FIRE IN WAREHOUSE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22422, 17 November 1934, Page 14

FIRE IN WAREHOUSE

INQUIRY BEFORE CORONER MANAGER FURTHER EXAMINED (Per United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH., November 10. Further evidence was given to-day by William Davidson, manager of Davidson and Co., Ltd., at the coroner’s inquiry • into the fire in the company’s warehouse, Lichfield street, on June 8. This is the eleventh day of the hearing. Witness was questioned by Chief Detective Dunlop. He said that on the night of the fire he went hurriedly to the warehouse. A married daughter accompanied him. The chief detective referred to evidence previously given that witness s car was seen outside the warehouse at about 12.30 a.m. on the night of the fare. “I think they ar e mistaken, said witness, who agreed with the chief detective that the two witnesses concerned should know his car when they saw it. I was at home with my car before midnight,” witness declared. The chief detective: Then both these men were wrong when they say they saw the car after midnight?'

Witness: That is so. Later witness said one ot the otfter witnesses (Wilson, the storeman) was wrong in hie estimate of the stock tnat had been in the warehouse at the time. Wilson, he declared, had been strongly influenced to give evidence in favour ot the insurance companies. The chief detective: On what do you base your opinion that Wilson was influenced?—l am firmly of the opinion that Wilson was strongly influenced to give evidence in favour of the insurance company. „ , _ . . , . Chief Detective Dunlop: On what tacts do yon base your opinion? —On the tacts that Wilson.has been receiving £1 is a day and £5 a week, and was closely associated with an adjuster. The proceedings were unfinished when the inquiry was adjourned.