A SUSPICIOUS FIRE.

Evening Star, Issue 3382, 22 December 1873, Page 3

A SUSPICIOUS FIRE.

An inquiry was held at the Imperial Hotel this a'tcruoon, touching the origin of a tire discovered at the rear ot the i’rincc of Wales Hotel, Princes street, yesterday morning. Tho Coroner (Mr Hocken), in opening the proceedings, said it appeared that about 4,H0 a.m yesterday a fire was discovered in a right of-way at the rear of the Prince of Wales Hotel. F- ruling ihe base of the fi'O were a lot of shavings and small pieces of deal woo l ; these were covered by a large piece of boarding, over which was placed a piece of crape or wicker-work. Ino tire was against a wooden partition which formed the ■wall of the hotel, and when discovered had just caught hold of the woodwork; about three yards away from which and against the partition were some pieces of deal wood chopped into small bits, so that they might easily catch. He did not think more suspicious circumstances could he imagined. Fires, too, had been rather frequent of late, and it was, therefore, important that the question should be determined thoroughly, if possible. James Cummings, landlord of the Prince of Wales Hotel, into possession of which he went on Monday last, was awoke at 4 HO yesterday morning by the Sergeant of Police telling him that his place had been on lire, and that he had had a narrow escape of being burnt down. On going to the place he saw the articles produced against the partition, a part of which had been torn down for fuel, and a part of which was burnt. Access to the place where the fire was is easily gained from eitherthe back of thehotel, or"by the right-of-way from Princes street. At about 11.45 p.ra. on Saturday, T. Muir applied for lodgings. He was the worse for for drink, and witness told him he was not prepared to accommodate him. About half-an-hour after the discovery of the fire, wit ness’s son found some chips in the watercloset. He went round the house at 12..id a m. on Sunday, and found everything right, —To a Juror: Some person must have got up the right-of-way, torn down the partition, cut up the wood in the closet with a knife, got the larger pieces from next door, drawn the basket, which was half-full of vegetable matter, from the kitchen door, emptied it, and then set tire to the lot. M. Joel said the hotel was insured for LISO, its fixture? for L6O. and Muir’s, the adjoining premises, for LSO. If burnt down, the insurance would nothing like cover their value. . Constable Fde inspected tho premises at 2.30 on Sunday morning. If fire had been present then he must have detected it. Everyihing seemed to be quite right, and no one about, Thos. Muir, baskefmaker, residing near Burke’s brewery, deposed : All that 1 know of this affair is that 1 came into town at about three o’clock on Saturday afternoon with some baskets that were ordered. I went to the Prince of Wales and had several diinks of beer until nearly twelve, when I asked the iau Hold for a bed ; but he said he had none put up yet. Shortly afterwards I went away, intending to go home. I was rather much intoxicated. I went to the Jetty street j. tty, where the old urinal was and went to sleep. When I. awakened it was pretty clear day ight, and 1 shook myself, and got up to see if I could raise a drink. I went up Stafford street, but found DO place open, and returned to the Prince of Wales, but could make no one hear. 1 then went next door to my broth- r s, but could not waken him either. 1 turned round and saw smoke coming out of broken windows in the open kitchen of the hotel. I went round to see what the smoke was, thinking some one was smoking, and saw a great deal of smoke, and a little tire, but no flames. The fire was against the wall, which was scorched, like as if them were some flames before I arrived, iho “ creel ” (basket) was on the top of the tire, but I did iot handle it. I saw no one. 1 saw there was no danger, and not wishing to handle the tire I went and gave information to the first constable I nut. If there had been any danger I would have put out toe fire myself, as there was an empty bucket beside mo. The people in the hotel were fast asleep, so I thought my best plan was to give information. I was not in the water-closet; I am sure of that. I was there about ten minutes When 1 went into the yard first, I passed the place very closely, but did hot look in that direction. When 1 went to Muir’s I saw it. The fire appeared to have been lighted some time. The inquiry was adjourned till Monday next.