THE LATE FIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 426, 23 May 1871, Page 2

THE LATE FIRE.

INQUEST AT THE NAVAL HOTEL.

An inquest was held, yesterday afternoon, at two o'clock, before T. M. Philson, Esq., M.D., Coroner, at the Naval Hotel, Newton (Mr. J. Mark ham), to enquire into the origin of the late fire in Pitt-street. The following gentlemen were empannelled as a jury : John Holloway, W. C. Autridge, Richard Reeves, Jas. Davis, William McPherson, John Oliver, Henry Skne, J. S. Cousins, F. Rosser, T. Shove, John Cornish, James Curley, J. Warren, S. Davenport, and Thomas Walker. Mr. S. Davenport was chosen foreman—Mr. Jones, on behalf of the Royal Insurance Company, Mr. Armstrong (Jackson and Russell) _ Mr. Wynn on behalf of the Boyal and New Zealand Insurance Companies; Mr. J. P. Pierce, New Zealand Insurance Company ; Mr. John •Buchanan, London and Liverpool Insurance Company ; and Mr. Broham were present.— After the jury had viewed the scene of the disaster, the following evidence was taken : — Mr. Wynn briefly addressed the jury ; he said, I have been instructed to appear to watch the proceedings on behalf of the Royal and New Zealand Insurance Companies. I may say that this examination is merely a preliminary one. We shall not be able to complete the investigation to-day. The fire occurred in an empty house. We propose to examine such evidence as we can now get, and then adjourn the enquiry, with a view to give those who have charge of the enquiry time to prosecute further enquiries, as we believe it to have been the work of an incendiary. — W. J. Offer being sworn, and duly cautioned not to give any information or evidence which might tend to criminate himself, deposed: I live in Grey-street. I have been cautioned against giving any evidence that may criminate myself. I recollect having entered into some arrangements to buy a house for Mr. Cole about a month ago. The house was occupied by Mr. Cole. I went to see the house. It is in Pitt-street. Mrs. Cole objected to my seeing the house. The reason she gave was that Mr. Cole had told her nothing of it, and she would object to allowing the house being sold until Mr. Cole bad made arrangements to give her part of the money. Mr. Cole asked me £550 for the house. The bargain went off, as I refused to have anything to do with it until the house was empty. I afterwards purchased the next house from Captain Dinnin, for £400. I had an insurance on it to tho extent of i2OO, in the Imperial. I recollect the night of the fire. It was on_the morning of Sunday week last, about 2 o'clock. Mrs. Shorland first awoke aie. I was lodging with her. When I came outside I observed the fire in the middle of the .-eetlise I had bought. The sketch prodivExce.airly represents the houses as they '■'tase .i Pitt-street previous to the fire. The l_OT_sijigin&te& in an empty house. There was .5-0 x 7fng of a combustible nature either in or LOT^ house. It had been cleaned out. I J- -,■ 'mre the fire originated in my unoccupied ' -use. My partner (Mr. Smith) and I came

out together. We ran to ring the fire bell. On passing Mrs. Cole's house she called to me, and asked me to assist her to carry a box across the street. The fire had then full control of my house. The flames were coming out of the back window. There was a space of about th*ee feet between my house and that occupied by Mrs. Cole. I took the box to Heighton's (blacksmith), and then assisted Mrs. Shorland. in getting out her furniture. I can afford no kind of information myself as to the origin of the fire. I locked up my own house at five o'clock. There was no fastening on the door opening on tv the upper verandah. Any one to get in there must climb over the verandah.—By a Juryman : I passed the house at midnight. There wore people about at that time. There had been no repairs going on. I had received an assignment of the Insurance Policy amounting to £200.—Re-examined by Mr. Wynn : I could not say how Mrs. Cole was dressed when she asked me to carry the box. I was too excited.—Jesse Ensor Cole deposed (after being duly cautioned) : I live ,i-, Wake/ield-street. I remember the lire in . iLt-stx-' et. I was the owner of one house that was burnt down, and which was occupied oy my wife. lam not on amicable terms with my wife, and have not been for some time. The house in which she was living was furnished by myself. The furniture was insured to the extent of £300. For some time previously I had been endeavouring to effect a sale of the house. I had not done so. Mrs.

Cole had by her conduct prevented me from effecting a sale to Mr. Offer. She refused to permit him to see Lhe house. The two houses adjoining mine belonged to Mrs. Cole. I have conveyed them to her for her benefit about December last. Wo separated some time in January. She continued to live in my house under sufferance until my house was complete. At tho time of tho fire I was lodging with Mrs. Russell in Wakefield-street. I am tbo only boarder. That is nearly half a mile from the fire. I returned to rest that evening about half-past ten. I had previously been to the play. I went there alone, and on leaving I went straight home. I saw Mrs. Russell when I went home. I refuse to answer whether I occupied the same apartment with Mrs. Russell that night. I will put up with the consequences and refuse to answer the questions.—Mr. Wynn : Then I must ask you, Mr. Coroner, to commit Mr. Cole, I Only put these questions from a purely professional motive. —Mr. Cole : Will you defer my examination until I consult a solicitor as to whether I ought to answer the question.—Mr. Wynn : I ask you again; did you occupy the same apartment as Mrs. Russell ? lam sure there can be no doubt on the miud of anyone that this firo was tho work of an incendiary.—■ Mr. Cole: Then in that case I did. I was disturbed by the fire-bell between half-past one and two o'clock. I expressod no opinion a3 to where the fire was. I said it was in my direction. I did not say "fc was my house. I said that to Mrs. Russell. I walked to the fire partially dressed. T. c house was insured for £300, and the furniture for £300. Ido not know how -the fire originated. When I arrived there my own house was entirely in flames. My house was more in flames than my next door neighbour's. I believe the fire originated in my house, judging from the state of the conflagration when I got there. Emilet Cole, being duly sworn and cautioned, deposed : I am the wife of Jesse Ensor Cole. I live in Wellington-strret. I recollect the occasion of the fire in Pitt-street. I was then living in a house owned by my husband. I have been living apart from my husband for some time. He is now living with some other woman. The house and furniture were insured in my husband's name. The two houses ad-

joining had been conveyed to me for my use. I know Mr. Offer's house. It was next to the one I lived in. It was unoccupied. I was disturbed about two o'clock by a little girl, who slept in the house. She awoke me. Her name is Ada Hewlitt. Her parents live in Grey-street. I got out of bed. We both ran to the front door and screamed " fire." j The light of the fire came from Mr. Offer's house. I Went into the spare room. There was a window in it looking to Mr. Offer's house. At that time my house was not on fire. I got a box out of the spare room, and the girl carried the baby. It is quite false, if Mr. Offer said he carried my box. It was not heavy ; I carried it myself to Mr.. Heighton's. I was in my night dress, and ran to and fro several times trying to save things. I saw a man the first time I went out ; he was looking down between the two houses. He did not assist me. He turned round and deliberately walked away. I went over to Mr. Heighton's. The fire appeared to have originated in Mr. Offer's fowl-house. The house and furniture were insured in Mr. Cole's name. There was but two feet between my house and Mr. Offer's, so that if one were burnt the other must go. —At this stage of the proceedings the further hearing of the case was adjourned until Monday next, at 2 p.m.