THE WINDMILL ROAD FIRE.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2130, 21 December 1880, Page 3

THE WINDMILL ROAD FIRE.

An inquest was held yesterday at 2 p.m. at the Oity Council Chambers before J. W. S. Coward, Esq., coroner for the district, on a fire whioh occurred in the Windmill road on the Bth inst. Mr Hiorns was chosen foreman of the jury. The. Coroner said there was nothing to see at the place of the fire, except the ruins of the chimney. It was known as the old Shearer's Arms.

Mr Thomas appeared to watch the oase for John H. Carson, the occupant ef the premises at the time of the fire. Serjeant Morioe oonduoted the oase for the Grown.

John Henry Carson deposed that he had purchased a section of land and house in Antigua street from one James Banks. The purchase was made, he believed, in April of the present year. The cost was £4OO. There were two old breweries on the land, as well as the old hotel. There were altogether about seventeen large and small rooms in the building occupied by him. There was a itook of fancy goods, crockery, and sundries in the building, as witness kept a general store. On the evening of the 7th instant, all were in bed shortly after nine o'clock. The doors were locked, and witness saw that there was no fire burning that would do harm. There might have been embers. There was a fire that day in both kitohens. About 1.30 a.m. on the Bth he was awakened by a crackling noise. Witness went to see where the fire was, and found the place in a mass of flame, proceeding from one of the kitchens where the fire had been during the day. There was a small lumber room between the kitchen and the bedroom occupied by witness and his wife. In a box at the head of the bed there were £IOO in notes. He had an acoount at the Bank, and this money had been accumulating for some two months. There were four children and the servant girl sleeping upstairs. They were got out by witness. Nothing was saved but the blinds and a dress worn by his wife. Witness had removed nothing from the premises except what was bought by purchasers, during the three years they had been in the place. About one o'clock on the 7th inst. the small kitchen caught fire while they were melting lead at a wood fire in there. The shingles of the roof and the lining boards near the chimney caught fire. The ohimney was defective. He estimated his loss altogether outside of insurance' as £BOO. The furniture and stock were insured for £IOO in the South British, and the building in the Viotoria for £3OO. He had increased the insurance by £IOO from what it was before he bought it, as he had spent over £l5O on the house.

In reply to Mr Thomas, the witness stated that the only reason he could assign for the fire was that the one breaking out in the day had smouldered and broke out again. Alfred John Wilson deposed that on the 7th inst. after one o'clock a.m. he was passing the house whioh was' burnt down and noticed nothing particular about the house. He saw a man lying down near the house, between the house and the asphalt. Witness spoke to him, but the man did not answer. He thought he was drunk. There was not the slightest sign of fire at seven minutes past one o'clock so far as witness could see.

William Bennett deposed as to the house catching fire on the afternoon of the 7th whilst melting lead. In reply to Mr Thomas the witness stated that it was not possible for any one going past on the footpath to see if a f>re was in the little kitohen, as the glass doors were shaded by curtains. He was certain that they mutt have left some fire smouldering when the fire took place in the afternoon. Margaret Taylor also gave evidence as to the fire in the afternoon on Carson's premises. In reply to Mr Thomas the witness said that there did sot appear to be any alteration in the stook or furniture on the 7th when she was there.

Annie Tonks, servant to Mr Carson, deposed to being aroused at 1.30 a.m. on the Bth by Mr Carson telling her the house was on fire. On Friday last Mr Oarson had some conversation with witness, and told her that it was likely she would have to go to Court on Monday next. This was all that passed. In reply to Mr Thomas, the witness said there was not a moment to spare in getting

oat of the house. Mr Carson never spoke to witness about what she had to say that day. James Hunt' deposed to having gone over the premises with Carson on the Ist inat. He did not see much furniture or stock, but there might have been. Sarah Potts deposed to seeing Mr Carson at the time of the fire. He had his usual coat, hat, and trousers on. George Mullina deposed to seeing Carson fully dressed at the time the house was burn-

ing. Jane Carmiohael deposed to hearing noises in Carson's house on the sth, such as would be produced by heavy boxes being moved about in the kitchen.

In reply to Mr Thomas, the witness said that she hearing a noise, and the fire taking place directly afterwards, had arrived at the conclusion that the property was being removed.

H. F. Wagstaff gave evidence as to Carson endeavoring to insure his furniture and stook-in-trade in the South British for £IOO, viz., £7O on stock and £3O on the furniture. The witness went to see the premises, and thought there was a fair margin of value. It was insured for the amount. Carson proposed to insure the building for £2OO in the South British.

In reply to Mr Thomas, the witness said that everything was fair and above board, and Carson, when he quoted 35s per cent, as the price of insurance, declined to do business. F. M. Allison, clerk in the Victoria Insurance Company's agency here, deposed to the building destroyed having been insured by Carson in their office for £3OO. Carson put on another £IOO to the old insurance in the name of Banks. Witness was of opinion that £3OO was a fair insuranoe.

This closed the evidenoe brought forward by the police. Mr Thomas said he desired to call one or two witnesses on behalf of Carson.

David G-ridler deposed to having repaired two chimnies for Mr Carson in Antigua street in July last. The small chimney from the kitchen was in a very bad condition. Mr Carson instructed him to make it secure. There was a portion of the chimney between the roof and the ceiling which it was impossible to get at. Witness did the best he could with the work. Margaret Taylor, senior, deposed to seeing Carson on the morning of the fire, while the house was burning. He had no coat on until witness lent him one of her husband's. The coat was dark blue or dirty black in color. The Foreman said that the jury were unanimously of opinion that the fire was the result of accident. The proceedings, which lasted from 2 to 5.30 p.m., then closed.