INQUEST.

Evening Star, Issue 5042, 2 May 1879, Page 1

INQUEST.

Coroner Hookeu commenced an inquiry yesterday at the North-east Valley into the origin of a fire which destroyed the store of Mr William Burns on the 9th ult. Mr Chapman watched the proceedings on behalf of the insurance companies interested; and Mr Denniston appeared for Burns. We had not extended to us the usual courtesy of receiving information as to holding of the inquest, and are indebted to the ' Daily Times' for a report of the proceedings.

Oolm Macaudrew, agent for the Transatlantic Insurance Company, deposed that ou February 24, Burns applied to htm for an extra insurance of LSO on his furniture and effects, which were then injured in the Colonial Office for LllO. Witness examined the premises, and concluded that there was sufficient insurance on the stock bat as .tsurns desired the extra LSO on his furniture, etc.,' he granted it. Burns told him thathe had got more things in since the place waspreviously insurrd. "Witness was quite satisfied all was right. His company paid the amount a fortnight after the fire, with the knowledge that, the police were investigating the case. A .Leesmith, agent for the Colonial InsuranceCompany, took an insurance on Burns's plaoe on February 4 L6O on the stock and LSO on the furniture. They were first inspected by a representative of the company. Three weeks afterwards he received advice (he presumed from Burns) of the insurance in the Transatlantic. Burns had made two claims oa. witness's company; but they were not paid, on acct unt of the police inves ligations. Witness objected to the claim for furniture, which was, va ued at Ll4llos, which he thought was very high

b\ M'Grath, publican, said the premises destroyed belonged-'to him. They were let to Burns in Decemher, and were insured in >ewZ-aland Office for LBO. He had been in the place a few times since; the last time about the beginning of April. He had a lo«k into the front room. Th»re seemed to be very few goods in the store. 'J here were only two short shelves in the store, and it would not take much to fill them. Most of the goods seemed to be in the window. He would not have been inclined to give more than Lls for what he saw in the store. Burns told him several times hewas g ttiug his cab done up to sell at inverlliere were also a couple of shelves in the window. He valued his house at L 250. He spoke to a detective about the fire about four or five days after the house had been burnt down, and wi hed an inquiry. He now for the firsttime formed the opinion that the goods he saw in the store were worth Lls. Befoie the additions were put on Burns occupied the two rooms, usirg one of them as a store, and the other »s a sitting-room, bedroom and kitchen. Witness was often in the house while the additions were being made. He would not give more than L 3 or L 4 for what he saw in it. He did not »ee carpets, rugs, and fender,, ornaments, or pictures. He saw the chairs; sofa, and table, but did not consider them worth' L 9. He told witness when he opened the store that he was going to put L2O worth of things in it. When he opened the store in December last witness thought by the appearance that he had more goods than previously. Francis Stewart, an eugineer, gave evidenceas to the discovery of the fire. At 1.15 a m the whole of the roof was then ablase. Mrs Burns was coming acro.s the paddock as though from a neighbor's house. She was in her nightdress, and appeared to be excited. It was a very quick fire, lasting only for about fifteen minutes.

James Martin, a laborer living in Duke street, Dunedin, deposed : To the best of my belief it was m the middlp of Januar/ last Burns told me at times that he was going to get the place insured, and when he should have it insuied at the end of three months he was to set fire to the lot. He told me that he had got L2O worth of goods m the shop. I went up country to the leviot, where I stopped five or six wee is On my return I saw him several times, and he told me he had got the place insured, but he did not say for how much. He told me he was griug to do the stone as he did before—get the insuiance money and clear out. He also told me he would have very little in his shop when he wanted to set fire to it. This was about a month before the fire To the best of my belief, a ooupla of weeksibeiore the fire he told me that when he Miouldgethisendsaccomplishedhewould "clear" from theColonv. I treated the thing as a joke, and I did nottmnk he really meant what he paid. This was bef. re he get insured. Idid not know what to make 01 it, and did not like to interfere in his business. Before the fire he made a proposal to send up some of the goods to me. This offer was renewed several times, but 1 Uughed it off. and kept away from him. I was often in his store—the la.t time about a fortnight before the fire. When I said that Burns told me he was going to do as he did before, I meant that he was going to do as he had said before. I did not understand him to say that he had previously set fire to a place. Burns and I are and good friends. The day after the fire M Grath met me and told me the place was burnt down. I said I had hea>d of it in the the morning. He asked me did I know anything about rt. I said it was a thing I did not car? much about interfering in. He kept on talklog and taking and making a great lament to me. I iiudl Tvas sorry for his losses. One w ° rd , cam « after another. I said to him I thought he (Mr M'Grath) had got his place pretty well insured. He laid he thought hS poLcy bad run out, but he had lost the lot. The next day he rode up to my place and talked again about the fire, and asked me did I know anything about it. 1 said I knew a little about »i-r*i, } en told I me again that h j« Policy, which had run out, was for LSO. I told him that when Burns got L2O worth of goods in tS shop, that he had made up his mind to get the t P w e wf U^ d ' E £ d i h / 1 8aid t0 me »wral times that when he should have it insured for about three months he was to set fire to the lot. I stated to this Court after coming back rom the han-esting Burn, never Sd anything tome about the insurance agents calling at his store. He told me, as I-was rfdinup m the cab a month before, that he had got the place insured, but he did not say for how much I fmt heard the amount of the ins™ ar.ee about six weeks before the fire. After this 1 had the last conversation with h.m. Before I had the last conver.ation I had heard the amount of insurance from some other person. I was in the house several times after the back was added to it. Wben I was last in the stSe there did not seem to be much stock in it to my eye. I have of ten been in the kitchen pai t It or L 7 would buy the furniture iL U & p a r bM f rßpt, , a^. hwe ' before SJ fiv?nr S +• ° nCe , for being drunk > an d five or six tunes for petty bye-law offences. I have been laboring at the tunnel lately, and I am well acquainted with Frank M'Grath. He has never promised me any money. I me fc M Grath accidentally near the scene of the fire. Ahe first ilace Burns spoke to me about his house was outside the place; He spoke of his store and getting L2O worth into it. and about getting it insured. Besides M'Grath, I spoke to Detective Bain One Sunday night about 11. dO near Allan the butcher's. Burns told me than he had got his houre insured, and would set fire to it. It might be a dozen times he told me he was going to set fire to the house Francis M'Grath, recalled, stated that he spo.te to the last witness about the fire the morning after on the district road. He did not rememoer who spoke first. The second conve.sation was held near M'Donald's blacksmith.

Margaret Martin deposed that Mrs Burns told her that she had got her place inmirTfl «£ L6O, and that she would set it on fire in about three months. TTitnesß warned heJ to takecare vhat she was saying, and not to say such • flung to anyp ers on. She thought it w?s said

At 6 p.m. the inquiry was adjourned till Monday next, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon.

In Victoria a proposal has been submitted! to the Minister of Education for the appointment of an inspectors of needlework, for the purpose of visiting the various schools, under the control of the Education Department and reporting upon the progress made in the instruction of needlework The Minister has promised to give the matter his. consideration. *

For continuation tee Fourth, Fage % \