A REGENT BURGLARY.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 717, 13 January 1903, Page 2

A REGENT BURGLARY.

SENSATIONAL EVIDENCE

By telegraph—Press Association— CHRISTCHURCH, last night.

At Kuiupoi 10-rlay an enquiry was opened into the fire which destroyed Egan’s brewery on I lie morning of January •'(, when the office and strong loom were rifled. The jury proceeded to the brewery, and made a careful examination of the olfiec and strong room. Scattered about the latter were charred pieces of paper, and the desk was partly burnt. The whole of the interior of I lie strong room was blackened by the fire. The chief damage to the books was done to the cash book, the entries in which were burnt and undecipherable ; the ledger, which was considerably charred ; and the delivery book. Mr Egan drew attention to the fact of if being impossible for any man of ordinary strength to open the strong room door, owing to air suction. There was a piece of rope on the door handle, and a lever was placed in tlibl to open the door. Frank G. Ilcmpleman, clerk, .employed at the brewery, repeated bis statement as to having been attacked by two men outside his house early in Ihe morning, and tlie brewery keys being taken from him. He was closely examined- as to the state of his accounts, and admitted that he had been taken to task by Mr Egan for not. promptly banking (he takings. Among the missing money was H 7 ins belonging to the local Druids: Lodge, of which Hemplcman was treasurer, and which money lie said he had forgotten to bank.

An application by the police for an adjournment was granted to February 2nd. to permit of an audit of the hooks, and tho attendance of Dr. Murray, who had treated witness I-lempleman for his injuries.