OUTSPOKEN CORONER

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVI, Issue 3448, 22 November 1932, Page 5

OUTSPOKEN CORONER

DELAY IN FIRE ENQUIRY. CHARGE AGAINST POLICE COMMISSIONER. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Marton, this day. At the inquiry into the cause of a fire in Follett Street on September 30, the Coroner, Mr. F. C. Wilson returned a verdict that the outbreak was designed by and wilfully caused by the owner and occupier, Mrs. Myra Beatrice Avery. In the course of a lengthy statement the Coroner attacked the practice of insurance companies accepting whatever value was named in a proposal, together with the premium, and then rejecting such value because of some condition not disclosed till some time after. “This,” said the Magistrate, “is a close cousin to obtaining money under false pretences.” The Coroner attacked the delay caused by the Police Commissioner giving instructions to his officers to report the matter to him and see whether an inquiry was necessary. As this decision was beyond the Commissioner’s authority, it was not until the Coroner issued a summons against the Police Commissioner for the production of the papers that the matter was brought to a head. Two hours before the issue of the summons he had been asked to withdraw and had done so provided the case was proceeded with without delay. The Coroner concluded: “If the Commissioner of Police had not taken upon himself the duties of the Coroner, and the matter been left in the hands of the local police, the inquiry would have been held five or six weeks ago. One of the privileges of the police is to assist the people whenever they can. In the present instance, owing to the want of knowledge or blundering on the part of the Commissioner of Police, the Department has been a hindrance and an annoyance.”