THE RATTRAY STREET FIRE.

Evening Star, Issue 3636, 17 October 1874, Page 2

THE RATTRAY STREET FIRE.

The following evidence was gjtaten after wo went to press,yesterday ; -

James Donaldson, coach'mijhir, admitted the corncfcness of the report bis statement of the origin of the fire mfaijfe to Detective He could ot?fy account for San;bury’s extraordinary statements by- the facf. tuat he was jealous of witness, -though be had never given him any cau*e. ISansbury’s statement that on the evening of the fire witness was pa-king up hie things in a carpet bag was an arrant lie. Witness had not many things to pack up. Bs'ieved Salisbury had had a sunstroke. His evidence was in the main untrue.

Sansbury, recalled, said he gave the earritms to Mrs Schmidt because she undertook to make him some things, which she never did Never offered to lend her LIOO, neither did he say he had an account at the bank. As regarded proposing to her, that was farthest from his heart.—(Laughter.) He only once wrote a letter to her, and that was to tell her to fill up the vacancy caused by him leaving, owing to the board , having been raised. He had never had a sunstroke, Mrs Schmidt was a perfect lady. Never remembered saying to her that if he had known the place was insured be would have let it blow up. He had doubts about it; but did not think it likely he said so. [Witness was hard (pressed by the jury, but declined to give a positive answer one way or the other.]

Katherina Kippenberger, sister of Mrs Schmidt: the origin of the reoeat fire, Sansbury proposed to my' sister and was refused. He afterwards wrote a note of apology to her, saying, that she should look over it. He presented some earrings to my sister, who wished to pay for them. On the night of the fire Mrs Schmidt said she would go to Christchurch, as Sansbury was trying to throw suspicion on Donaldson. I said, *' Take no notice of him ; he is crazy.” My sister was in a fit, and said there was some one going to take her. Wynd wished to send for a doctor, but I said, “It is only the fits.” I heard Sansbury say, “1 did not know you were insured, or else I would haVe opened the side door, and we would have had a fine blaze.”

Alexander Wynd recalled ; Did not know whether .Sansbury proposed to Mrs Schmidt. At all events, he would not like to be present if Sansbury did.—(Daughter.) He bad no superstition of anything about courtships or conspiracies. He was always -.lad to come in and get his meals —(Renewed laughter). Did not know whether Sansbury was jealous of Donaldson. A. Peculiar said his firm had valued the furniture in Mrs Schmidt’s house after the hre. If sold at auction it would fetch about LI2O.

The Coroner, in addressing the jury, said from the evidence there could be no doubt the fire was not oie of accident. If they believed Salisbury's evidence, a very serious charge would fall against Airs Schmidt and probably Donaldson. A Juror ; I must confess that the manner in which Saushury gave .his evidence shakes its authenticity.

Another Juror : I cannot take it at aJL I don’t believe a word of it.

'fvyo other Jurors agreed with the last speaker, ' *.

The Loroner : There seems to be a peculiar method about the way in which Sansbury gave h>s evidence.

A Juror: Yes, when you asked him anything not connected with his statement, ha appeared unable to answer—he didn’t know.

The Jury, after an hour’s consultation, brought iu the following verdict :— ** That fchg dwelling-house of Mrs tjfcmidt was wilfully and maliciqmly on fire.’’