FOUR SHOPS WRECKED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 817, 22 March 1910, Page 3

FOUR SHOPS WRECKED.

Mki.uouknk, March 19

A mysterious explosion, resulting in the destruction of four shops took place at Brunswick Street, one 01 the leading thoroughfares of l-it/.ioy, a suburb ol Melbourne.

Eleven persons were residing in the wrecked premises at the time of the occurrence. A man named Crabtree, a grocer, was seriously injured. He was discovered buried in the debris.

A Mrs Sneddon and her daughter were severely hurt. The explosion was accompanied by a vast sheet of flame, which is supposed to be attributable to gas, hut the details at present available are meagre.

Mki.l!Ocknk, March 20. The tour shops were almost de molished by the explosion.

A man named Shaw has made a confession to the police, alleging that recently Crabtree effected an insurance on his stock, and removed about £2OO worth. Shavings were carted to the place in large quantities, and he and Crabtree on Friday night saturated these with methylated spirits and benzine. It was arranged that when the place was well alight, Shaw should jump from the verandah aud give the alarm, but the scheme miscarried ; aud when Crabtree struck a light a violent explosion followed. Shaw knew no more.

The explosion damaged 47 other buildings, the majority slightly.

On both sides of the street all the windows for a long distance were shattered.