FIRE LOSSES

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 16, 4 October 1929, Page 5

FIRE LOSSES

A CHRISTCHURCH BLAZE COMMENT BYInE CORONER “INCENTIVE TO INCENDIARISM” CHRISTCHURCH, Oct, 3. “If there is over insurance of property of the nature shown in this case, it will be a direct incentive to incendiarism.” These remarks were made by Mr Levvey, S.M., at the conclusion of an inquest Into a fire which destroyed a house in Holly Road on the evening of September !). The house was owned and occupied by A. V. Clements and evidence was that when the fine occurred there was no one at home. The Coroner’s verdict was that _ the premises were damaged and partially destroyed by two fires, one in a bedroom and one in the scullery; that both fires were deliberately and independently started with the intention of destroying the premises. “I further find,” he added, “that whilst the circumstantial evidence gives rise to grave suspicions as to the originator of the fires, the full evidence falls short of enabling this Court to arrive at a final decision on that point.” The evidence of A. V. Clements, owner of the property, was that he bought it for £925 of £950 in 1918. Since then he had improved it. He claimed that the value of the house was £llOO or £120%. The insurance on the house was £1425. The furniture was insured for £450 and he estimated that it was worth about that amount at the time of the fire. He was at Cheviot and had not been home for two or three weeks prior to the fire. Rebecca Matilda Clements, wife of the previous witness said that she went out on September 9 for the evening with the five children to the pictures. After going out she -returned to write a note. Witness told the children to go on. Witness could not find a let-ter-card and did not write the note, but she hurried after the children and did not sec them on the tram, but met them after the picture show at the theatre. She returned home to find all the lights out and a fireman in charge of the house. Some of the clothing was missing. Someone must have broken into the house and stolen the things.

Chief Detective Carroll produced a children’s fancy dress costume, part of which was saturated with petrol. This had been found at the seat of the fire in the bedroom. The value of the goods destroyed was £3B and those missing £B.

The Chief Detective: There’s no doubt that you were pushed for money at the time of this fire? Witness: No, I was not. Do you think the things in tho house were worth £404? —Yes. Janies Hutchins, assessor, gave cvi r donee of inspecting the damaged property. The value of the goods damaged was £3B 11s and £2OO would bo outside the limit of the, value of tho goods remaining. Other evidence was'that a key was found in the back door and a tin of petrol outside, two feet from the door. ©elective Sergeant O’Brien said he found part of a child’s fancy dress, smelling of petrol, at the seat of tho fire. There was no sign of anyone having forced entry into the houso.