A STRANGE CASE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 76412, 13 January 1903, Page 3

A STRANGE CASE.

_ «. — . SEQUEL TO A FHiE AT A BEEWERY. Fer Press Association. CHRISTCHUBCH, Jamiary 12. At Kaiapoi, to-day, an inquiry was opened 'into the ciroumstances of the fire which occurred at Egan's brewery on tbe morning of January 3, when the office and strong room were rifled. The jury proceeded to 4he brewery, and made a careful examination of ! the office and strongl room. Scattered about the latter were charred pieces of paper, and tbe desk was partly burnt. The whole interior of the strong room was blackened by fire. Tbe chief damage to tihe books was done to the' cash, book (the entries in which were burnt and undecipherable),. the ledger i which was considerably , charred), and the delivery book. ' Mr Egan drew attention to the fact that it was impossible for any one man of ordinary strength to open the strong room door, owing to air suction. There was a piece of rope on tibe door handle, and a levier was placed in this to open tho door. Frank G. ' Hempleman, a clerk, employed at the, brewery, repeated his statement as to having been attached by two men outside his house "early in the morning, and the brewery keys taken from Mm. He was closely examined as to the 'state of his accounts, and admitted that he had been .taken to task- by Egan for not promptly, banking. , the- takings. Among the missing money, was £17 10s belonging to the local Druids' Lodge, ,of ' which Hempleman was treasurer, and which money he said he had forgotten to bank. t On the application of the police, an adjournment was granted to Feb-, ruary 2 to permit, of an audit of the books and the attendance of Dr' Murray, -who .- had ' treated tho witness Hempleman for his injuries.. . •