FIRE INQUIRY AT ASHBURTON.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1816, 16 December 1879, Page 3

FIRE INQUIRY AT ASHBURTON.

[Bx Telesbaph.] ASHBURTON, December 15. An inquest on the late fire in Tancred street, Ashburton, was held yesterday at the Magistrate's Court, Ashburton, before F. Guinness, Esq., and a jury of which Mr D. Williamson was chosen foreman. The inquest, in which great interest was shown, was not concluded till a late hour last night. Mr Branson appeared to watch the case on behalf of Mr Fowler. Inspector Pender conducted the inquiry. After viewing the scene of the fire evidence was taken. W. H. Gundry, Ashburton representative of the South British Insurance Company, stated that the two shops belonging to Mr Fowler, which had been burnt, had been insured in their office in November, 1877, for £4OO. The stook was insured for £SOO in October, 1877. The policies were in force at the time of the fire, the one on the building being renewed on the afternoon of the day the fire occurred. In September last Fowler had aleo an insurance on his stock for £4OO in the London and Lancashire, but this was subsequently reduced to £2OO on the representation of witness's office, so the total insurance on the stock at the time of the fire was £7OO. By examining Mr Fowler's books and ascertaining his purchases from the various merchants, witness thought his stock at tho time of the fire was worth about £640. Fowler's stook was insured in his own name, but the buildings in the name of the Land, Building, and Investment Society of Ohristchurch. W. Pratt, police sergeant, deposed that the upper part of the buildings were first on fire. He went to Mr Fowler after the fire, and he told him he had saved two boots and his cashbox, with the insurance policies in it. Fowler said he had been doing a trade of £IOOO a month, and the stock burnt was worth £IOOO. Fowler told him he always took his books and cash-box home with him. Henry Fowler, son of the storekeeper, said there were three rooms over tho shop. They were rough-lined. No inflammable matter was stored in them. Had one ton of kerosene in bond on the night of the fire, which was kept in an outhouse. Left the office at 10 p.m. on the night of the fire. Thero was no gas in the office or in the spirit stores ; only in tho shop. Soon after they reached home a man named Tait told them their shop was on fire. They ran back and let the horses out. The fire broke out of the roof. The Btock was worth about £9OO or £IOOO. David Amos, Fowler's shopman, gave similar evidence. Had no conversation on the subject of the fire or the insurance on the day of the fire. A child named Ada Gates deposed that she heard a conversation about 10 a.m. on the morning of the fire between the shopman, Amos, and another man. Amos said the buildings were old, and if one were burnt, the rest would be. Heard the words fire and insurance used by Amos. John Fowler, owner of the premises destroyed, estimated his loss at £IOOO. He put out the office fire himself on the night of the Are. Had complained of sparks from Hydes' chimney. The office chimney was clean, but since the fire he had noticed a crook in it.

Emma Hydes lived next door to Fowler. Heard the "door locked when they left Bud five or ten minutes later heard the crackling of flames. Thought it was in the offiee.but on going outside saw a bright flame upstairs. Hydes, husband of laßt witness, deposed that he also saw the firo in Fowler's, upstairs, when called by his wife. His stock was not insured at the time of the fire. Thomas Hicks said that on the night of the fire he saw three lights, one in Fowler's shop, and another in the office, the other upstairs. They were like candles. There was no fire on the roof or gutters at this time, which was about ten or fifteen minutes before the fire. He believed there was only cne back window to Fowler's premises. Mary Ann Hicks, wife of the previous witness, heard Fowler, his son, and another person talking. After the voices stopped heard a noise like wood crackling. Was in bed upstairs at the time the fire came through the partition from Fowler's, ten or fifteen minutes after tho conversation between Fowler, his boh, and tho other person ceased. Mr Davidson, a neighbour, said the alarm of fire was given not more than from ten to fifteen minutes after Fowler and hie son passed on their way home. William Hydes, a boy, deposed to seeing Fowler pouring kerosene from one tin into another on the morning of tho firo. The latter tin was found empty after the fire. John Fowler, recalled, said ho had filled a bottle from a tin on the day mentioned, but had not filled a tin. The jury, after an hour's deliberation, returned a verdict to the effoct that the fire was the act of an incendiary, but who that incendiary was there was not sufficient evidence to show. There were two dissentients from this verdict.