A SUSPICIOUS FIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 281, 19 April 1913, Page 5

A SUSPICIOUS FIRE.

OPEN VERDICT RETURNED. Bv Telegraph—Press Association. Tnvercargill, Last Night. Magistrate Cruickshank held an enquiry to-day into the fire which destroyed the Thornburv Hotel on the early morning of February 4. Robert Foster, the proprietor, gave evidence that there had been no fire in the hotel on the day preceding its destruction. When he locked up there was 17 in silver on a shelf in the bar, and CO in notes and silver in another room. A search made after the fire resulted in only a few silver coins being discovered.

Evidence was called to show that on the. night of the fire a motor-car, with registered number 40S, was seen in the vicinity of Thornbury, and that it belonged to Colin Gerrard, a farmer.

Gei rard was called as a witness, and his solicitor (Mr. H. S. Macdonald) intimated'that he had instructed him not to answer questions which might incriminate him, Gerrard detailed his movements on the day and night of the (ire. and denied t.a king his car to Thornhury. His car was, on the morning of February 4. in the same place where he left St on the previous night, and he did not notice whether it had been shifted on the night of the. lire. He stayed at the house of William llazlett. since deceased.

Detective-Sergeant Cameron gave evidence that he saw Gerrard, who made a statement about (lie fire but refused to sign it. On searching Gerrard's house he found CD in gold, silver and copper, contained in three money boxes, and Garrard's cloths and sovereign ease. Constable Bogue. of Wymlham. gave evidence tlmt on the body of William ITrtzlett, recently found near the Matin r a river, he found two flasks of whisky of the same brand as that sold at the Thornbv Hotel.

The Magistrate .returned an open verdict, saying that there was 110 evidence to show how the lire originated.