GRAND HOTEL FIRE.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 160, 18 July 1901, Page 4

GRAND HOTEL FIRE .

THE CORONER'S SUMMING UP,

(Special to Times.) Auckland, Tuesday The following is from the Star’s report of the summing up in the Grand Hotel tire ease : -The Coroner said, in reference to the death of the three Johnston children. it was plain from the evidence that death in each case was due to sutlocntion and burning, while in the ease of Derail Wallace death was the result of injuries received in jumping from a window. Then came the question whether the burning of the hotel was accidental or not. That was a point which, from the evidence, he thought the jury would have no difficulty in determining. Before dealing with the evidence of Jessica Minns, the Coroner explained the law as to aiding and abetting of criminals. If they were to believe the evidence of Jessica Minns, she not only was present at the committing of a crime, but she did a great deal more than be present. She was not an uninterested, inactive spectator. The Coroner proceeded to read Miss Minns evidence, first pointing out that she was not a voluntary witness, only giving evidence after passing a night in the police cells. When she told the jury that she had ■' read it in a book, and was very sorry,” it occurred to His Worship that some one had pointed out to the girl that by her previous evidence she admitted being a principal, and that consequently by saying she had only read it in a book she hoped thereby to “ withdraw her neck from the noose.” That was the view he took of the matter ; the jury, of course, could form their own conclusions. Dealing with the part Jessie Minns had played on the night of the fire, according to her own evidence, the Coroner quoted several leading authorities with regard to aiding and abetting in such crimes as arson and murder. Mrs Minns had said she considered her daughter thoroughly rational, and in the full possession of her senses. Even if she had expressed doubt or the jury felt doubt its to the girl’s sanity, it was not a matter that the jury could deal with. Even if they were convinced that the girl was a lunatic, the law said that a coroner’s jury were not to entertain the question of insanity, except in the case of suicide. It was a matter for the Supreme Court to deal with. After dealing with the subject of fire escapes, the Coroner said that with regard to the jury’s verdict on the question of accident or murder, if four of the jury were unanimous on one point or the J other, the law enabled the coroner to accept the verdict of the four. And whatever their verdict might bo, it in no way prevented the Crown from taking other proceedings before a magistrate and afterwards before the Supreme Court. Ho I trusted, however, that the jury would not

on that occasion shirk their responsibility in the matter.

A juryman remarked that there was no evidence that the dining-room silver was there, or that it was stolen.

The Coroner : That is a point on which the evidence is by no means satisfactory. Wo were told at the outset that there was £'6oo worth of silver. But do not be misled by that point. Whether it was robbery or revenge, or anything else, the act of arson is a felony.

Another juryman asked a question with regard to Madame Wauter’s evidence as to having scon three men with the night porter on the pantry stairs on the night of the lire.

Sub-Inspector Mitchell said that Maclaine's statements were fully inquired into by Detective Herbert, and the police were satisfied that one of the men mentioned by Madame was not at the Grand Hotel on the night of the lire, and another of them was many miles away. In fact the inquiries proved conelus 1 • ‘’’nt Madame had made a mistake, althougn j,„ M y believed the mistake to have been unintentional.

The jury were absent for three hours and ten minutes, and then brought in the verdict telegraphed, implicating the girl Minns.