HOUSE WRECKED BY EXPLOSION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18189, 23 June 1927, Page 4

HOUSE WRECKED BY EXPLOSION.

WAS DELIBERATE ACT IS POLICE OPINION. i MELBOURNE. June 8. A two-storeyed house at the corner of Dryburgh and Haines Streets. North | Melbourne, was blown up and com- J pletely ruined by a terrific explosion l to-day. I The police are satisfied that the house was deliberately blown up. Rags, | saturated in kerosene, and revolver bul- j j lets, were found in the ruins. No one was injured, the occupiers— Mr and Mrs David Primer —being absent. The explosion occurred at 4.30 a.m. Bricks and fragments were hurled 200 yards along the streets. The pavements in the vicintv were littered with glass. The charge had torn a great hole, where the foundation of the house had Edward Dorker, who lives next door, said he actually heard the men lay the charge, and saw them hurry away. Funny Business Next Door. "Generally I go to the market about 4 a.m.,” he said. "This morning, at about 2.30, when I was thinking of getting up, I heard a tap-tapping next door. I could not make it out. There were also at intervals rumbling sounds. The tapping continued throughout. Just before the time came for me to go, my wife stopped me. She would not let me leave. She said that there was funny business going on next door. ) She made me promise to stay. Then suddenly there ■was an explosion. Then there was another, and several more. I thought that it was an earthquake. I ran outside to investigate. Like the Pictures. “I’ll never forget what I saw. You know how houses are blown up in the pictures. It was just like that. "There was a great burst of coloured light. The ground seemed to tremble under me. The whole house was hurled into the air in a black and coloured mass of smoke and flame. “The neighbours came rushing out of their houses. All of them were in their night attire —terrified. 3 hey thought that the whole street had been blown up. Bricks rained down and crushed in the verandah over my head. My wife fell as she attempted to get out of bed, and she was injured. She is still unable to get up. As I came out of the door before the last big explosion I saw two figures hurrying away in the darkness. "Immediately after the explosion the whole thing burst into flames. The fire brigades were called in time to save the fire from getting into my house.”

Mysterious Intrusion. Fortunately, a store room divides the house of Mr Dorker from that which was blown up. The walls were blown out of the store room. The occupier of the house has for a fortnight been going about with his arm in a sling. He told the police that a fortnight ago he was alone in the house. Three men followed him to the store room and beat him unmercifully, he said. They then ran away through the gardens. Ever since then he had been anxious for the safety of his little girl, who is five years old. Yesterdav he decided to send her away for a few days until he became reassured. She went yesterday afternoon. . . . After the explosion one of the neighbours ran to Victoria Markets, where the Primers have a fruit stall. They both came to the scene, and went away again almost immediately. At a late hour this morning Detectives Milne and Abbott had been unable to locate them. 3 hey were told that the man had gone out as usual with his fruit lorry. Only One Wall Standing.

Of the house and its furniture, nothing remains but broken bricks and splintered wood. With this is mingled twisted iron from bedsteads, torn clothes, ripped cushions, and crockery. There is nothing standing but the rear wall.

The pile of saturated rags suggests to the police that, if the charge had failed, fire would have done the work. The whole affair is a mystery.

This morning there were some remarkable escapes. A man who goes to the market always stands with his back to the front wall of the wrecked house waiting for the bus. If he is not there, the bus stands in front of the house waiting for him with its passengers. This morning neither the man nor the bus were on time. They arrived a few seconds after the explosion.

Seach of the Debris. The house is owned by a man named Somerville, who is at present away in England. Whether it is insured, and if so what the amount is, is not at preein the opinion of the police the charge in the house was deliberate!y laid so that it would blow toward the street instead of toward the house next door. If this had not been so in all probability the house occupied by the Dorkers would have been destroyed. A strong guard of police and firemen was put on guard at the house. It is hoped to find more evidence in a search of the debris. The detectives believe that they know the names of those responsible. A Civil Servant. Mr Primer was once a clerk in the Prime Minister’s Department. His principal duties were coding and decoding confidential cables. Later he rented a stall at Victoria Markets, and set up as a greengrocer. He supplies well-known clubs and hotels m the city.