Alleged Incendiarism in Auckland.

Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 162, 24 November 1886, Page 2

Alleged Incendiarism in Auckland.

EXTRAORDINARY EVIDENCE. |Bt Teleqbaph. I (From Our Own Correspondent.) Auckland, This Day. Extraordinary evidence bearing on tlio subjoot of scientific fire-raising was givon at the enquiry into the suspicious fire afc the Onohunga Cooperago Works on tho 19th October last. James Korebs, who had been employed at the cooperage, deposed that about two months before the fire Mr. Gibbons, owner of the cooperage, talked about tho place being a failure, and said tho sawmill paid far better than tho cooperago. Witness said ho ought to sell out. Mr. Gibbons replied that if ho sold out he would not get inoro than two or three hundred pounds for all ho had thero. Ho also said — "I have tho place well insured ; tho timbor is nice and dry ; it would mako a good fire. What do you say if you do it ? There's a JCIO note sticking out." Witness said " No ; wo will get transported or something." Gibbons asked witness if ho would go down then and do it, as the wind was just tho right way. Ho said, "If you'll go down and do it to-night thero's a <£10-noto sticking out." Witness said, "No ; lam not going down* My boots are too bad." Gibbons said, " Nobody will know anything about it. No one will suspect you. Will you como down and wo'll do itto-night?" Witness said, " I do not want to got my feet wet." Ho said , "Go insido and put your heavy boots on ." Witness said, " No ; I cannot think of doing such a thing," About two days afterwards witness saw Gibbons in tho mill, and ho said he had got a patent way to light a fire. He got a candle and told him to tio a pioco of cotton wick around the bottom, according to tho time they wantod to have the firo, and as a candlo burned seven or eight hours, to place tho oandle in a box after soaking tho cotton wick in kerosene. Tho cotton wick was then to bo laid through tho mill, with shavings above and below it, and bo led to a stack of dry timber. They conld then light tho candlo according to tho time they wanted the firo to start, and then go home or to Auokland and be far enough away when tho firo began. The box was to have only three sides and no lid, and be hidden with a sack, so that the light could not be seen. Thero were two holos in tho end of the box and a lodge to prevent the bags from lying over the holes. Gibbons finished by saying, " The first time tho wind is the right way, will you fix it up, and I will givo you .£2O if you do it." Witness said, "No, I'm not drunk onough." Gibbons again made similar proposals on tho 13th Octobor. On the. following Saturday witness went to the races, and on returning homo found Gibbons in the house. He asked witness to go up town, and he accordingly went after tea. Witness subsequently met Gibbons in Princess-street. Ho turned back with him as far as tho corner of Sclwynstreet, when Gibbons asksd him in, saying ho had some good whirfky. Witnoss went Into the parlour and had some Moonlight whisky, about two half tumblers. Gibbons then said, "For God's Bake, help mo out of my trouble, Sydney, and set fire to it tonight." Witness replied, " I would get ten years if I did like that." Tho wind was blowing east by north-east that night. Gibbons said, " Don't be such a coward." Witness said, " I could not think of suoh a thing," and left him there and then and went home. Tho following Monday witness assisted Gibbons to straighten Borne orovvbars at the cooperage forge. Gibbons said it would be a fine excuse to light the forge and set firo to the mill, He asked witness if ho had told his wife or anyone else about tho offer he had mado. Witness replied that he had not. Gibbons then said that the wind was the right way, and it must be done that night. The wind was east and would not hurt his neighbour. After tho fire, witness told Gibbons that he had made a mess of it now. Gibbons replied, "So help me God, Sydney, I did not do it. Tho day after the fire witness mot Gibbons in front of the Union Office, in Queen-street, and Gibbonß said, " Surely you have not been so mean as to go and inform. Witness replied he had, and Gibbons said, " Thon I know what you want; you want to clear out of the conntry." Gibbons said. " I will give you JE2S to clear ,out." Witness said he did not want it, and' went away from him. Witness nort saw Gibbons at his own house. Gibbons Baid, " Come down to my office, and I will give you some money." Witness did not go down to the office with Gibbons. On the second Saturday after the fire Gibbons asked witness to go out in a boat for a sail. Witness did not go, as he was rather doubtful. Gibbons then asked witness if he would go round the beach the following day (Sunday) to have a shot. Witnoss Baid, "No, my rovolvor is out of order f " Tho truth was ho had not got a revolver. On Sunday morning, about 9 o'clook, witness saw Gibbons sitting on his own boat. Gibbons produced his two revolvers, and asked witness to come round the beach and try a shot. Witness again declined, saying his rovolvor was out of order. Witnoss offered to shoot him for any amount in the shooting gallery, and then went home. Gibbons in his evidence denies Kernb's allegations, which lock corroboration. [united press association.] An inquiry commenced at Onehunga into the Lite fire at Gibbons' mill. Mr. Cotter appeared for tho Union Insurance Company. Ernest Kerub, a former employd of J. 8. Gibbons, deposed that Gibbons told him there was a £10 note sticking out if he fired the building, and also showed him how a candle could bo arranged in a box to cause firo at any period of time desired. He refused to entertain tho proposal. Gibbons in his ovidenco emphatically denied the accusation. He intends to sue the Company for the insurance. The case is not concluded.