THE LATE FIRE AT BURNHAM.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 608, 31 May 1876, Page 3

THE LATE FIRE AT BURNHAM.

INQUEST. An inquiry was held yesterday, at Burnham, before Dr Coward, coroner, and a jury (of whom Mr Hugh Ferrers Knyvett wai foreman) touching the origin of the fir< which led to the destruction of the Burn ham Hotel, on the night of the 19th instant Inspector Feast watched the proceeding! on behalf of the police. The following evidence was taken : Joseph Catchpole, deposed—l have lived at the Buruham Hotel since the sth October last. It was licensed in my name. It be longed to Mr Doyle. On the 19th of this month I went to bed about ten o'clock ; my wife went to bed at nine or half past. There were two men also sleeping in the house. One retired about nine, tbe other at the same time as myself. I went round the the house and saw that all the lights were out when I retired. I did not go into the rooms which the men occupied. There were seven rooms in the house all on the ground floor. The rooms which the men oceupied were on the right hand side of the passage and the bar on the left. My wife and I slept on the right hand side of the passage. Adjoining the bar there was a door which led into ic, but which has been locked up since I had the house. The only fire in the house was that in the kitchen. It was burning until I and the men went to bed. We had previously been sitting by it. When I went to bed it appeared to be out. The kitchen we a lean-to at the back of the house. About eleven or half-past we were awakened by a crash, which I suppose was the shelves falling down in the bar. I jumped out of bed and went to call the lodgers, but could not get through the door on account of the flames and smoke coming from the bar. The fire was in the bar just bursting through to the bar parlour. There was an entrance from my bedroom to the bar parlour into the bar. I got out of the window to alarm the men, and theafound one of them at the street door in front, and the other I did not see UDtil some time afterwards, when I saw him outside dressing. The one who stood at the street door was naked at the time. The fire had not reached the men's room when I was first alarmed. It" had not got across the passage. So soon as I found the men were awake I went to a neighbour's, and personally only saved a couch. Mr Swift saved some things and handed them to me out of the dining room. I saved a gun and a bundle of clothes belonging to a gentleman who had been stopping with me (Mr Ball). There was a jacket, and two skirts, and a Bmall box of clothing, with a hat belonging to my wife, saved. I saved a suit of clothes of my own besides my underclothing, which I wore in bed. Nothing was saved from the bt»r. I can only think that a match may have fallen through some of the crevices in the floor of the bar as a cause of the fire. There ht»d only been two or three people in the bar that night since six o'clock. The cellar had no outlet to the road. I kept bottles there, but no grog or beer. The stock in the bar was worth £95, all sorts of wines and 'spirits It was all exposed on the bar shelves. I saved five chairs, a table, two single mattrasses, and a pair of blankets and cruet stand, and several sundries, all of which I value at £lO. All the rooms were furnished. I had arranged to leave the house two months ago. The place was not a good business place, but a place in which I had made money. I was insured for £l6O for stock, furniture, and clothes. I estimate my loss at £285 19s. I sent to Christohurch a fortnight ago some clothes of my sisters ; also some potatoes and some cheese. Some were packed in boxe3, and Borne loose in Backs. No clothing of my own or my wife's, nor any furniture from the house. There was a cask (a hogshead) sent down to be exshanged for a smaller one. It was booked to me in Christohurch to save railway charge. I saved my watch and cbain. My books were not saved, nor the cash, £ls in notes. It was on the shelf in the bar, I had £45 in my pocket, which I saved. I believed I locked the door of the bar and bar parlour when I went to bed. I don't think anyone could have got into the bar without my knowledge. Mark Woodfield, station master at Burnham railway station, deposed 1o being present at the fire. He saw Mr Swift trying to save things from the house, but not Mr Catchpole. Heard the latter say everything was burnt but what they had on. Most of the shelves were full of bottles, but he did not think there was much stock in the place. The last stock had come up on the 29th April; two hogsheads of ale; only one was delivered; the othor remained in the goods shed. On the 15th May witness booked a hogshead of ale and four boxes to Christchurch for Mr Catchpole. It went to Christchurch station in his (Catchpole'B) name. Mr Catchpole had told him that he did not intend to stop the winter at the hotel. He had said so more than once, stating that the place did not pay him. Before tbe fire there was a clock hanging up in the bar. Wituess afterwards searched the ruins, but could find no signs of it. He had been in the hotel several times, and did not it was well furnished. Believed £2O would cover the value of the furniture and stock when the fire took

place On the 15th of the month Catchpole had sent eight hundredweight of his goods to Christchurch. Thought there were two or three dozen bottles on the shelves when he last went into the bar.

Joseph Disher, depostd—That on the of the fire Catcbpole seemed very jolly after it was all over. Said that "He did not kill a pig every day of the week, and that he was not bo bad off, as he had £4O in his pocket, a house to go to in Ohristchurch, and £l5O in the bank." Mrs Catchpole had, previous to the fire, given him a st : ck of tobacco and some short pipes, saving, " You had better have them, we shall be going away in a few days." Several other witnesses were examined. After which the jury deliberated on their verdict, which they delivered as follows: " That the said hotel was wilfully set on ftri on the night of the 19th May, but by whom there is not sufficient evidence before the jury to Bhow."