THE HIGH STREET FIRE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13622, 5 January 1910, Page 7

THE HIGH STREET FIRE.

DELIBERATE ATTEMPT TO DESTROY VALUABLE BUILDINGS. The fire which was discovered 'in the ! High street Chambers, popularly known as the Cecil Buildings, at an i early hour yesterday morning, waa unquestionably the work of an incendiary. The only rooms actually affected were those occupied by Messrs L. V. Goyen and R. J. King, surgeon dentist*, carrying on separate businesses. Their rooms are situated on the first floor, and are reached either by the electrio lift or a flight of stairs. From the landing a double swing door, opening from the centre, leads into a waitingroom, which was probably used by clients of both dentists. Tbe door is usually kept locked, and was presumably locked on the night before the fire, as both establishments were closed for the holidays, and both Messrs Goyen and King are away from town. Entrano© had been effected bj the use of an auger, the part of the door containing the look being completely cut away, thus enabling; the' doors to be openid to their foil oxteet. It was inside the waiting-room that the most serious an_ most obvious attempt was made to fire the taikUttg. Th© furniture was huddled close together, and the pile added to by stripping another room. Part of the contents of a tin ol bemuse had been poured over t|ie furniture (which was of an inflammable description, and consisted of heavily padded couches and chairs;. It can be imagined that when a light was applied the heap would born- furiously. In an adjoining room, used as a dentist's workroom, a further attempt Was made to ensure that the oatbttak" would be an effective one. Some highly inflammable material, either straw or shavings, had been palled out of a box, and spread about the room. An acetylene o,m lamp, in full blast, had bw>n laid on top or a oundle of scrim, hat by some fortunate oircumstsitoes tai* was not ignited. In this room, however, a dentist's chair, of the ordinary padded typo, caught fire, and was reduced to ruins.

It is not apparent how the intruder entered or left the building. ThefroMt door, opening from High street, -w*i locked, and there is- no other easy means of egress. The most probable theory is that the man originally secreted himself in the building, and ear. ried out his criminal work when aU was quiet. A rope hanging just outride the workroom window, but not fram the window, suggests the way of retreat, as it reaches to the ground clear of the building. The police are-making enquiries into the affair.

Chief Detective Bishop ia n___£* report to Mr H. W. Bishop, _.__.. with the object of getting . m to ttttll an enquiry to ascertain, if possible, who was responsible for the _». If the Magistrate decides to enquire i«. the matter, a jury will be summoned to-day to view the pramism before the condition of the rooms and the position of the damaged furniture ore ml-, tared by cleaning operatkxm. The enquiry will then probably be adjourned, in order to allow tho police to collect evidence. In tho meantime that portion of the building which —«_ effected by the fire is guarded by & eenstaWe. The alarm was received by the brigade by telephone message from a young woman who occupied rooms in a building near at hand. She fortunately noticed th© glare of the fir© in the Oafe Cecil, nnd promptly advised the- brigade.

The building is insured for £7000, divided as follows:—Sun £2500, Guardian £2000, Royal £1000, Yorkshire £1500. The contents of Mr King, rooms are insured for £300 in the Royal Exchange office, and' the contents of Mr Goven's rooms in the United office for £200. Tho stock of Hicka and Co., jewellers, which was slightly damaged by the chemical used by the Firo Brigade and by water, is insured for £3000. in the Phoenix office. The total damage done to tho building aad the contents of tbe portion affected if estimated at about £200.