CAMBRIDGE STABLE FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15218, 4 February 1913, Page 8

CAMBRIDGE STABLE FIRE.

AN OFFICIAL INQUIRY. OPEN VERDICT RETURNED. [FBOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] .. Cambridge, Monday. As inquiry into the circumstances attending the recent destruction by fire of the Empire Stables, was held hero to-day, before Mr. J. S. Bond, district coroner, and a jury. The man Brophy, now undergoing a short sentence for theft committed at. the fire, was present. Sergeant Hastie conducted the prosecution. Constable McCarthy and Messrs H. A. Bell, B. Murrell and Seth Webb gave evidence as to seeing and talking with Brophy in the vicinity of the fire an hour or so before the outbreak. Webb and another witness deposed that Brophy's conversation gave them the impression that he was nursing a grievance against Crowther and Bell, who after the first fire had made arrangements to purchase the Empire Stables. Constable McCarthy stated that after arresting Brophy, the latter signed a statement regarding his movements on the night of the fire, in which he denied having been in the stables after 7 p.m., while the .fire-- occurred just after midnight. The "constable said it was significant' that Brophy borrowed .■ some matches 'from a person talking to witness at a late hour on the night of the fire in the. vicinity of the stables. Brophy was not drunk, but seemed muddled. Acting on the advice of his solicitor, Mr. * S. Lewis, Brophy refused to give evidence.. '.' "'

The jury ; agreed that the evidence was not sufficient to connect Brophy with the fire, although his movements: were suspicious on the night in question, and returned an open verdict.