THE AUCKLAND FIRE.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 10 July 1901, Page 4

THE AUCKLAND FIRE.

Sensational Evidence.

Allegations of Incendiarism.

In connection with tha sensational statements made by the girl Jessie Minn, it is interesting to recall the evideneo of the licensee, Mr A Johnston, at a previous stage of enquiry. It was, said Mr Johnston, his opinion that the fire had started in the dining-room and that it had been wilful.y caused. His grounds for thinking so arose from statements made by the servants, who slept directly under the dining-room, on ihe floor below, and who stated that they were awakened by the glass falling out of the window above them. They left their bedrooms to see whero the fire was, and then returned to secure their effects. As they returned the ceiling above them fell in. Further from tho place where he himself was, on the first floor of the old building, after rescuing his wife and boy, he saw flames come rushing along

the back portion of the passage on the north side, and also in the passage in the south side, from the back portion of the building. Questioned further as to why he. thought the fire was wilfully caused, Mr Johnston said his opinion was based on the following grounds :—The French window leading from the balcony into the dining-room, he was informed by the head waiter, had not been locked that night. Grover had also told him since the fire that the key of the door leading from the dining-room into the passage, opposite the pantry, had been missing since the Tuesday before the fire. Grover further told him that the koy of the wine cellar was used in place of the missing key. Again, it was customary to have a jet of ga3 burning in the pantry. Middleton informed him that there was no such light when he returned from town about 12 o'clock on the night of the 80th. Middleton said that he remarked to Grover as they came in—" There's no light in the pantry; that's strange," or words to that effect.

The Sub-Inspector—You have given us three reasons. Any more ? Mr Johnston—l have another, but I would not be allowed to say it. I might be hid up for slander The Coroner—You are on your oath, and whatever you state now is privileged. As to what you say about being had up, who do you think would do it'?

Mr Johnston asked leave to consult his counsel (Mr N. H. McLeod), and retired with him for a few minutes.

On returning, Mr Johnston continued his evidence as follows :—My next reason is that I was informed by Findley, a workman, that the people living in the cottage at the rear of the hotel, named Mulvahill, saw a man looking through the windows of the dining-room on the night of the fire.

The Coroner—But that is not the evidence we were led to expect by your remarks. "We are assuming that in consequence of some ill-will borne against you by some person you suspect that tho fire was wilfully caused.

Mr Johnston—Mr M'Leod considers it advisable to say nothing about that. Mr M'Leod —lt is only a vague suspicion, and probably the better course would be to disclose the name to the police and let them make out what investigation is necessary. Tho Coroner—We have explained to the witness that we are fairly entitled to the information.

The Sub Inspector—l think the jury ought to know how the witness arrived at his conclusions. Mr Johnston then went on to state that six months ago there was some misunderstanding between Mrs Johnston and an employee, the result of which was that the man was paid off the same day, and then left his employ. About two months afterwards both his wife and he were served with writs by the employee in question, claiming £3OO damages for slander. These actions were adjourned on the plaintiff's application, but since the fire witness has been told by his solicitors that the proceedings have been discontinued.

The Coroner—There is nothing in all this, you know. The Sub-Inspector—ls this what you were hesitating to to tell us ? Mr Johnston—Yes ; I have told you all I know about the matter.

But what you have said is nothing more than actual facts. How long was this man in your employ?—About a fortnight at that time.

And at any other time ? —Two or three days. Then he was only in your employ about three weeks altogether ?Y r es.

And how are we to associate this man with the starting of the fire ? Well, I knew that he had full knowledge of the interior of the house, and I am informed that ho- was very handy with his hands.

Are these the only reasons you have for your suspicions ?—Yes. The Coroner—Well, it doesn't amount to much.

Madame Wanters, chief cookj at the hotel, stated that about 11.30 on the night before tho fire, while lying awake in bed, she heard noises as of persons running about excitedly and "quarelling" in the dining-room overhead. About 11.45 phe heard a man call out hurriedly, two or three times, "Where are tho keys.?'' There were four men whom she saw at the bottom of tho stairs leading to the pantry. Three of them hid their faces she opened her door and looked out, but the fourth sho recognised as the nightporter (Jones). Witness rushed to Jessie Minn (tho scuilerymaid) to tell her not to tell the man where the keys were kept; Jessie was then in the bath. The men frightened her to such an extent that she did not reach the bathroom door, but rushed back and banged her own door, Jessie following. Prior to this she heard a noise as of men quarolling; this was before Jessie went to have her bath. Jessie was in the bathroom eomothinglike an hour before witness heard the men calling out for the keys. She first heard unusual noises upstairs, about a quarter past 10 o'clock, a shuffling and running about, and noises and. voices that gave tho impression that thero must have been more than one man. Sho then called Jessie's attention to the noise, and she (Jessie - ) in reply said, "Lot them alone ; let them fight, we aro all right." The doors of the dining-room were usually locked long before a j . quarter-past 10 o'clock.

Henry Jones, the night porter, stated that between 11 30 and 12 o'clock on the night before tho fire he passed the foot of the pantry stairs on his way to get his clothes. He did not see any one on the pantry stairs as he passed by, neither did ho call out for any keys when at the foot of the pantry stairs. He did not hear any one else calling out for keys, and he was not standing at the foot of tho pantry stairs at about 11 45 p. m. in company with two or three others, one of whom called for keys. He did not see Madame Wanters nor any light in her room.