THE ALLEGED FIRERAISING AT ONEHUNGA

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5784, 24 November 1886, Page 3

THE ALLEGED FIRERAISING AT ONEHUNGA

-♦ MOST EXTRAORDINARY EVIDENCE. ARSON ON SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES. A DIABOLICAL SCHEME. [Spbciai. to the "Stab."] AUCKLAND, Nov. 24.

Some extraordinary evidence bearing on the aubject of scientific fire-raising -was given at the enquiry into a suspicious •fire at the Onehunga Cooperage "Works on Oct. 19 last. James Kerebs, who had been employed at the cooperage, deposed that about two months before the fire, Mr Gibbons, tho owner of the cooperage, talked about tbe place being a failure, and eaid a sawmill paid far better than a cooperage. Witness said he ought to Bell out. Mr Gibbons replied that if he sold out he "would not get more than .£2OO or .£3OO for all he had there. He also said: "I have the place well insured; the timber ia nice and dry, and would make a good fire. What do yon say ? If you do it, there is a £10 note sticking out." Witness said : "No; we will get transported, or something." Gibbons asked witness if he would go down then and do it, as the wind was jost tbe right way. He Baid: "If you will go down and do it to night, there's a, £10 note sticking out." Witness eaid : "lam not going down, my boots are too bad." Gibbons said : " Nobody will knowany thing about it; no one will suspect you. Will you come down, and we will do it tonight." Witness said : "Ido not want to get my feet wet." He said : "Go inside and put your heavy bootß on." Witness said : " No, I cannot think of doing such a thing."

THE APPABATUS PLANNED.

Abont two days afterwards, witness saw Gibbons in the mill. He said he had got a patent to light a fire. He got a candle, and told witness to tie a p ; ece of cotton wick around a bottle, according to the time they wanted to have the fire, as the candle burned seven or eight hours He placed the candle in a box, after soaking tbe cotton wick in kerosene. The cotton wick waa then to be laid through the mill, with shavings above and below it, and be led to a atack of dry timber. They could then light the candle, according to the time they wanted the fire to start, and then go home or to Auckland, and be far enough away when the fire began. Tbe box waa to have only three sides, and no lid, and be hidden with sacks so that the light could not bo seen There were two holes in the edge of the box, and a ledge to prevent the bagß from lying over the holes. Gibbons finished by saying, " The first time the wind ia ia the right way, will you fix it up, and I will give you JB2O if you do it ? " Witness Eaid, "No, lam mot drunk enough/* Gibbons again made aimilar proposals on Oct. 13. On the following Satnrday witness went to the races, and on returning home found Gibbons in the houße. He asked witness to go up town, and he accordingly went after tea. Witness subsequently met Gibbons in Princes street. He turned back with him as far as the corner of Selwyn Btreet, when Gibbons asked him in, saying he had some good whiskey. Witness went into the parlour and had some moonlight whisky, abont two halftumblers. Gibbons then said, " For God's sake, help me out of my trouble, Sydney, snd Bet fire to it to-night." Witness replied, " I would get ten years if I did like that." The wind was blowing east by north-east that night. Gibbons said, " Don't be such a coward." Witness said, " I couldn't think of such a thing," and left him there and then and went home. The following Monday witness assisted Gibbons to straighten some crowbars at the cooperage forge. Gibbons said it would be a fine excuse to light tbo forge and set fire to the mill. He asked witness if he bad told his wife or anyone else about the offer he bad made ? Witness replied he had not. Gibbons then said that the wind was the right way ; it must be done that night. The wind was east, and would not hurt his neighbour. AFTER THE FIBE witness told Gibbons that he had made a mess of it now. Gibbons replied, "So help me God, Sidney, I didn't do it." The day after the fire witness met Gibbons in front of the Union office, Queen street. Gibbons said, " Snrely you haven't been bo mean aa to go and inform?" Witness replied that he had. Gibbons said, ** Then I know what you want. Tou want to clear out of the country." Gibbons said, " I will give you .£25 to clear out." Witness said he did not want it, and went away from him. Witness next saw Gibbons at his own house. Gibbons said, " Come down to my office, and I will give you some money." Witness did not go down to the office with Gibbons. The second Saturday after the fire, Gibbons asked witnees to go ont in a boat for a sail. Witnees did not go, as he was rather doubtful. Gibbons then asked witness if he would go round the beach on the following day (Sandfly) to have a shot. Witness said : " No ; my revolver is out of order." •VThe truth was, ho had not got a revolver. On Sunday morning, about nine o'clock, witness Baw Gibbons sitting on his own boat. Gibbons produced his two revolvers, and asked witness to come round the beach and try a shot. Witness again declined, saying hia revolver was out of order. Witness offered to shoot him for any amount in a shooting gallery, and then went home.

Gibbons in his evidence denies Kere' allegations, wliich lack corroboration.