CAUSE OF A FIRE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2306, 13 November 1914, Page 7

CAUSE OF A FIRE

IN GROCERY/SHOP INQUIRY BEFORE A MAGISTRATE ■.■■'■ Yesterday afternoon Mr, D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., held an inquiry into the matter of the fire which occurred on October 3 in the premises occupied by Claude Lee Browne, 53 Taranaki Street. Browne used portion of the building as a grocery store, and the remainder as a dwelling. Inspector Heudrey represented the police, Mr: A.-Dunn appeared tor Browne and for C. Pratt and Co (assignees), Mr. 11. Cook appeared for Mrs. Browne, aud Mr; 11. E. JSvans appeared for tho Northern Insurance Co., which held the insurance risk of tho property. . ■

Brown said, in the course of his evidence, that he had carried on business as a grocer, and had been in the premises sixteen months when fire practically destroyed tho bnildiiig,' on October 3. The siiop was open at the time of tho fire. .About a quarter past ten m the evening he was cutting paper, and took it into the dwelling portion so that he could work by the tire. When he returned he found that the shop was on fire, and the flames appeared to be coming from under.the counter,' opposite the street door. He closed the door leading from the house to the shop, and 'went to the till, to get the money out. At the same time ho called to his wife that the house was on fire. He did not get all the money out of the till.

Started Business on $15 Borrowed. Witness eaid that he got hold of a 6ack which was handy ana endeavoured to put the fire out, but found that impossible. To got out of tho shop he had to jump tlie counter and quit by the front door. He. found on, going round the side of the house that Airs.' Browne was ringing up for the Fire Brigade. Subsequently, Sire. Browne was carried out of the burning house by two.-men-o'-warsmeh. On- going into the' business he ; paid £25 for the goodwill, £40. for the fittings, and £95 for the stock. There was then no insurance on tho stock and fittinge, but a week after going in he covered them with a policy of £225 on the stock and £25 on the fittings. In the meantime he had got ia £130 to £140 of stock, obtained from Messrs. Aitken, Wilson, and Co., George Thomas and Co., and Levin and Co. The furniture was insured for £60 and the piano for £40, also in the Northern office. These articles were his wife's.. The business

was paying him, and he was making a living. ..-■'■ ■''.'■'..-■ Inspector. Hendrev: When you went into tlio business, now much did you, pay down? ' ' . ' •' Witness: £15. . ". ' ' Was that all- your money?—" That was all the money 1 had," „ Was that £15 your own, or did you borrow it if— "Borrowed it, to pay back whenever I liked." ■ . ,

Proceeding, witness ; said that ' his wife had submitted proof of £186 Joss on the furniture. His wife was paying £20 for the piano. . Inspector Hendrey: What induced you to insure—anything particular ? 1 Witness: Yes, we had' a bit of a small tiro once when'we weio put.

■ Where did that fire take 'place?— "Behind the counter in the shop." Is.it-« fact that that fire occurred iabbut';teii K iifiiitft^;' f aft|er you and Mrs. Browii had left the shop'?—"l .could not ■say exactly, but I'Was told' it took place just after we went out."

■ Were you able to." account for that fire?— "ho; wo were out at the time." ■What stock' did you have at the time of the- last fire?-^"I. should say about £270 worth." What debts did you owe?—r"l have 'assigned those since, the .fire." ■ Was Theresa'. Pool of kerosene?' - : You said you were m. a business which was paying, and that you. had £270 worth of stock, so now I want to know your debts. Witness then said that he owed D. J. Nathan and Co. £134, W, andG. Trunbull and Co. £29 13s. 4d., the Empire Co. £12 7s. : 6d., George Thomas and Co. £26 oa. Ba\, Nelson, Moat* and Co. £o,Bs. 2d.,- — Blair £20,' and about £50 to other oreditore. '

Inspector Hendrey rHad any of theso creditors been pressing-you? Witness: Yes; W. and G. TurnbuU and Co. -■ ■ ". ■■ >

Browne added that he had signed a claim for £107 on the etock and £25 on -the furniture. ■

Inspector Hendrey: Why did you claim £107, when you said you knew your stock was worth £270 at the time of tho.firc? ■'■■'.•.-.

Witness said that after the fire Mr. Frank Bedford, insurance adjuster, had assessed the value of the stock at £107, and that as the time,open for putting in the claim was drawing to a close he claimed for the £107. . I

Inspector Hendrey: Will ; it be correct to say that at the time of the fire the value of the stock jyould not exeed £8? Witness: It would not be fair 'to say 60. I understand that you have been in difficulties ever Bince you started in business? —"Yes; I have been pushed from time to time."

You could not have paid your debts up at any one time?— : "No." Coming back to the night of the fire, did you hear anyone come to your premises and call out loudly?-V'No." ■ l)o you know-enything about kerosene being on the floor of your shop?— "No, except that there had been a stainthere for, some time."

Is it not true that at the time'your shop was discovered to be on fire there was a- pool of kerosene ~ across the floor?—"I should say that was impossible." ,' ■ ■ •-•■-.- ....

Inspector Hendrey warned tie witness, that lie would, call a police con-' stable to swear that there was a,pool of kerosene on'the floor. . Witness eworo that he did not spill kerosene on the floor with a view to setting the place .pfire. _ '• ■ Inspector Hendrey: Is it a faot that you follow racehorßßS and bet ? —"No." Is it a fact that-you went to the Christchurch meeting?—"No; I certainly went to Christchurch looking for a job; and I went along with a friend and had a look on at the-meeting." The inquiry stands adjourned till 2.16 p.m. on Tuesday. ~ - ,