned the inquiry until Tuesday, December 10, at the same hour.