SUSPICIOUS FIRE RECALLED

Evening Star, Issue 21081, 19 April 1932, Page 11

SUSPICIOUS FIRE RECALLED

THE CORONER'S FINDING [Per United Press Association.] GISBORNE, April 18. The adjourned inquest on the Garrison Hall fire was concluded before the district coroner (Mr P. H. Harper, S.M.) to-day. The fire occurred early on the morning of January 21, 1931, the hall then being mainly used for tho purpose of a miniature golf course. The inquest' was opened on September 17, and extended over two and a-half days, following which an adjournment was granted in, order that the police could subpoena a certain witness and bring any other material evidence. When the inquiry was resumed to-day Detective M'Leod stated that every .effort to trace the witness had been made, but without success. He could therefore only ask the coroner to close the inquest. The Coroner reviewed tho evidence in detail, and concluded: “ Tho fact that two of the witnesses, Reese and M'Kenzie, and a man named Higgs, apparently unknown to one another,-both got hold of the same story that tho firo was caused by two side-showmen throws considerable suspicion on these sideshowmen, and also on the proprietor of a billiard saloon in Gisborne. There is one other man who could throw considerable light on tho position, but he has managed to keep completely out of reach of the police. Although there is grave suspicion on the parties named the evidence before tho court is not sufficiently strong to establish whether the fire was intentional or accidental. “ My finding will be, therefore, that the Garrison Hall was burned on tho morning of January 21, and that in my opinion the evidence does not establish whether the firo originated accidentally or through an incendiary.