HORRIBLE AFFAIR AT WAIUKU, AUCKLAND.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 705, 22 September 1876, Page 3

HORRIBLE AFFAIR AT WAIUKU, AUCKLAND.

The correspondent of the Herald supplies the following particulars of this shocking accident, which happened a few days ago, as revealed at the inquest:— Julia Gleeson deposed—l am the mother of the deceased child. On the evening of Friday, the 7th September, I left the deceased, who was fifteen months old, asleep in a cot, and fastened the door of the house, and went away a short distance. As soon as I came on the hill, I saw the house was in flames. I ran along the gully as fast as I could, crying “My baby 1 my baby 1” There was no one at the house when I got there. I then opened the door and thought to go in. I rushed to the window where the baby was, and as I got there my husband came up and tried to enter by opening the window. I heard the baby say “ Mamma I" three times. My husband could not get in, though he tried repeatedly, on account of the smoke and flames. The house was burnt in a very short time. I left but very little fire in the fireplace. I first saw the fire in the dairy which is part of the house. No one came to my assistance, nor could I see any one about. Mr Dickey came soon after, but too late to save my child. William Gleeson deposed—l am the father of the deceased child. Yesterday evening I was away from the house for a short time, getting firewood. I heard my wife screaming, “My baby 1 my baby !” I ran back, and saw the house all in flames. I tried, but failed to make an entry into the house. There was then an explesion of kerosene and powder which was inside the house. The child no doubt was dead before this, although I heard him scream when I first came up. When I first saw the house, the part used as a dairy was on fire on the roof of the weather side. I have no idea of the cause of the fire. I was there ten minutes before it occurred with a load of wood, and there was no sign of fire then. Part of the house was thatched, and it was there I first saw the fire. The chimney was at least twelve feet from the thatched part. Mr Dickey came and rendered all the assistance in his power, but my nearest neighbour who was at home and lives but a short distance off, did not. I saw him when I was last at the house, under the hedge. The chimney was on the weather side of the house. I did not smoke when at the house last, nor was there any chance of the children getting matches. I know there was but little fire left. The chimney was of slab, the inside lined with zinc, and mortar between. The foreman wished the jury to see the remains of the house, and having done so, Mr Gleeson continued —I believe the fire was not accidental, but that the house was set on fire by some one. I have my suspicion. The last time I saw Bvetts he was ou his own ground, in the garden, behind the hedge, about eight chains from my house. There was no tea-tree about the chimney for a pigstye. David Evetts deposed—l was in my new house at 5p m. yesterday, mending a pair of boots, whem my wife ran up to tell me that Gleeson’s house was on fire. I said I did not think so —the smoke often cornea through the thatch ; but she said the roof was in a blaze. I then went down to my old house. I heard screaming all the time. My wife said she would run over. I went sometime afterwards. A short time elapsed before I went. I would have gone before, but I was minding the children, I gave no assistance. The body of the child was not recovered when I left. John Dickey deposed—l saw a fire at about 5 p.m yesterday, rising at the back of Mr Gleeson’s house. I ran, and on coming to the house it was all on fire. I looked around, bnt there was no possibility of entering, Mrs Gleeson told me her baby was inside. I made an attempt at several places, but could not get in ; the only thing I could do was to pour water on the place the child was supposed to be, and after aomi time we got the remains of the child, fearfully charred. This is the body now on view. By the jury—Evetts came, but I was there fully ten minutes before him, although 1 had to run a mile. When he came he rendered no assistance whatever. Mrs Evetts came before he did. Nearly all the jury were in favour of a rider being added to the verdict of culpable negligence on the part ot Evetts, but it was toned down to an expression of regret at his inhuman conduct. The verdict was—“ That the child, Patrick Gleeson, was burned to death at Kohekohe on Friday, 7th September, 1876, in the dwelling house of William Gleeson, but there is no evidence to show how the fire occurred,”