FIRE IN GREY STREET.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 12280, 18 October 1910, Page 5

FIRE IN GREY STREET.

A NARROW ESCAPE

. About 10 o'clock last> night a 'threeroomed cottage m Grey street, owned by: the Hon. Captain Tucker, and occupied by Mr and Mrs J. Geddes, was destroyed^ by fire, together with the contents. v . About . a quarter to 10, as the Misses Haughie were on their way home, ' they observed smoke, issuing from the building, and instantly gave the alarm. Mr Len. Friar, who resides a short distance; away, hastened to the scene. Not , hearing any noise inside, but believing the occupants were still there, he knocked loudly at the front door. Getting no response, he tried to enter, but found the door locked. Seizing a heavy, . piece of timber that was lyirig ; handy, he stove iri the door. He tound the couple rushing about m a muddled state of excitement. - Geddes, appeared to be groping for the front door, .whilstvhis wife was running about With a .little".wa ter m a bucket. The fire had a strong hold, and but for Mr Friar's timely arrival the ' occupants would possibly , have „ perished. As it was Mrs Geddes had her hair singed.' About ten minutes to 10 the alarm was given ojT the firebell, and the brigade was quiokly on the spot with a hose reel. ' A couple of leads were brought into, operation, and although by this time the cottage,^ Which is an old. one, was enveloped iii 'flames, the fire was soon extinguished, a. portion of the outer walls being left standing. At one stage of the firfi.she_ residence of. Mir E.. Cr'Neill and family; a few yards off, was seriously threatened, but. the flames were kept off by Wet blaAkets and sacks until the brigade arriyedj t When the occupants got into the open air it was seen, that Mrs Geddes was iri a state of collapse. Geddes became very talkative, but his wife was apparently unable to stand up. The . man was arrested by Constable Moriarity, after some resistance, whilst Constable T. Johnston took the woman m charge. ,Mr 4 Geddes states that he was outside, eeeihg that the fowls were shut up for the night, and on returning to theiiouse found his room on fire. He pulled- some, clothes off the wall, burning his hands in\the act, arid then went to the assistance of his wife, who was overcome hy the smoke/ 'He tried to drag her out, but. iri, his excitement he could not unlock the door. He said he was trying to save sonic things when he was arrested. Geddes admitted having had some drink, but 1 said he was not that bad that he difl not ktnow what he was doing. There wafe, no insurance on either the building or. contents. M BEFORE THE COURT.

As a seqUel to last night's events, at the Police Court this morning (before Mr W. A. Barton, S.M.), Joseph Geddes and Elizabeth Geddes, were charged with drunkenness. Geddes pleaded not guilty. « ■ Gonßtabh}; Moriarity gave evidence as 4b proceeding to the ■ scene of, the fire; On the - road opposite the building he aaw accused staggering about, drunk; surrounded by a laVge crowd of people. Witness arrested him, ; and took him to the lock-up;— Accuseid iypid you prevent me from saving anything; after getting my wife out and., burning my hands? — Witness: You were not trying to save anything; you were m the, middle of ♦ ihe road. .A private individual, he add- ■ -ed, assisted witness to get accused to the lock-up.-— Accused : Yes, I am going to Jay a charge; o,f assault against him, for he knocked one 6f my teeth out. '• > Constable T. '-Johnston said he saw ac cosed at the watchhouse. He was drunk, violent^ and abusive. — Accused: How would yoU feel If you had all your things burned to a cinder?— His .Worship' Perhaps the witness has not had

that experience, so he cannot tell. — Ac cosed : Well, it is about time he did ; then he would know something about how I felt. .-: Constable Dandy also gave evidence as to seeing accused drunk. Constable Pratt said he met Constable Moriarity and W. Burnand taking accused to the police station. Accused was drunk, resisting, and using very abusive language. — Accused : Did you consider it necessary m the execution of your duty to bash me m the mouth and knock one of my teeth out? I'm going to pharge youi with assault.-— Witness :> I never hit you. He (witness) .explained that he was sitting at the table writing out the charge, when accused made use of very abusive language, and stepped towards him angrily. He pushed him away, and he fell over, and -wit ness held him down until the- latter's anger was over. , His Worship said the circumstances m accused's case showed a tery shocking state of things. "Silch people as you," he added, "are a danger to thecommunity. I very much regret that the law does not allow me to inflict a heavier penalty. lam afraid yours is a hopeless case. You have .a very bad record." Accused : I get very badly treated. His Worship imposed a fine of £1 and costs 2s, m default 48 hours' imprisonment. Elizabeth Geddes did not appear. — Constable Johnston gave evidence as to arresting accused. Sergeant Hutton said it was first offence,., and she had been bailed out 'this morning. Accused was fined the amount" of her bail, £1.