THE PIKE IN INGESTRE-STREET. FURTHER PROCEEDINGS TO BE TAKEN BY THE POLICE.

Evening Post, Volume XVI, Issue 284, 30 November 1878, Page 2

THE PIKE IN INGESTRE-STREET. FURTHER PROCEEDINGS TO BE TAKEN BY THE POLICE.

Yesterday afternoon Dr. Johnston and a jury held an inquest upon the late fire in Ingestre-street. Mrs. Mary Anne Brighting, the occupant of the cottage, gave evidence to show that she and her two daughters retirtd to bed at 9 o'clock, and her two sons came in between 11 and 12 o'clock. At 3 o'clock she was aroused by a smell of burning, and found the room full of smoke. There was barely time to awake her sleeping family before the cottage was in a blaze. Mr. M'Elwain, the owner of the house, had been acting in a very strange manner of late. When drunk he entered the cottage and abused her, in consequence of which she gave him notice to quit, but he persuaded her to remain. On several occasions lately she had seen him collecting bits of wood, shavings, rags, &c, which he put under tbe house. She thought this very strange, and once asked him what he was doing. He was then ou his hands and knees, pushing some pieces of wood under the house ; but he said he was examining the gate to see whether it was rotten. He was not even looking in the direction of the gate. The rear of the house rested on piles, and was some distance from the ground. M'Elwain, when she took the bouse, asked her to leave this space open for coals or wood, but he had twice lately asked her to throw her rubbish there, to fill it up. Witness used candles only in the cottage, and had no kerosene on the premisos. George Brighting and William Brighting gave corroborative evidence as to the fire. They both declared positively that the candle was properly extinguished before they went to bed. The fire was under the house, and when they were aroused was just appearing through tbe floor. Mr. C. Broadbent and Lucy Brighting were also examined, but their evidence did not cast any light upon the origin of the fiie. Edward Henry M'Elwain, a tailor, residing in Ingestre?street, was called. The evidence of Mrs. Brighting was read over 'to him, and he was duly cautioned by the Coroner. He totally denied all Mrs. Brigh ting's evidence, except that relating to the discovery of the fire. He had several times tried to get rid of the Brightings, as they were bad tenants, but they would not leave, and he had applied to Sergeant Smith for advice as to how he could eject them. On tbe night of the fire he was walking up and down about 0 o'clock, when he saw Lucy Brighting at the back of the cottage with a light. He called out " What the devil are you doing there with that light?" She replied that che was looking for something which she had lost, and then returned to the bouse. He used both candles and kerosene in his own house. The cottage was about nine years old, and was insured for £150. It would take £180 or £190 to rebuild it. It and several other "cottages" were insured for £100 each until htely, when he added £oQ to each. At the same time he increased the insurance on his own hou«e by £100, and insured his furniture for £100. He had never said he would get the Brighting family out by hook or by crook, even if he had to burn them out. About twelve yeara ago hi* house was burned down. It was insured for £200 in the Liverpool and London office. Mr. R »f. Simpson, manager of tbe New Zealand Insurance Company, said that after the hose ceased playiner he entered the premises with Superintendent Whiteford. In the back room there was a hole in the floor, and there was come bagging soaked with keroseoo underneath. After a quarter of an hour's consultation the jury returned the following verdict :—" The jury are of opinion that the house burppd in Ingestre-street on tbe 26th inst. wa wilfully set qu fire by some person or persons unknown j and the jury add a fnrthef rid.er to the effect that, they acquit the woman and her family of all blame ; and they are of opinion that in consequence of the evidence produced at the inquest further proceedings should be taken by the police."