INQUEST.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 597, 21 April 1870, Page 2

INQUEST.

«. An inquiry touching the origin of the recent fire in Colombo street— believed to have been the work of an incendiary — was held in the City Council Chamber yesterday afternoon. J. W. S. Coward, Esq., district coroner, presided, and Messrs J. P. Jameson (foreman), W. Gavin, J. Blake, H. P. Cole, B. Dewsbury, J. Baldwin, G. Fletcher, F. J. Smith, E. B. Bishop, W. A. Sheppard, J. Rowley, P. Cunningham, C. Kiver, and J. C. Angus, were empannelled as a jury. Inspector Pender conducted the examination of the witnesses, and all the Insurance Companies doing business in the city were represented by their agents. The following evidence was taken :— W. Harris : I am Chief Superintendent of the Christchurch Eire Brigade. Between one and two o'clock on the morning of the oth instant, I was alarmed by the fire bell. On going to my front gate, I saw a small column of smoke apparently issuing from Mr Brownell's premises on the opposite side of the street, and found on examination that the fire was in that building. I went round the premises and at once alarmed Mr Hill and Mr Withey, whose shops were on each side. I next broke open the front door of Mr Brownell's premises, and found the seat of the fire to be immediately behind the office in the warehouse. There was no fire outside the building. lam quite certain of this. There cannot be a doubt, therefore, that the fire originated in Mr Brownell's store, and apparently on the south side nearest Mr Withey 's. The fire first showed outside about fourteen feet back from the street, the corrugated iron first becoming red hot there. The fire ultimately spread to Mr Withey's and Mr Hill's. When I broke open the door, I particularly noticed that all the doors and windows were closed. The fire was not near the door. It could not have been pushed under the door. By the Foreman : There was a right-of-way between Mr Brownell's store and Mr Withey's. It was in this right-of-way, and on the wall of the building, that the fire first showed outside. The fire could not have been put under the floor, as, when the flames had broken through the wall, it had not burnt down to the floor. By Jurors : Ido not think the fire could have been put under the floor, because, after the fire was extinguished, the flooring at the seat of the fire was found unburnt. lam certain as to all the doors and windows being fastclosed, and that there was no fire outside the building when I first went round it. John Tozer: I was in the employ of Mi Brownell as clerk and storeman, and was the last person in the store on the night before the fire. I was in charge of the premises, which were used as an office and warehouse. I left at 5 p.m., but went back again at 7 p m. I went to get a* book from the store. I did not go into the office. There was no appearance of fire at that time. There had not been a fire in the building since last year. There was no gas in the building. During my visit at 7 o'clock, I lit a candle, but carefully blew it out on leaving. I left the caudle on a box at the back of the store. There was nothing but bottles near it. I cannot say whether I was smoking when I left, or not, but I think not. I left all the doors and windows closed ; they were all fastened but one window, which had nothing to secure it by. I think I was in the store about ten minutes altogether. It was not eight o'clock when I visited the store. I was in the Theatre at eight o'clock; I am certain of it. I locked the door when I left, and took the key with me. The back door was barred inside. There was only one key to the front door. I retained possession of the key. The place was insured with the Pacific Company ; the building for £400, and the stock for £500. There was stock in the building fully to the value of £500. The stock had been insured for more, but one policy had expired some time before the fire. All the books, except an invoice book and a letter copying book were 6aved ; they were in a safe. lam sure the books had not been made up in preparation for Mr Brownell's declaring his insolvency. By the Foreman : I left the candle behind Mr Hawkins' office. That would be about the locality of the fire, as indicated by Mr Harris. By the Police : There was no rubbish near the candle. There was no flax in the store There were some samples in the office, but that was all. There was nothing near that could burn, but the floor. I cannot possibly account for the Are. By Jurors : There was flour, corn-sacks, Australian wine--, and other similar goods in the store down stairs. Upstairs, there was tea, coffee, preserved meats, flour, gunny bags, and corn-sacks. There was nothing at all of a specially inflammable nature. There J was no flax or kerosene. I

By the Police: The book I went back for was one I had borrowed, and I wanted to return it. I can swear positively that I put the candle out with care, and saw it quite extinguished. I think I put the match, after lighting the candle, into tbe candlestick. I left the candle about four feet from the wall of the building. If the candle burnt through the box, it could only fall on to the floor. The merchandise mentioned was all at the opposite end of the store. Thomas Turner Brownell : The premises burnt down in Colombo street, on the Sth instant, belonged to me. I had been away at Nelson, and only returned on Monday, the 4th. I went to the store at about 2 p.m. on that day, leaving at a little after 4 p.m. Everything appeared to be all right and quite safe at that time. I did not visit the premises again until after the fire had broken out. There was no flax except samples in the building, or anything of a specially inflammable nature. The building was insured in the Pacific Office for £400 and the stock for £500. The latter had been insured for £1000, but one policy for £500 '■ had expired a few days previous. I did not renew the policy, because there was not quite £ 1 000 worth of stock on the premises. There was more than £500 worth. The stock consisted of general merchandise. I have not the slightest idea how the fire originated. My books were not made up in preparation for insolvency. The rumour to that effect is false. I had not taken any steps towards declaring my insolvency, or ever contemplated doing so, being perfectly solvent. By jurors: When I left the store on the 4th inst., Mr Hawkins and Mr Tozer were there. By the Foreman : That part of the store immediately behind Mr Hawkins' office was used as a corner for lumber, but nothing inflammable was kept there. If the candle fell there would be nothing for it to ignite but the flooring. By the police: There were two keys to the building, one of whicli I kept at my private house, but it had not been used for several months, so long, in fact, that I do not know where it was put or what became of it. Mr . Tozer knew tbat there were two keys. John Tozer recalled: I never knew of Mr Brownell being in possession of a second key '. belonging to the office, but I knew that he had one which would open the door. Willia-u Lilly Hawkins: I am agent for the Pacific Insurance Company. I had an office in the front part of Mr Brownell's premises. I indicate the place on the sketch plan produced. I left the offlce on the 4th inst. a little before Mr Tozer— about a quarter ! to five o'clock. There had not been a fire in my office since last winter, quite six months '■ ago. There was nothing inflammable in the ofllce, excepting some waste paper in a basket near the front window. The building and stock were insured with me. The stock had been insured fcr £1000, but £500 of it : run off shortly previous to the fire. I believe the stock in Mr Brownell's premises was \ quite up to the va'ue of £500. Ido not think a building similar to the one burnt could be put up again for the amount for . which it was insured — £400. I therefore [ believe that Mr Brownell will be a loser by . the fire. ', By the Foreman and Jurors: There was | nothing specially inflammable iv my office, ; and I don't know of anything in the store. I think it would be utterly impossible for any candle falling from the box in the place in- ', dicated by Mr Tozer to ignite anything. I , do not know how the fire would affect Mr Hill or Mr Withey — whether or not they . could gain or lose by it. [ JoTin Brighting :lam a nightman in the employ of Mr Hadfield. On the morning of . the sth inst., at about a quarter past one , o'clock, I was working at the back of Mr [ Brownell's store. I remained there about a quarter of an hour, and then went away by the front of the building towards the A 1 Hotel. During this time I did not observe any indications of fire, until when at the back of Culliford's I saw a light in the direction of Mr Brownell's ; but as my mate said it was only a lamp, I did not take any further notice of it. A few minutes afterwards, when near the Al, I saw it again, but larger. I then ran to see what it was. I found the building strongly lighted up, and heard a crackling noise inside. I then at once raised an alarm. By the Foreman : the fire appeared to be upstairs. By the Police : I did not see auy person about when I first went round Mr Brownell's premises, nor the slightest indications of fire. I could not say where the body of the fire was when I subsequently saw it. By the Foreman : I did not hear anyone crying " fire " before I ran to ring the bell. Eliza Lumb : lam the wife of John Lumb. I recollect the evening preceding the fire at Mr Brownell's store. I had occasion to pass there about a quarter past nine o'clock. The clock had struck nine just before. I noticed a man immediately inside the door, either going in or coming out. I could not say which. I am quite sure as to the identity of the premises, and to its being after nine o'clock. There was no light in the building. The man appeared to be standing, as if uncertain what to do. I should not like to attempt to identify any one as the man, because I did not take any particular notice of him. I now wish I had done so. He was dressed in a respectable manner, and had on a dark coat. lam quite certain, from other incidents, that it was nine which the clock had struck. It could not possibly be seven, or even eight o'clock. Other persons were with me, including a Mr Fraser, when the clock struck nine. This concluded the evidence, and the room : was cleared in order that the jury might consider their decision. Several rumours unexplained by the evidence were c unmented upon, and it was subsequently decided to ' adjourn the inquest, with a view to pro- i I curing further particulars, until the 3rd of | I May. ]