THE FATAL FIRE IN THE OCTAGON.

Evening Star, Issue 5171, 1 October 1879, Page 2

THE FATAL FIRE IN THE OCTAGON.

MAGISTERIAL INQUIRY. The following evidenoe was taken after we went to press hut evening:— George Kitchie deposed: I hung the dresses up on the wall i saw thorn hanging there before dinner When I camo down to dinner they wore there, aud thuy wera there ai I left dinner. As far as I know there was no kerosene on them. / cannot Kmell, but they wbm quite dry. Mr at«rs and I have been on good term* always, and nave not had any quarrelling. Tb<» rags produced are piecei of the negro mits. I •want to bod on the Sunday night between nino and ten r>Y,hok. I think I heard poople touting out " tire !" at the back before I gjt up. I took no not ee of t'nt cries at fint. I w;u not Bleeping bouudly. I heard Waters going to bed. Ihe»n somebody in the right-of-way cinging out '"Mr Waters, oome and see. the ghost!" Something khook our window vory hard ; it did not seem to b* a nerson. Mr Hivggitt: Perhap4 H was the ghost ? Witnem: Wall, something like that. It must havo baen «>. warning. Mr DennUton askad that this m'ght portionlarly bo talien do'tn. Mr baggitt : You are a Scotohma aren't you? Witness: Yes. Mr Haggitt: Then, of oourse, you bel eve in a Bansheß, or something of that *ort Mr Denniston: I wisk ho believed in soouthing elsa Scotchmen believe in. Witness continued : I next heard people in the right-of way culling "Fi:e!" and I think ten minute* or a quarter of an hour afterwards—but I oan't be certain of tho timo, as I hava no time-pioco--M- Water* cmo to our door, sayivg " Get up, boyn ; the place is on fire " Thou I heard him say to hit wife, "For God's sake, Jane, come; the house is on fire." Mr Waters was in his shirt. I first wont to the side door on the|platform leading to the upstair* part to try to get up the people, but it was too hot. The flames and smoke were bursting through the door, and down through the arch, like as if they were coming from the second story, but you could not tell. I then went round by the front to ths Wilsons, and saw s >moone fall for whom they were holding a blanket. I saw Fred Wilson at the window, and tried to get up tho stalrcaxo, but oouldu'b for the Bmoke. Then I went to Hall's for a ladder, and put it against one of the basement windows. I took Amy Vernon out. Mr Denuiston : Take that down as a sample of his truthfulness, Heßa y aho took Amy Vernon out by tho ladder. Witness : I did not say yet how I took her out. Amy Vernon was in her room then, and I told her to come out. She said she was goitg to stay. I said " I wai d d if she would ; *he house was on fire, i took her out. I am sme she wad the last. ity Mr Dei.nUton i I work for a living. I urn doing nothing at and have done nothing tince the fire. I am waiting till I get pud by Mr Waters for five week*' work. I am staying at Cox's. I do not know who is paying for my board and lodging. Inspector Mallard guaranteed my board and lodging. As soon as I get my money I am going tj pay it bnck. I do not thick my board U to be paid for by the polico, or you, or myono else. Mr Dmniston strongly objected to what ho termed Che pergonal impertinence of the witness in using his name. His Worshiu said tho witnoa* was an excitable one, and Mr Donnißton should be careful not to excite him. Mr Denniston was asking witness what had been his previous employment, and witnoss g >t very exceed tolling His Wo ship he could not help it. Mr Denniaton : Were you doing nothing for three months befote wont to Mr Waters'* ? Witue*s Baid if *ir Deaninton wished to know hiß history ho could aak witness's mother, who was outside. Mr Denniston : I do not want to havo any* thing to do with your mother, Mr Ritchie. Witness (who hud evidently misunderstood counsel): "Go for her." There's language for a gentleman. What do you mean by "Go for her?" Mr Denniston said witness used such language to him ha would have him kept permanently in the establishment. Mr Denniston then proceeded to ask questions relative to witness engaging on board the ship Oregon, and refusing to proceed after he had got hia advance Witness said these mattew had nothing to do with Mr Denniston. By Mr Denniston : I swear that tin (tho batterud one) in the one I threw out of the window. My own judgment made me go to look for it. I was present with the doieotive when tho first tin was found. Dotective Bain did not see me fi id the tin I threw out of the window. When 1 found it I put it up against Hall's partition—th* wall of H li's house. I did not toll anybody T foun 1 it until I mentioned it at tho Coroner's inquebt. When I threw it out of the window it ban a different shaped hole to what it has now. The hole it has now was in it whea I found it. When I pointed out at the inquest where the hile was in the tiu, I pointed out a different

corner to that in which it i 3 now. Many s the person who has made a mistake. Mr Deuniston here produced from a paper parcel a kerosene tin, aho battered, and with a number of holes in it. Witueas: The tin you produce is the same kind as the other, but it is oertainly not the one I thr«w out. Besides, I found the tin below thovindow whore I throw it out. There otj many tins like the one you produce. I see it has a hole in the corner, just like the one 1 put in. Mr Deuniston : If I Ml you tho foreman of the Coroner's jury picked up the tin 1 produce below the window, whut would you say ? Witoeu : What oould I say 1 The hole In like the one I put in the tin 1 threw out of tho window ; but I can swear the one I piokod up i« the tin I threw out, because it waa underneath the window. Mr Denniston was continuing to cross-ques-tion the witnesa abeu* tho tin in a aomowhat oxoited way, ar d the witnesa was mingling bin answers with Mr Dennuton's questions in a still riiore excited way, when His Wor»hip asked how he was to be expected to take tho evidoi.oo down, or was it important? Mr Dennistoi said he wanted to show what sort of a witness thht man JRitcbie was, and wh»t amount cf f -l.eb.ood ho would t*ll He wanted to ahow wilh what) eadloens he would act and speak a lie, just as he had acted and spoken a lie before the Coroner's jury. Tho tin produced hy Mr Donnitton waa then handed ovi-r to tho p l:oe to bo kept along with the others. Mr Donnhton : You previously said you used a gin-bottle to fill the lamps ? Witness : Yes. Mr Denniston: And you said that at each filling of the three bottles you used tho ginb ittlo nearly full of keroaeno ? Witness : Yes. It was a oommon-susd ginbottle We generally got one shilling's worth in it. The lampa were filled every second night. I finished the first tin before I got the second one. No ; I emptkd it after I got the second one. I did not begin to us- the now tin the flrt>t day I got it. I swear I did not. Perhaps it was the seoond or third day. Mr D mniston : Did you not just tell me you finished tha first tin bofore you got the second one? Witnoss : If y.)u will allow me to explain, I will; if you wo A I won't I use! the new tin the -. oy after I got it Mr i>enni*ton : I ho;>e your Worship will soo tho sort of wiintss I Lave t> deal *ith. He could have giv* n ire the answer I have now got all along Well, thank Trovldeuoa, we hayo got one answer from you, Mr Ritchio Did not Howrnan, the singor, h*lp you to open tho new tin ? Witness: T"o. Mr Deunkten : Did you got tho second tin a week before the fire ? Witness: V es. Mr Denniston : Oould you fru*ply three lamps for a week out of half that tin? Witnoss: Did I say T did? The que-tion was rjpe:.ted four times, with the result that the witnos* declared he did not understand it. ... .. ~ Mr Denniston: As a matter of fact the tin waa got on tie 30th of August. Now, reci ember that these thing* are of sora* importance to us, although you treat them in suoh a fre* way. Do you swear the tin waa half-full the last time you used it ? Wituess: Yes, when I left Ik. Mr Denniston: Now, oould you keep threo lamps going for a week on half a gallon of karosene? Witnesa : I don't say anything about that at all. That's a bird question to auswor. Mr Dmniston : Did you not prjvtouslv say a week had tUpsed botween jour getting the two tins ? Witness: I don't remember say'ii? so. 1 might have said eight d ya or so, But the shopman would be best able t-> speak about tint. Mr Deuniston here drew attention to the fact that 5 o'clock had arrived, and the Court would now adjourn, ho prf-aumed Inspector Mallard : Have you fhishel with Ritchie, Mr Denniston ? Mr Dennwton : Fioinhed 1 Is it likely ? Why, it takes me half-an-hour to got an au*wer to every single question. No, I certainly have not finished with him. Hh Wor.hip a-'journal proceedings till 10.15 a.m. today.

Tho inquiry was resumo.l at the gaol this morning, Lofore I. N Watt, E q , K.M. Tho cross-exainination of George Uitohio wis resumed by Mr Leuniston. Ritohie said : On the Sunday I was not so drunk aa noma people make out. I win the wor»e of liquor. I was not " boast'y " drunk. That U all I know. When a mau ii beattly druak he in " inoapablo of what he is doing." I am speaking from my own personal experienoo. It is not true that i could not chop wood properly, an* that I fell over the coak I had only the one " toddy "at that timo, a* I told you before. 1 " shammed " to bi drunk after dinuer—not at the the ooala wore talked about; *nd a!so at tea-time. I was having a lark, t pretended stager ug. I did not swear at the Ooionnr's inquest th.-.t I pretonded to be drunk when Mis Waters spoke to ine on the Sunday morning. Mr Denni4on hero complained that the witnets did not look towards him while answering question*, but looaed to the opp<».it* wall. The Witnens : i\. nun oau look whoe hj« liVe*. His Worship rul*>d that witnts* oouli look where he pieced—either look Mr Denniston in the faoe or study the cei ing. Oroßs.ei4mipa*ion continued : Mrs Waters spoke to me towards dinner time. Of course, »hj« told mo I was drunk uud had better go to bed.

Mr Denninton objected to the witness's profaoo of "of course," but His Worship ruiel that it waa rorfoctly admissible It was k.vidently an expression-a kind of expletive—ho who iu tbo habit of xitiag. Crjsa examination continued : I was not a good templar at tho I beliovo it fifteen minutes beforo Mr Waters woke rae that I heard cries of " Firo " in the right-of-way. Then I went out I went to tho platform and then through the arch to the street. His Woribip here suggested thai witness should not exoite hiiwxlf. Witness : I am shsky. Mr Denniiton : Why, how ia that ? Have yoi been drinking lateh ? Witness: No, I Lave uofc, I am always "n«rvish.''

Mr Denniiton : Had you any difficulty getting through tho arch ? Witness : Yei, I had. Mr Denniston : You aaw nothing of the ghost, I suppose His Worship hoped Mr Denuisfcon would not excite the witness. Mr Denniiton denied that he wished to exoite the witness. He thought the ghost was th'j ereation of Mr Haggitt, and he wished to oorrect tint gentleman as to his facts of the previous day. The Banshee was not an inhabitant oi Scotland, but of Ireland. Mr Haggitt though* there wu a "Sootch Banshee.'

The witness wont on, In answer to questions, to Bay: There were smoke and flame in tho archway. I rushed thiougb. Whoro thore's a will thero's a way. I went on to the platfoim, but don't think I tried tho door. I went through the arch, while flames were coming from above and below, with >ut a hair of my head beinjf injured I think I was half way up Wilson's stairs, but came baok, as I did not want to injure my life. Mr Denniston : No, I do not suspect you did. Your life is much too precious. Witness : I cau't tay now what day I g*vo evidence at the Coroner's inquest I don't know whether it was tho evening of the day on which I had the conversation with Mr Waters. I think it was j but I forgot to tell the jury one thing Mr Denniston : Don't take that down, yeur Worship, I have a dircot contradiction to that, and it U no uho going on any farther with the witness.

Alexander Robertson deposed : I wu oook's assistant at the cafe I wa* awoke on the morning of tho fire hy Waters, who cried *' Get up, bojs, tho place u oil fire." I slept in tho basement with the three others. The lt»»t thing I remember previously is looking at the piofcurcß iu a book by the light of a pieco of candle on the window till, When I came out the roof of the archway was burning. I went back to my room, got my trousers and watoh, and went down th-j right-of-way. I saw Mrs Wat rs in front of me with her night olothes on. Mr Wat'.-ra when he oame to rouse us hud on only his shirt. Afterwards I saw him running about assisting to get people down. He was then in his shirt and trousers. I had nothing to do with the lamps, and do not know whero the kerosene was kept. I saw the unused grate in the passage on Sunday. I started to work at the o*f6 on Friday. I did not sea any kerosene tin near the grat. Prerious to going to bed I took no notloe of the fire in the reading-room. When we went to bed " Sootty " was throwing up, saying " Curse the drink ; I wish I never touched it." Mr Haguitt : Who asked anything about " Scotty " ? Mr Denniston : But I would like it taken down.

His Worship (to witness): I wish you would not make Mr Denniston : But I wi»h the

His Worship : Bxouso mo, Mr Denniston, allow me to address the witness.—(To witness) : Any statement you have to make you c*n make at the olose. Attend to the questions in the meantime.

Mr Denniston urged that the statement was made in its natural sequence, and in justice to the prisoner it should be taken down. Mr Haggitt failed to seo how the statement came in natural sequence, unl>«a witness meant that " Scotty" was vomiting fire. Some further disouiision took place, when His Worship intimated that if tor Den'iistcu would

make a note of statements of the kind he could cross-examine witness upon them at the close. Mr Haggitt: Well, have you anjthing more to volunteer about, " Snotty V Witaeis said on the Sunday morning "S:otty' told him he had been " boozed up" by now (iuaina u obtain, and on witness asking him to briug some down "Scotty" brought a tumblerful of whisky into tho kitchen. "Sootty" would not have a drink himself, as he had had too much already; Brodriok and witness had a drink, but Deans would not, as " Sootty " and he were not friends and did not speak, and they had a fight shortly afterward*. " Sootty " afterw»rds came down to out wood, and Deans said to him, " Let me cub the wood for you ' Sootty;' you'll cut your finaers." air Haggitt: Then Deana ipoke to him after all? Witnesa : Tee. Afier dinner "Pootty" told mo the miati\>«» had sent him to bed, as he wits drunk. I saw him in the dining-room shortly afterward* drinking bv*r. I I very wrdl while I was with Mr Waters, and I I liko him still.

Mr HaggiU : And can you tall us why you have told ua all about these proclivities ef his, although you ara a friend of his ? Witness: W«ll, Idon'tknour; they justeame into my head. I helped to put the st-go away on Saturday night. When the stage Witf put against the window it stood about nalfw<iy up the window ; and the ohairs were then piled up to the roof. The window had a green blind. There waa a drop-aoeno for the stage. When not in use it waa folded up to the roof and tied with string thero. It was that way en Sunday night. I was with Brodriok when he let in the two stilori. I looked the inside door and gavo the key to Mrs Waters. By Mr Dennuton : When the sailors came in they asked for matches, and I gave them seven or eight. No person could get at the window without pulling down the stairs from the top of the stage. Clurle* Ure deposed : I am a cook, and live at Oavenham now. I was living at the caf6 on the Sunday of the fire. I came down from bed at nine o'olook trat morning, and had breakfast in the dining-room. I went out and oamo back to dinner I then remain* din about two hours. I saw two striped negro suits. I was sitting in the reading-room when Mr Waters came in and took them off the nails on which they were \ lunging. They were on the wall oppasitithe ! door leaditg into the archway. Waters threw 1 tha suits in between the two parts of the stage. [ They were hlue a_nd white and red and whito Tho iags produood appear to be uortioas of the s.ime dresses. They smell now of korogotie. I know ''Scotty." I saw him on Sunday in the moining, but I do not romembor sec-ing him at dinner-time. I spoke to him. I gave him one g'a«B of grog before breakfast; and after b.euk ftv<-t bit mite gave him two to tako to the cooks in the kitchen. The glass I g*ve him did rot seem to have any effect on him. I oame into the cafe again r.bout six In the evening, I saw "Sootty" during the evening He w*a trying to 1 gut a kerosene lamp upstairs, but the ohair broke and he Ml He broko the lampgla«s. I also saw "Sootty" jast before he want to bed. I do not think "Sootty" was drunk. I did not kuow any diffjrenci in him. I wag at the redi itf-room fire. I did not see anything skilled in fmnt of the fire or hear anything about it. I did not smell any keroser.e. By Mr Denniston : I had drink that day myself, but I cannot say how rr.uch I rame out in the Nelson. We wcro pad off on toe 2nd Septomb.r W*tors took the negro dreai.es down openly, and said "D——h it, what ure those things doing here to-day?" I was avVcd to go to the polios offioe, and I aiked Waters what I was to say. Ho told me to tell the tru hj, which I have done. [Left sitting.]