FIRE MYSTERY

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 137, 8 December 1930, Page 12

FIRE MYSTERY

AN OPEN VERDICT

NO EVIDENCE AS TO CAUSE

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) BLENHEIM, This Day. In connection with the inquiry into the fire which destroyed Bedwood Bros.' flourmill at Spring Creek on the night of 29th September last, the Coroner, Mr. E. J. Hill, has delivered the following finding: "Although the evidence adduced at the inquiry was voluminous, and left no avenue of investigation unexplored in an endeavour to get to the bottom of tho matter, there was nothing in that evidence to guide me in deciding in what manner the outbreak originated. There certainly were suspicious circumstances which fully justified holding an inquest. The owner, Mrs. Ada Redwood, frankly admitted that she solely, except for the Public Trustee's interest,,would benefit from the insurance policies, and that the key of the building was accessible only to herself and the staff at the homestead, but though that would give a possible motive and opportunity, it would not necessarily prove guilty knowledge, and there is nothing in the evidence to justify me in bringing in anything other than an open verdict. I find, therefore, that the building known as Redwood Bros.' flourmill, Spring Creek, owned by Ada Eedwood, was destroyed by fire on the evening of 29th September, there being no evidence to warrant a definite opinion as to the cause of the outbreak."