THE SCARBOROUGH FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10836, 20 August 1898, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE SCARBOROUGH FIRE.

HUSBAND SEVERELY CENSURED

FOR COWARDICE.

The coroner's inquiry concerning tho death of Mrs. Brooks and her six children, who perished in the fire at Scarborough on June 8, lias just been concluded. Col. Sir Chas. Firth, president of the Fire brigades' Association, said he had no reason to suppose that the fire was caused otherwise than by tho lighted cigar which Brooks stated he had left on the counter when he arrived home that night. The structural arrangements of the premises made it a perfect death-trap. Directly the lire got hold of the staircase it would roar like a blast furnace. He had since made experiments by dropping half a lighted cigar on some paper such as would be used in a business like Brooks'. They tried it three times, and at the end of 11 minutes—almost immediately after it showed smoke—there was a blaze.

Mrs. Vasey, sister to Mrs. Brooks, said her sister had often shown her bruises and had complained about her husband. Mrs. Wilkinson, mother of Mrs. Brooks, said she had seen her daughter crying and her face blackened. She said to her mother, " He's done it." Witness spoke to Brooks about it.

Brooks was recalled by the coroner, and he said he had heard certain statements, but ho did not wish to say anything. (Loud hissing.) The coroner, in summing up, said the whole evidence was circumstantial, and resolved itself into a question of arson. Death through the commission of any other felony amounted to murder. The questions for the jury were— the fire the result of an accident, or of a wilful act, or the result of culpable and criminal neglect? 'iho only motive, so far as he could see, was the financial embarrassment in which Brooks found himself. Brooks had told a traveller of Messrs. Cope that he thought of making an assignment for £300. But would a mail risk the lives of his wife and children for such a sum? Then, as to Brooks leaving his family in the house without offering the slightest assistance, two questions would occur to tho minds of the jury. Did Brooks suffer from mental aberration in the face of sudden danger? Or did ho suffer- from cowardice? The doctor had stated that the former may have happened in the case of a weak-minded man.

Hie jury retired to consider thoir verdict at a quarter to eleven, the coroner's summingup having occupied nearly five hours. An excited crowd outside the Town Hall were waiting eagerly for the verdict. The jury returned at five minutes past 12, with a verdict to the effect that there was not sufficient evidence to show how the fire originated. They were agreed from the evidence of Brooks that he had ample opportunity to save his wife and family; they did not believe that ho was in bed, or that he got out of the window; and they expressed great indignation at his cowardice. The coroner said that Brooks' behaviour was despicable. It could only be associated with gross cowardice and sottish drunkenness. (Loud applause.)