THE ONEHUNGA ARSON CASE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XX, Issue 285, 30 November 1886, Page 4

THE ONEHUNGA ARSON CASE.

Some extraordinary evidence bearing on the Bubject of scientific fire-raising was given at the enquiry into a suspicious fire at the Onebunga Coopsrage Works on Oct 19 last. James Kerebs, who had been employed ab the cooperage, deposed that about. two months bafore the fico, Mr Gibbons, the owner of the cooperag?, talked about, the place being a failure, aud said that a saw mill paid far better than a cooi erage. Witness said he ought to sell out. Mi 1 Gibbons replied that if he sold out he would not get more than £200 or £300 for all he had there. He also Baid ; " I have the place well insured ; the timber is nice and dry, and would make a good fire. What do you say ? If you do it there is a £10 note sticking out." Witness said : "No ; we will get transported, or something." Gibbons asked witness if ho would go down then and do it, as the wind was just the right way. Ha said "If you will go down to-night, there's a £10 note sticking out. Witness said : "l am not going down, my boots are too bad." Gibbons said : " Nobody will know- any thing about it ; no one will suspect you. Will you come down and we will do it to-night." Witness said : "I do not want to get my feet wet." He said : "Go inside and put your heavy boots on." Witness said : " No I cannot think of doing such a thing." About two days afterwards, witness saw Gibbons in the mill. He said he had got a patent to light a fire. He got a candle, and told witness to tie a piece of cotton wick around a bottle, according to the time they wanted to have the fire, as the candle biirned seven or eight hours. He placed the candle in a box, after soaking the cotton wick in kerosene. The cotton wick was then to be laid through the mill, with shavings above and below it, and be led to a stack of dry timber. They could then, light the candle, according to the time they wanted the fire to start, and then go home or to Auckland, and be far enough away when the fire began, The box was to have only three sides, and no lid, and be hidden with sacks so that the light could not be seen. There were two holes in the edge of the box, and a ledge to Jprevent the bags from lying over the holes. Gibbons [finished by saying, " The first time the wind is in the right way will you fix it up. and I will give you £20 if you do it?" Witness said, "No, I am not drunk "enough." Gibbons again made similar proposal on Oct. 13. On the following Saturday witness went to the races, and on returning home found Gibbons in the house. He asked witness to go up town, and he accordingly went after tea. Witness subsequently met Gibbons in Princes street. He turned back with him as far as the corner of Selwyn street when Gibbons asked him in, saying he had some good whiskey. Witness went into the parlour and had some moonlight whiskey, about two half-tumblers. Gibbons then said, " For God's sake, help me out of my trouble, Sydney, and set fire to it tonight." Witness replied, " I would get ten years if I did like that." The wind was blowing east by north-east that night. Gibbons said, " Don't be such a coward." Witness said, " I couldn't think of such a thing," and left him there and then and went home. The following Monday witness assisted Gibbons to straighten some crowbars at the cooperage forge. Gibbons said it would be a fine excuse to light the forge and set fire to the mill. He asked witness if he had told his wife or anyone else about the offer he had made ? Witness replied he had not. Gibbons then said that the wind was the right way ; it must be done that night. The wind was east, and would not hurt his neighbour. After the fire witness told Gibbons that he had made a mess of it now. Gibbons replied, "So help me God, Sidney, 1 didn't do it." The day after the fire witness met Gibbons in front of the Union office, Queen street. Gibbons said, " Surely you haven't been so mean as to go and inform ?" Witness replied that he had. Gibbons said, " then I know what you want. You want to clear out of the country." Gibbons said, " I will give you £25 to clear." Witness said he did not want it, and went away from him. Witness nest saw Gibbons at his own house. Gibbons "said, " Come down to my office, and I will give you some money." Witness did not go down to the office with Gibbons. The second Saturday after the fire, Gibbons asked witness to go out in a boat for a sail. Witness did not go, as he was rather doubtful. Gibbous then asked witness if he would go round the beach on the following day (Sunday) to have a shot. Witness eaid : "No ; my revolver is out of ordtr." The truth was he had noO got a revolver. On Sunday morning, übout nine o'clock, witness saw Gibbous silting on bis own boat. Gibbons produced his two revolvers, and asked witness to come round the beach and try a shot. Wiuitss again declined, saying his revolver wus out of order. Witness offered to shoot him for any amouut in a shooting gallery, and then went houis . Gibbons in his evidence denies Kereb's allegations, which lack corroboration.