THE FATAL FIRE AT GORE. (From Our Own Correspondent.) GORE, June 12,
The adjourned inq-uiry into the cause of the death of James Beck, who lost his life in the lata fire at Learmont's Hotel, was held this afternoon before Mr A. Martin (acting-coroner) and a* jury consisting of six. Inspector Mitahell oondueted the inquiry, and Mr E. R". Bowler appeared on behalf of Lea-rmont. Inspector Mitchell said that the police had made a full and searching inquiry into the cause of the fire. Tbey were satisfied that there was an entire absence of motive as far as Learmont was concerned. As a matter of fact, he was a heavy loser owing to t/he fire. Detective M'llveney gave evidence that he had made full inquiries into the eaauses of the fire. As a result fae came to the conclusion that there was- an entire absence of motive on the park of the occupier of the premises, and. that Learmont was a heavy loser by the fire. A portion, of th& building -was fche oldest in Gore. Two of the_ fires occurred! in a cupboard under the staircase, and? -he ' was satisfied that the third outbreak was a continiian-ce of the first. The box that was found on fire at the second outbreak was removed to- the back yard. It ..contained no smell of being saturated with kerosene oo? in-flammable matter. The cause of the fire in the box was due to fallen embers from the roof of the staircose. Thef fixe had not been properly put out on the first outbreak. Inquiries also showed' that the. wails of the buildinar had been sbuffed wifch sawdust. From his inquiries he was satisfied there were no two or three distinct fires. The final one was a continuation of the first. Sergeant Miller gave evidence that on May 19 Beck was a little the worse of drink. Between May 20 and 25 Beck got five bottles of- whisky. Witness did n-ot notice Beck the worse for dTink on fche night of the fire. Witness was not able to ascertain if Beck had relatives in fehe colony, but he thought not. Mr and Mrs Learmont gave evidence as to fche discovery of outbreaks on lines similar to the report of the affair at the time. They knew of no one bearing them ill-will. They were heavy losers by the fire. The deceased had been drinking during, the week, but was not actually drunk: He had a bottle- of whisky in his. pocket the day before the fire. Michael O'Connor, a boarder, gave evidence as to the outbreaks, and the efforts of Learmont and the boarders in quenching them. There- w-e-r-e four other witnesses, but as the evidence was similar to that adduced, the inspwtor suggested that fchev need not be called. The coroner and jury were of the same ■opinion, and the latter after brief consultation returned a verdant — " That the fire wa3 accidental and that deceased was overcome with smoke, winch prevented h?s escape from the btTming building, and was consequently burned to death."
We have received 10* from '"F, W. P." for the Boardinan Funxlj
THE FATAL FIRE AT GORE. (From Our Own Correspondent.) GORE, June 12,
Otago Witness, Issue 2674, 14 June 1905, Page 32
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