THE SPREAD EAGLE INQUEST.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1259, 21 May 1884, Page 2

THE SPREAD EAGLE INQUEST.

The following evidence was taken in < this case yesterday after we went to i press : Joseph Baldwin, continuing, said that tbera was a washstand and looking-glass i in each room. The washstands were made of kauri and were worth about 25s ' per pair, i t., table and washstand. Some of the toilet sets were good, and were worth about 15s each for the beat of them. There was a piece of carpet in each room. Could not say what the value of each room was. The bedding had been in use for sme time. There were about six jars of spirits and several cases of wine in the bar at the time of the fire. The list of stock (produced) was a correct one. There was a number of things saved, including a piano, some, chairs, matting and other things. By Mr Wilding ; The commercial was not the largest roam'. The dining-room was the largest and waa covered with platting, and no ae of it was saved. This' room was 18 i 14.. The new stock was brought in by Mr Tisph. There were two rooms upstairs and one downstairs with doable beds in each. I here were nineteen beds in all, three of which were large double wooden* bedsteads. He thought that L 8 would furnish each of the bedrooms. He (witness) could do it for L 7. Rad been a valuator and had a good deal of experience in hotels. Would be willing to replace the whole of the furniture lost for L 350. The furniture was new, and it would perhaps be worth—up at the hotel —about L3OO. Did not include the carriage in the L 350 valuated. Had acted for Mr Tisch as bailiff Kept up good latge fires in some of the rooms. Had never had the ohimneye swept, as he had only been there about three months. One of the chimneys was very foul. Waa sitting reading a paper in the bar at the time the fire broke out. When he went out the fire had obtained too great a hold to put it under. Alfred Harrison, auctioneer and valuator, said that he had valued the goods at the Spread Eagle Hotel when they were taken over from Tisch by "Vinson. Could not recall particulars of his valuation. Was at the hotel about five months ago, and thought it fairly well furnished. H« went up under instructions to sell for rent, and was quite satisfied that there was sufficient there for that purpose. To Mr Wilding: Went into the diningroom, bar, and kitchen, but did nut go upstairs. If the furniture had been sold by auction on the spot it is doubtful if they would have reached one-half their value. ,

To the Jury: Was satisfied that the goods were value for the rent, even if sold at the hotel.

B. Hughes, accountant, resident in Ashburton, said that he had been trustee in L. T. Washer’s estate. Witness toek an inventory of the goods in the Spread Fagle Hotel at that time, which he now produced. He valued the furniture in the house at L 137 14s lOd. There were thirteen bedrooms furnished in a very inferior style. He valued the in each at about L2. Valued five prints at 10s the lot. Some of them were two feet square. Placed no value upon the few books he saw. Valued a large table at L 3.

To Mr Wilding: This valuation occupied a whole day. Had no experience as a valuator. Washer had suggested that witness should make the valuation. Washer gave no reason for making this suggestion. He valued the goods at what he considered they would realise if sold. He was guided in some cases by Washer’s opinion. There was a bill of sale over all Washer’s goods to the Standard Brewery Company. As trustee in the estate witness sold to Titch any interest he had' in the lease and license ; nothing else. The consideration was one pound. Bad not received a penny more from Tisoh. Harrison paid him the pound on account of Tisch Tisch had hinted that ha would give witness a bribe of L 5 if as trustee he wo ild withdraw the goods from sale. He applied to Tisoh in Christchurch for the poind, biit did not receive it. To the Jury : Witness considered that there were not sufficient goods at the hotel to satisfy the claim for rent and the hill of sale, and consequently took no further trouble about the property. He went to Tisoh’s house on the occasion referred to to threaten him. Andrew Wood said that he bad been employed with h's wife at the Spread Eagle. He described the furniture, but did not know its value. There was very little business done at the house. Some days they did not take Is, on others L2 or L 3. . The business had fallen off very much during recent years. The chimneys appeared sound. He had not been up them te see if they were clean. Sergeant Felten: Had inspected the Spread Eagle Hotel every year since. It was built, nine or ten years ago. It was never well furnished, but it was considered sufficiently so • for the class of people frequenting It. Some of the furniture there last year was the same as was there nine years ago. The hotel was the worst furnished public 'house in the district. Witness had read the claim made by Tisoh on the Insurance Company, and it was not true. He claims for twenty bedrooms, but there were only twelve rooms for the public, containing sixteen beds. The servants’ bedroom and a private bedroom witness had not inspscted, and Tisch claimed L 8 for each room, but witness estimated them at L2 to L2 10s each. In witness’s opinion UOO was the outside value of everything in the house. Had had twenty-one years’ experience in inspecting public houses, and had also had large experience in wholesale and retail houses, and knew the value of goods. ' When the hotel was first built there was a good deal of business done, and the house was enlarged. Within the last year or so there has not been sufficient business for a Iran to make a Urine, even if he had the place rent free. The house was of very slight construction." When Tisch was licensee his sittingro m and bedroom were well furnished, and there were also articles of value in other rooms, but lately there was no more furniture than to barely meet requirements.

To Mr Wilding; Inspected the house last June, but could not say the exact date, but the time of the visit was about a quarter to one. Returned to Ashburton next day about six o’clock, having stayed at Mount Somers, which was about eight miles from Tisch’s hotel. Went into all the rooms except two. Had not seen good furniture at the Spread Eagle for two or three w ears. Witness then enumerated a number of ornaments that were missing, but could not say if anything had been removed since Vinson took th i hotel. Considered the price paid by Vinson, L4OO, exorbitant! Tisch had sent in a notice for another license, and witness intended to oppose it on the grounds that the house was not required. Did not know that Wood wished to have the hotel until to day. Robert Neill, constable, deposed that on April 29th he wont to the Spread Eagle Hotel, whan he found it had been burnt to the ground. Examined the chimneys next morning and found them perfectly sound. Baldwin was present and painted out the chimney where the fire was supposed to have originated, and witness said •he could see no flaw. Several things were saved, the same as had been stated by previous witnesses. The house was well enough furnished for the trade it was doing. When Tiach was landlord tbs trade was fair, but latterly it bad been bad. Since Tiach left there had hardly betn a man in the occupation of the hotel capable of holding a license. In the first place too much was charged for liquor, and in the second you could not get valg* for your money.

To Mr Wilding: Did n-t get at the top of the chimney, bat simply looked st the uuts.de. Baldwin and other men present assisted witness in making investigations. To the Police : In the closet at the back of the house there was a clean white shirt, a collar, a tie and a hat, which were claimed, by Baldwin, who said he had put them there to keep them dean. Richard Lawrence said he wi« cook at a thrashing machine at Methveo. Was at the Spread Bagle Hotel about February and was standing in front of the bar, and witness rsmarked that it hsd a bam*Hkw appearance, and that it was a*pity that it waa not blown cown or bnmt down. Baldwin answered to the effect that possibly had Tisch known it might have served his (witness’s) purpose to do so,

To Mr Wilding : The conversation with Baldwin iraa simply bar talk, and witness attached ne meaning to it. The coal used was lignite and a change Jof wind might easily have caused the aahss to blow into the house and set the place on fire. ' ii-.X-IV

This closed the evidence of the police, and Mr Wilding said that all he had to say was to ask his Worship to point out to the jury that they had to decide how; ,tho fire originated. He had not brou~ examined on the subject of which waa a matter for another Court to decide.

His Worship then summed up briefly and the jury retired. After an absence of about 20 minutes they returned a verdict to the effect that the Spread Eagle Hotel was burnt down on the -29th-April, and although the cironmatancea were of a auspicious nature there was not anfident evidenoeto attach the blame to any particular individual. ‘ :

The Court rose at 843 p. urn % ■ :- t