FIRE INQUIRY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15350, 13 January 1912, Page 9

FIRE INQUIRY

VERDICT OF INCENDIARISM. Prtaa Association—By Telccraph—Copyright SYDNEY, January 12. The coroner at Murrumbiirrnli,* in returning n verdict of incendiarism at an inquest on a fire which occurred on January 2, said that ho could not niako a committal. He could only eay that the place was wilfully set on fire. 'There had bocn many such c?.6es in the past year, '.vhich were the result of over-insurance. Another reason making it iliflicult to copo with tho evil was the eyrnpathy shown to criminals by juricfi. An cxtensivo fire occurred on tho 2nd inst. in tlio main business ccntro of Albury and Bathurst streets. Six business promises worn destroyed. Tho Commercial Hotel sample room wn? pulled down to provent tlio (ire reaching tlio hotel, wliirh, in spile of ofTorts, caught slightly, hut was extinguished after strenuous exertions by willing hands The promises destroyed wore:—Miss Worner. fruiterer; Mrs M'Cnbn, dressmaker; M. E. Trncny, fruit unil refreshment shop; Goorßo Bond, hairdresser's shop und dwelling; C. 11. A. Kendall's largo mneliino dopot and offices, and Fja/.mrini's, drapers. The flamofl spread with fearful rapidity. \Vith the oxenption of Kendall's and T,azzarini's, which wero iron, all the promised were pinn. Tho large crowd which assembled saved a lot of furniture and grnls. Mrs M'Oalin was with difficulty rescued by means of a window, and most of the residents had a narrow escape. Miss Worner. who Inst all, had an insurance policy for £45 in the Yorkshire insurance Company. Mr Tracey saved a little furniture, which was insured for £150. and Mrs M'Calm had n largo quantity of valuable dress material destroyed, which was insured for £50, both in the Guardian olfice. Bond's stock was insured for £60 nnd the furnilurn for £70 in tlio Queensland ofiicn. Mr Kendall was insured for £300 in the Guardian office, and Mr Lnxznrini for £500 in the Victoria office, £1000 in the Phoenix, nnd £500 in the Guardian office. Mr Kendall owned Mr Lazzarini's and his own places. Mrs M'Mahon owned Messrs Bond and Tracny's and Mrs M'C'abe's premises, which were insured for £400 in the National Insurance office.