GARRISON HALL FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20982, 19 September 1931, Page 12

GARRISON HALL FIRE.

SHOWMEN'S EVIDENCE. DENIAL OF ALLEGATIONS. DETAILS OF MOVEMENTS. INQUIRY NOT CONCLUDED. [bt TEi.EOTtAni. —rnpss association.] GISBORNE, Friday. The inquiry into tho fire which destroyed the Garrison Hall in tho early hours of January 20 last, together with its contents, owned by the Defence Department and Gisborno Theatres, Limited; was continued to-day. Detective McLeod represented the police. Messrs. L. Burnard and G. Jenne appeared for Gisborno Theatres, Limited; Mr. S. Beaufoy for a witness named David Hannah; Mr. J. S. Waucbop for two other witnesses, Arthur Owen and Edward James O'Donoghue. When the inquiry was resumed to-day, David Hannah, a showman, gave evidence. Ho said he attended the Wairoa carnival on January 20 last, but he was not in Gisborno between January 17 and 24. Ho denied that he approached McKenzie (who gave cvidenco yesterday) with a view to he and Sim being brought to Gisborno. He had nqt approached O'Donoghue, and did not know him. Ho had not discussed the fire with McKenzie. He certainly did not tell him that he and Sim had done the job. If McKenzie had sworn this he was telling lies. They were not tho best of friends. He denied that he threatened injury to McKenzie if he gave evidence at the inquiry. Showman at Wairoa. Reginald Murton Semb, electrician and showman, of C'hristchurch, said ho was at the Wairoa carnival in January last, and remained there over a week. He did not hear anything there about the Garrison Hall being burned down. He left Wairoa after the carnival. He knew Hannah, but did not loavo Wairoa with him. Cross-examined by Detective McLeod, witness said ho knew McKenzie, but did not know Ralston or Owen. The first he heard of the burning of the hall was from the police in C'hristchurch. Witness denied coming to Gisborno with Hannah in carnival week. He was last in Gisborno on January 23 and 24, when ho came with McKenzie and Mr. and Mrs. Hansen for a sports meeting at Waierengaokuri, but did not get a stand. Detective McLeod : McKenzie has sworn that you and Hannah told him the two of you set fire to the Garrison Hall and received £6O for it. Witness: He is a liar. The Detective: Further, McKenzie lias sworn you told him you were driven here in Hannah's car. Witness: Ho could only be a liar once. Detective McLeod: If Winter makes the same statement what will you say I—The same. Not Approached About Fire. Witness was closely cross-examined, but denied that he was in Gisborne on the night of January 19. Ho said there was no accommodation at Wairoa, and lie slept in a car owned by Ossie McNaughton. To Mr. Waucbop, witness said ho had never been approached by anyone anywhere to set fire to the Garrison Hall. To Mr. Beaufoy, witness said ho could call evidence to show that he was in Wairoa on January 19. Fred Higgs, labourer, said he knew Semb, but could not say lie knew Hannah. He saw Semb in Gisborne during January, but could not say the exact date. Witness asked Semb to give him a lift to Wairoa for the show and races, but lie said he might not bo going back until lale. He saw Semb later in the evening and Semb had a- friend with him. Witness could not say if it was Hannah. Denials by Witness. Witness denied that ho saw E. J. Kerridgo in March, and that he said he sawtwo showmen talking to Owen on the night- before the fire. He denied that he asked Kerridge for money to go to Palmerston North to see the men and get a statement from them. Kerridge may have misunderstood witness. Semb and his friend were talking to four or •five others, aud Owen was standing on the kerb. To Mr. Burnard, witness denied that a month or so after the. fire, Owen questioned him in regard to the fire, and to talking to two showmen. Witness denied he told Kerridge that Owen had asked him a question. He denied that he went to Kerridge on the previous day and that ho said he would deny that Owen asked him questions. Edward James O'Donoghue, professional billiard player, said he was managing Owen's saloon. Toward the end of 1930 witness, Owen, Robert Burt, and a man named Lewis opened a miniature golf course. Lis quarter share of the capital being £B7 10s. The, project was a failure and witness sold bis share for £2O. Witness denied knowlpdge. of Hannah and Semb. ' He was not in conversation with strangers on tlio night of the fire. On tlio way home that night he called at the Garrison Hail and had a soft, drink there. Conversation over Telephone. Some time after Christmas, continued witness, McKenzie and Winter called at the. billiard saloon. ft, was before tlio live. McKenzie wanted £2 to get to Hamilton, and witness lent it to him. Ralston had I,ecu up the coast with McKenzie and Winter. Witness put a toll call through for Ralston on the day before they returned. Business at the Gisborne saloon was slackening off and he, heard tho billiard room at Ruatoria was a, good one. Ho asked Ralston over tlio telephone, what it was like, as he was think of going up there. Ralston had played two matches against a man called Hutchins, and witness heard there was a chanco of another match if Ralston camo down. That was why ho asked Ralston to return to Gisborne. To Mr. Wauchop, witness denied that he had anything to do with any suggestion to burn down the hall. Tho Court adjourned until to-morrow.