THE GEORGE STREET FIRE.

Evening Star, Issue 4009, 31 December 1875, Page 3

THE GEORGE STREET FIRE.

The following evidence was given after we went to press yesterday : William Jenkins still bad a shop in the Arcade, and a few small items at Mr Spedding’s rooms undisposed of. Witness sold about LI 00 worth of furniture over six weeks ago. The goods in the Arcade shop were purchased from Messrs Guthrie and Larnach and others. Witness knew that the fireplace was unsafe, and always cautioned the lad to be very careful of fire. A lad recently employed by witness made a hole in the floor through cutting wood, and this was immediately over the cellar, which contained a load of straw. There was a piece of iron in front of the lire place. Witness told the boy to nail some board underneath the hole in the floor. Mr Barry, of Me-srs Findlay and Co , recommended witness to insure. When witiu ss insurud his stock was worth between I 500 and >' 600, Witness only insured for three months, because he did not know how long he would bo able to keep the premises. His lease would have expired in three months. Mr Hart made over the premises to Messrs n'arrop and Neale about two months ago. Witness did not remember smokinu in his shop on Christmas morning. John O. Eva, manager for Oliver and IJlpb, deposed that Mr Jenkins owed his firm L 143 9s id, and had received go ids from them for this mouth amounting to LlO7 2s 5!. He made his payments very _ regularly. Witness also spoke to Mr Jenkins about insurance, end would not trust any man unless he was insured Charles W. Howieson, manager for Guthrie and Larnach, deposed that Mr Jen kin- wa indebted to the film 1.58, for furmiuro. The largest ciurency for goods that Jenkins had was Ll6O. i -is payments hid been very’ satisfactory. Witness was in Mr Jonk ns’s shop about two months ago, when the goods were valued at about 1.400.

George K. Hercus, chief clerk to Ross and Gleudining, de[)oaed that Mr Jenkins was indebted to his firm to the extent of t 222 7s 9d, There is a bill due iti Jami uy next for I .ISO IfisOd. \;r Jenkins generally paid cash, and regularly, and Gillies, deposed that Mr Jenkins was indebted to his firm to the extent of 1.116. There is a bill for LG6 4s bd due in I 1 ebrnnry next, Mr Jenkins was formerly employed as upholsterer by the firm for a short time before July List. Rebecca Roche, dressmaker, deposed that on Christmas mormr.v, about half-past ten o’clock she saw Mr Jenkins crossing the street and looking back towards hia own pkoe. He went into Tdr Savage’s, and the moment after a bay u-ied out “ Fire ! ” Witness went cut and siw smoko ascending from the two windows aid tae no r.

1 ot ‘‘ r3on - fressmakor, J.-posed that at alKiit, twen.y minutes past, ten o’clock on Uiiistmas raornmg she saw Mr Jenkins going _c f ‘ 1 and twv» or throe minutea aftemardstho alarm of fi re waa q i ve „. mG.’,V Wm . b - C ° b e ’ Hl }°-enniker: Ab„ut five i'i* H P/evioi.s to t-uo hi o breaking out saw g’•* »»««• Ge^b^lb I'® 1 '® mVr , Ux Je,lkinß Ge o.c stiect ILroo or four tines haloic the 1 ctcr ju r., draper, A i tlmr suvet deposeu at about tninuU « fXidk°t ' : '' C ' C, ' m Christinas morning ho was Dok«i y ' l ’ 1,0 " 1( t Jenkins’s house. Wilmss c'lVnWt r i r Cros ' i G fi orge street ,-nd iaw Hums o mi " / ron , 1 \ho window and smoko from venturi 1 Jenkins’s house. Witne?:-» vent .nto -he stro-t and call-d <ut ” ami aftci w.tid.-i went into Mr Aavau’hZ l '; 1 n‘ed out sev.ial U.m,..' w .s Jenk.m, HC pl ac .. 0!l ti,,-." iU i°' u; " " f lh -- ■<> n.s and :; .av ~euKins,_ ami a w >m, m speakluv b, him ohonppe.rTOU U be fcelbng Jeukimn who is de. f ..I'II ,p . i I.on II :'i;. *) rlt !\ iUS Etcined to be ntunned and greatly astonished at li st rum rnsl’cti into ulm Hf-j'-ot. ’

, Noil visited the (ho k ?j.. j „ K'm: s eoGp at ulout a Burnt r 1> eleveu .m • -in'.-turns mov. ing, ami MioiUy aftei iTqncrt-.ed i.lr Jenkins t;„ >to i 0 . ; . ;iV ~f i.Z iVifu -r;, did not c.ng.n Jmd.iZ. Vo! - VJ, ° 110 v '« s * •iGnldns f,ceii.ed very ! 1 a ; u s anx -V;'.'. s io what inlormaliou lm . Cu. \> ijiit.-.-i tiotptl {lip ijiforrnati -d very fully. Jenkins said that his loss. ov«- the insurance of L3OO, would be about LIDO. He

also said :—“About half an hour befo o the fire bioke out I left the house by the front door, leaving no one in the house. If cm y Kent and I had breakfast about 830 n.m, The front door was fastened, and I locked tho back door. I was in Mr Savage’s cleaning myself when I was called by some gentleman whom I don’t know. When I came out into the street I saw the house on five. I cannot say whether my insurance is up or not. There was a fire made of wood and coal this morning in the kitchen. I did not notice any fire before I left. I sleep at Savage’s.” /'Lout an hour afterwards witness requested Inspector Mallard to accompany him to seo Mr Jenkins at Mr Savage’s. Mr Jenkins then said it would be about half an hour from tho last time he left bin house until ho heard it was on fire. Witness thought the fire must have originated several feet from tho upper fireplace in Jenkins’, sh p. The straw in the cellar was not burned. William Gage, employed by Mr Heberts, of Princes street, deposed that he entered into negotiations with Mr .Jenkins to procure him a partner with L4OO. Mr Jenkins wished to have a practical partner who could manage the business while he was absent in Melbourne. _Mr Jenkins offered to accept L3OO for a half interest in bis business, but the negotiation fell through. Elijah Uarrop, of Messrs Harrnp and Neale, watchmakers and jewellers, deposed that his firm owned the premises recently occupied by Mr Jenkins, who paid 25s a-week rent. Mr Jenkins paid one month’s rent, and there was a inonih’s rent now due. Robert Bare, salesman for Messrs Findlay and Co, deposed that Mr Jenkins’s first transaction with them was about L 26, and paid in cash. A bill for L3O would fall due next mouth. Having heard an explosion of gunpowder, with which some boys were playing in the adjoining house, about three mouths age, witness advised Mr J-mkins to effect an insurant!-’. David Tudchope, who about three weeks ago was learning the trade with Jenkins, said a very goed business was then done. Witness thought the va’ue of the goods when ho left was not more than L2OO. Wiliam Greenwood; carpenter, paid Jenkins L 52 for furniture on December 24. Witness did not think Jenkins’s gooes were worth more ban LIOO five or sie days before the. lire occurred. John Kent: Ho had been in charge of Jenkins’s shop in tho Arcade since it. was opened about ihres WM'ks ago. After wi’mss settled the accounts wuh Jt-nkins. he remained • hatting with him tiU about half-past one ..’dock on Christmas morning Jenkins then sad ho had allowed one party who was getting married LSO worth of furniture on receipt of L 5 and promise of instalments at the rate of 10s a week, he (Jcukim) retaining a hill of sale over the furniture. From Lis examination about a week ago witness thought the goods in George street shop worth L4OO. F, W. Gilchrist, expressman, said ho took two light loads from Jenkins’s shop in George street to the branch in the Arcade, part of the goods being for tho young man who was to sleep on the premises. William Savage, confectioner, George sheet, deposed that Jenkins roie about seven o’clock on Christmas morning. After breakfast witness gave Jenkins the key of his shop, and this was about nine o’clock. lie went upstairs to his bedroom, and afterwards left tuo premises. Witness thought that Jenkins went over to his shop and returned at about half-past nine. Witness did not know how long Jenkins remained upstairs before the alaun of fire was given, but probably about twenty minutes or so. It might have be n much longer. It was about half-past ten when the "alarm took place. The Jury, after consulting together for above half an hour, brought in the following verdict : —"Tim Jury are unanimous in tinir verdict that I'jH’ Jenkins’s place was wilfully set fire to ; ana secondly, that circumstances attach a strong suspicion against Mr Jenkins ; and ivo add, as a rider, that the action of Insurance Companies in accepting proposed risks is most reprehensible.” The Coroner : I tmderstand that you implicate Mr Jenkins ? A juryman said they considered fhat there were strong suspicions against Jenkins, and thought the case should go to tho riupreme Court. Tho Coroner said the evidence pointed but to one man. The Jury said that, in their opinion, Mr Jer kins was an incendiary. They c.iuldnotsay positively unless they had seen the man do it, Mr Mount pointed out that there should be the clearest evidence to charge a man with incendiarism. A juryman explained that they had only strong suspicions, and if they had been the Sup erne Court Jury they would have given J A nldns an acquittal. . The v relict prepared by the Coroner and signeu by the Jury was to tile following effect; ‘ That William Jenkins, feloniously, wilfully, and maliciously did set fire to the said premises, with intent thereby to defraud a certain Insurance Company,‘called the National Insurance Company of New Zealand, against the peace of onr Sovereign Lady the Queen.”