INQUIRY INTO FIRE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20239, 24 February 1934, Page 15

INQUIRY INTO FIRE.

“ Circumstaijc.es Suspicious,” Says Magistrate. REGENT STREET OUTBREAK. “ I am satisfied that the value of the articles insured in the shop did not exceed £IOO and that the value given for insurance purposes was grossly exaggerated. The evidence shows that Jacobs was in financial difficulties, and although there is no direct evidence as to the cause and origin of the fire, the circumstances are highly suspicious,” said the Coroner, Mr E. D. Mosley, when the hearing was concluded yesterday of an inquiry into a fire which started in a shop at 35, Regent Street, on the evening of July 31 last. The shop was then occupied by Harry Walter Benson Jacobs and contained stocks used by him in his signwriting business. Reviewing the evidence given by fifteen witnesses during the two days of the hearing, Mr Mosley said that from May 12, 1932, to May 12, 1933, Jacobs had a policy with the Standard Insurance Company for £IOO on stock in a shop in Regent Street. The policy lapsed, and at the request of Jacobs, the State Fire Officq issued a policy for £IOOO. The premium was paid on July 28, 1933. On July 29, Jacobs received notice to vacate the shop. On July 31 there was a fire in the shop, and on the following day Jacobs claimed £479 from the State Fire Office. “ While I am not satisfied with the evidence of Jacobs, there is not sufficient evidence for me to bring in a verdict that any particular individual caused the fire, either wilfully or accidentally,” Mr Mosley added. Woman Collapses. Three detectives rushed across the Court to catch Amelia Jacobs, wife of the occupier of the shop, when she swayed and appeared likely to collapse Mrs Jacobs had given her evidence and the clerk was reading the depositions to her when she swayed in the box. Her husband and the detectives assisted her outside while the Coroner adjourned the inquiry for ten minutes to permit of her recovery. She later returned to the Court, but still appeared to be upset. Mr Burns appeared for Mr facobs and Chief-Detective Dunlop conducted the inquiry. Detective J. J. Halcrow said that at about noon on August 1 he saw Jacobs at the detective office. Shortly afterwards witness received instructions to inquire into the origin of the Regent Street fire. With another detective he went to the shop. He examined the back door, which showed no signs of having been interfered with. He was of opinion that no key had been inserted in the keyhole from the outside for some time. There was a bolt inside the back door. There was no stock 1 upstairs. Jacobs told witness that he had no idea of the cause of the fire. He had been in the shop on the Saturday before the fire and he had sent an employee to the shop on the Monday to pack up the goods for removal, as they were to be moved from the Regent Street shop. Witness referred to difficulty he had experienced in obtaining an interview with Jacobs to secure the particulars he wanted. He therefore told Jacobs that if he was not prepared to give the particulars the police wanted, witness would carry on the investigation without the assistance of Jacobs. Increase in Stock. Jacobs had made a statement on August 2 and witness produced it. According to the statement the first Jacobs knew of the fire was on the following morning. He had no idea of what had caused it. Jacobs stated that he had gradually increased the amount of stock in the shop which accounted for the increase in insurance from £IOO with the Standard Company to £IOOO with the State Fire Office. Witness added that he had failed to find the origin of the fire. Amelia Jacobs, wife of the occupier of the shop, said that she knew nothing of the nature of the stock or the quantity in the shop at the time of the fire. At the conclusion of her evidence Mrs Jacobs collapsed and had to be assisted from the Court. Harry Walter Benson Jacobs, signwriter, of Bealey Avenue, said that for some time previous to the fire he had the use of the shop at 35, Regent Street, rent free, and used it for display purposes. Stock worth more than £IOOO was stored in the shop. Witness insured the stock for £IOOO in the State Fire Office and on July 2S paid the premium. Mr Brown, of the State Fire Office, had told witness that the policy would not be effective until the premium was paid. To Chief-Detective Dunlop, witness said his financial position at the time of the fire was not good, although he was not insolvent. This concluded the evidence.