BURNING OF St. ANDREW'S CHURCH.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 4120, 25 August 1882, Page 2

BURNING OF St. ANDREW'S CHURCH.

INQUEST ON THE FIRE,

Dr. Gibbes, Coroner, held an inquest yesterday, at the Court-house, into the circumstances attending the fire at St. Andrew's Church on the 19th instant. The following jury wan empanelled : — William Humphries (foreman), Henry Weston, D. Callaghan, W. Cottier, D. Berry, W. Buttle, W. Walker, A. Drew, J. C. Davies, D. Gilmour, Morton, J. M. Vivian, and Foote. Mr. Standinh appeared on behalf of the Victoria Company (without prejudice), Mr. Samuel on behalf of the Trustees of the Church, and Mr. Govett on behalf of Mr. Breach. On the inquest resuming at 2 p.m., M. Somes Breach's evidence continued — By Mr. Samuel : The church was held by trustees, whose names were in the deed. I am not a trustee, and my name is not in the deed. I now claim to be entitled to the £400, and put it in my pocket. After signing the agreement on Saturday, the 12th instant, I took some hymn books to the vestry on the same evening. I have never been in the church grounds since. During the week Mr. McLauchlan telegraphed to me about church matters. I saw Mr. McLauchlan on Thursday, and we talked over the matter affecting a paper I had signed. At a committee meeting it was arranged that I should preach in the church again. When it was arranged Mr. Brown resigned, also Mr. Hills. There is no fixed term of office. Thcre^ is no rule as to how long the Committee retain office. Some Committeea have remained in office longer than a year. On Friday morning, I went to see Mr. McLauchlan at the coach office. Mr. McLauchlan and I went to the Post-office to see if the Macgregor was in. I then went homo by myself. I got homo about midday. I was not in the churoh grounds during the whole of Friday, nor was I on Thursday. I had not been in the church grounds from Saturday, the 12th instant, until after the fire. The back door of the church is usually fastened. There was a key in the vestry door when I last buw it. All the windows of the church were nailed up by my instructions. I do not remember how lon<s ago. I think it was not two months ago. All the windows were nailed up, and they oould not be opened. The church was lighted by gas.

I do not think there was any kerosene in the Church. I am not aware that there were any matches in the Church, and I cannot account for the fire unless it was done designedly. The congregation had elected new trustees. Notices have been sent to the old trustees requesting them to resign. I have received one reply from Mr. Gilmour, resigning. Mr. Hood and Mr. Black refused to do so. By the foreman : When it was determined to light the Church with gas I thought it prudent to insure the building. There were a number of keys to the door. The lock was not a safe one ; you could open it by force. James Coad, deposed : I am a brewer, residing in New Plymouth. I remember Friday, the 18th August. I saw Mr Breach by the Red House Hotel that evening at about 10 or 10.15. I did not speak to him. I saw Mr. Breach coming down Gover-street. I was about 15 yards away. I know Mr. Breach well. I have known him three years, and am one of his congregation. I did not see where he went. He had on a helmet of peculiar shape and colour, which he generally wears, and a long black coat. He had also a stick. I left my house at about 10.10 p.m., and I met Mr. Breach a few minutes afterwards. I had finished my work at the brewery at about 1 a.m. on Saturday, 19th, and I heard the firebells ringing. I took a bundle that I had on my back home, and then went back to see the fire. I am living at present with Mr. McLauchlan in Courtenay-street. By Mr. Standish: Mr. Breach was coming down Gover-street, between Courtenay and Devon-streets. lam perfectly certain it was on Friday night. It was moonlight, and I saw him. I could not recognise the countenance, but Mr. Breach is a very interesting object to Presbyterians, and I could not fail to notice him. By Mr. Samuel: There is no doubt in my mind that it was Mr. Breach. lam certain it was Mr. Breach. By Mr. Govett: He was waging towards me. I saw his face, but I could not see his features. I know his figure well, and I could not mistake him. lam not particularly cordial towards Mr. Breach. I signed a petition requesting his removal, and afterwards erased my name. By the foreman: I am satisfied that it was after 10 o'clock when I saw Mr. Breach. He was at Mr. Brooking'g fence, between the gate and the hotel. By Mr. Govett: I did not leave my house for the brewery at 7 p.m. I had to go down to the station at about 7 p.m. on Friday. I think I went down by the Red House. I don't remember seeing him at that time. It was not at that time that I saw him. The moon was up at the time I saw him. It was a clear night, and the moon was shining brightly. Constable Roche, deposed: I was on duty in Devon-street on the mornrng of the 19th. I saw St. Andrew's Church on fire at 1.15 a.m. It was on fire first at the vestry end. Only one end of the church was on fire. The outside wall of the vestry was on fire. I tried to get into the church but the door was very secure. Mr. J. C. George came, and we tried to get in but could not. The vestry door was on fire. Mr. George got an axe and I broke the door in. I could not go inside on account of the heat. All the windows were secure. The building burnt up very quickly. It was only a small fire when I saw it. To the best of my opinion the fire had been lit underneath the door outside. I had been up and down Devon-street during the night. I saw some men about. They were in Brougham-street near Coomber's hotel. I was near the Imperial hotel when I saw the fire. By Mr. Govett : It was a clear night. I did not go on duty until after 9 o'clock. The moon was shining then. J. C. George deposed : I was awakened on the morning of the 19th instant by my wife calling out that there was a fira. I go; up and went out. I saw the vestry of St. Andrew's church on fire. It was on fire under the porch where I believe kerosene was kept. I saw Constable Roche at the fire. We both thought it was only the vestry that was on fire. I went for an axe, and when I came back Constable Roche broke open the door. The floor was consumed from 6to 8 feet long under the door. I pointed out to Roche that although we could see no light in the windows the main floor had been consumed. I should think that some combustible matter must have been placed under the door of the main building, ard it was ignited afterwards. The vestry must have been set on fire from underneath. James Butterworth, deposed : I remember the night of the 18th inst. I reside in Moleßworth-street. I was down town on Friday evening until about midnight. 1 was playing billiards in the Imperial Hotel. I left there at 12 o'clock. On going home I passed the Presbyterian Church on the other side of the street. There were two men who came up the street with mo. I did not see the church on fire at that time. I think I mußthave seen it if it had been on fire. I stayed under Welham's verandah and waited for a few minutes while it was raining. I then vrent straight home. It would take me about ten minutes walking from Welham's verandah to my house. The lamp at the Red House Hotel was alight. I never heard the fire-bell, and I was not at the firo. Ethel Swanston deposed : I have been living with Mr. Breach for about three months. I remember the night of the fire. I did not hear the bell. I heard of the fire at ten o'clock next morning. I was the last up in the house, and I went to bed at a quarter to ten. Mrs. Breach wont to bed about nine o'clock, and Mr. Breach at eight o'clock. They slept in the front bedroom. My bedroom is not very far from tho front bedroom. Mr. Breach came into the house in the evening when the train was whistling. By Mr. Standish : I was not disturbed in the house by anyone making a noise. By Mr. Samuel : Mr. Breach is sometimes out when Igo to bed. He does not always wake me when he comes in at night. The last time when he came home he did not awake mo. Mr. Breach was in bed first. If aayone has said Mrs. Breach was in bed first, it is not true. Emily Soffe deposed : I am nearly thirteen years old. I have been living at Mr. Breach's for a month. I have only heard tho fire bell ring once. That was when the Oddfellows' Hall was burnt. I did not see the church being burned. I did not hear anything of the fire until a quarter to 12 on Saturday. Mrs. Breach told me it was a quarter to 12 o'clock. She told me that on Saturday. Mr. Breach went out in the afternoon and came home at 7 o'clock. I know it was seven o'clock, because I looked at the clock. I cannot tell the time by the clock. (Laughter.) Mr. Breach , went to bed shortly after he came home, as he had a sick headache. Mr. Breach went to bed at 8 o'clock. Mrs. Breach

told me that the same night. Mrs. Breach told me it was 9 o'clock. She told me so to-day. No, she told me on Saturday night. Mrs. Breach got up first next morning. I went to bed after Mrs. Breach. When Mrs. Breach was going to bed she said it was nine o'clock. By Mr. Samuel : Mrs. Breach told me to speak the truth. Mrs. Breach told me that I was to tell the Court that I was speaking the truth. Mrs. Breach did not tell me I was to say I looked at the clock. I was told next morning that Mr. Breach went to bed at 8 o'clock. I think Mrs. Breach told me that. She did not tell me to be sure and remember it. W. H. Wainhouse, deposed : I remember Friday, the 18th instant. I was out late that night. I was going home at 12.55 a.m. on Saturday morning. I passed the church, and I saw no light in the church at that time. It was a fine clear night. Shortly after arriving home, I heard the fire-bell, and I went back again. I was at the church in less than twentyfive minutes afterwards. I was astonished to find the church in flames, as there was no sign of fire when I passed it a short time before. George Hanson Foote, deposed : I remember Friday last. On that day I put a new lock on the door of the church next to Mr. Pitt's. Mr. W. Black, sen., the Trustee, instructed me to do so. I also put a screw «n the inside of the other doors. I did not examine the windows. Mr. Black was with me all the time. There was no match struck in the church when I was there. Mr. McKenzie and Mr. Morton came while I was putting on the lock. We left all safe. I was at the fire the same night. Mr. Black locked the church door and took the key. I went to bed early that night, and was not out again. By Mr. Govett : I did sign a petition against Mr. Breach. I screwed up the vestry door at the back. Mr. Morton was in the vestry with me. Neither of us were smoking. W. Black, sen., deposed : I am one of the trustees of St. Andrew's Church. I was at the church on Friday last. Messrs. Morton, Foote, McKenzie, and myself were at the church. I went to put a lock on the door and to make the entrances secure. Mr. Foote put on the lock. The object of fastening up the lock was to keep possession, and it was because I had been told fiat Mr. McLauchlan had got one of the keys on the night previous. The windows of the church had been secured before. There had been a dispute as to who should have possession of the church, and that was settled, and that settlement put us in possession, and we occupied it. We anticipated that an attempt would be made to get into the church. I locked the door of the church, and took the key home. This was at 12.30 p.m. No one was smoking in the church or using matches. At 3 p.m. Mr. Morton and I went round the outside of the church, and saw that nothing had been disturbed. I passed the church in a cab at 8 o'clock that night and saw no s : gns of fire. At 3 p.m. I went to Mr. Pitt and asked him to send me word if he heard any noise in the church. I had a suspicion that something would happen that night. Something did happen — the church was burned down. The place under the vestry was used for keeping kerosene. By Mr. Samuel : Mr. Breach, I am informed, slept in the chi'rch. I never found out that the church was insured until the morning of the fire. I then gave the Insurannce Company notice not to pay any money to Mr. Breach, as the trustees were the owners of the building. The trustees do not owe Mr. Breach one penny, nor does the church. The statement that the congregation owes him anything is not true so far as I know. He has no lien on the property, but may have a claim against the congregation. We made a three years' engagement with Fm when he arrived ; that was about tea years ago. The trustees have not got the title deeds of the property. The deeds have been claimed by the trustees. The deeds got into the hands of Mr. McLauchlan and Mr. Breach. I do not know where they are now. No one has a right to the deeds but the trustees. The property belongs to the trustees alone. By Mr. Govett : I left the church about eight years ago, and have taken no part in it until lately. At the time I left there was no row about some books. I never had an account or books belonging to the church. By the foreman : Before leaving the charch I noticed that the meter was shut. The new lock that was put on the door was not a common lock. No one had authority to insure the building except the trustees. Elisha Veale, deposed: I remember having a conversation with Mr. McLauchlan on Thursday afternoon last. Mr. McLauchlan showed me some copies of telegrams that he had sent to some ministers in Auckland with reference to matters in connection with the Presbyterian Church I said, " I understand Mr. Johnson is coming down to hold service in the church on Sunday." He said, " Yes ; but I don't tkink he'll preach there." He did rot give any reason why he would not preach there. The telegrams shown me repudiated the agreement signed by Mr. Breach. The telegrams produced were those shown to me. They are collect telegrams. The witness then read the following telegrams: — "To the Rev Dr. McLeod : Am instructed by Mr. Breach, minister, and office-bearers of St. Andrew's Church, to inform you that they hold the results of your mission to New Plymouth, re St. Andrew's Church, pull and void. Reasons : You employed deceit and falsehood to gain your rascally ends, and I demand immediate apology for false and slanderous statements said to be uttered by you concerning me. (Signed) James McLauchian." The following telegram was Bent by Mr. Breach :—": — " To Rev. Dr. McLeod : Have to inform you that I hold the document you induced me to sign null and void, as you got signature by dishonest means." G. W. Browne, deposed : I was one of the Church Committee. I am aware there was a dispute as to the minister. The dispute was settled on Saturday, the 12th, and the agreement was that Mr. Breach should give up possession. On the following Thursday Mr. Breach came to me with some telegrams, and wished to cancel his agreement. I tokl him I objected to the telegrams going, and I would have nothing to do with it. I told him that I thought the whole of the committee should be called together. Six of them were called. There were twelve in the committee altogether. Only four of the committee met. I told the committee that I would resign, and I took no part in the meeting. I gave up the key on the following morning (Friday) to Mr. McLauchlan. The fire happened on the following morning. Mr. Breach slept in the church on two occasions a week before the quarrel was settled. Mr. Breach told me that he had insured the church. He told mo that about four or five months ago.

He did not aay he had insured it on account of his arrears of salary. Mr. Breach has often told me that his stipend was in arrear. E. M. Smith, deposed : On Friday last I was not at the Presbyterian Church. I was not at the fire. I heard the fire-hell. I got up, but did not go out of the house. I was in bed before 10 o'clock that ni°:ht, and did not go out again until the next day. Constable Roach, recalled : I did not notice the gas lit when I went to the building. This concluded the evidence. The jury returned the following: verdict : — '' The Scotch Kirk was wilfully set on fire on the morning of the 19th August, but the evidence is not sufficient to implicate any person or persons." The following rider was also added :—": — " The jury recommend the authorities to offer a reward for any evidence that would lead to the conviction of the perpetrators, and that a free pardon be granted to an accomplice giving such evidence."