THE LATE FIRE.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 62, 15 May 1878, Page 2

THE LATE FIRE.

A coronial inquiry into the cause of the fire on the premises of Mr Henry Phillips, Palmerston, on the morning of Thursday, May 9th, was held in the Court House, Palmerston, on Monday, at one in the afternoon, before Dr. Rockstrow, Coroner for the District. A jury of eighteen were summoned, of whom Mr James Linton was chosen foreman. Mr Staite appeared to watch the proceedings on behalf of the various insurance companies in which Mr Phillips held policies. Before opening the Court, the Coroner intimated to Mr Staite that it would be necessary that any question which counsel thought fit to put to witnesses, should pass through him. Mr Staite suggested that in order to save time he should examine the witnesses, and the Coroner could object to anything irrelevant. This course being agreed to, the first witness called was Henry Phillips, who deposed : I am a storekeeper, residing at Palmerston, on the evening of the 8th instant, Mr Abrahams and his wife were at my place at about half past eight. Mrs Phillips took Mrs Abrahams into the parlor and they were doing needlework together. Mr Abrahams and myself remained in the shop, holding a general conversation. He asked if I was going to keep open all night, and I then closed up, some where about nine o'clock, and we both went into the parlor. After sitting a few minutes, he suggested that we should go for a walk, and we went as far as Mr Gilbert's. While we were there some one suggested that we should have a game of cards, and four of us, Mr Gilbert, Mr Abrahams, myself, and another gentleman, were the players. After we had a few games I left in company of Mr Abrahams for home. It would be then about eleven o'clock. On reaching home I made some port wine for Mrs. Abrahams and my wife. They sat drinking it and chatting for about half an hour, and then Mr and Mrs. Abrahams went home. I saw them out through the gate, after which I returned to the house, said my prayers, and went to bed. I was in bed for some time when I was awakened by my wife, who said there were some noise about. I told her to take no notice, as it was likely to be next door, meaning at the butcher's shop. A few minutes afterwards we heard more noise, like as if some one was at a door. My wife said that I had better get up, and see what it was. When I got up, the door of the bed-room being not quite shut, I opened it and saw a glare through a glass window, and cried out ."There's a fire." My wife then went into a smaller bed room, and pulled the little girl out of the bed. Not being quite sure as to the locality of the fire, I ran into the yard, out of the gate into the street, and shouted " fire." I suppose I shouted "fire" for some five or six minutes before anyone came. The first person I saw was Mr Dungan, who afterwards went into the house, accompanied by Mr Straker. They rendered assistance in removing the furniture, and after a few minutes several others also arrived and gave help. That is all I know of the matter. To the Coroner: When Mrs. Phillips was removing the child I could not say where the fire was— that is, whether it was in the house or shop. To Mr Staite : To the best of my belief I was insured for £2,000. That represented the whole of the amount. The stock-in-trade was insured for £1,500, and the building, with the furniture included, for £500. To the best of my belief the value of my stock was over £2,000, and I would estimate the building and furniture at between £700 and £800. The whole of the insurance was originally effected in my own name, but it has since been endorsed by me to J. E. Kathan. I am indebted to Mr Nathan to the extent of over £1,000. I have no other liabilities, and owe no other trade debts, unless trivial ones. I owe Mr Levy the sum of £1,000, and he holds the insurance for £500. Mr Levy is a merchant in Wellington. The debt is for bills endorsed some years since. Nathan holds security for £500 less than his debt. I merely guess at what I owe Levy, and have no reason for fixing it at £1,000. I estimate the ground to be worth about £500, and, consequently, if I only owed Levy £500 the ground itself would pay him, without the insurance; so that, only owing Nathan £1,000, there would be a surplus of £1,000. When I opened the bed-room door, I had no idea where the fire was, and only discovered it on going out into the yard. The fire appeared to be in the middle of the store. I had no kerosene in the store; but therefwas one case, a tin, and a broken tin out in the yard, at the rear of the shop. I took no steps to save the goods from the store. I tried but I could not get near it. When Mr Dungan and Mr Straker came, I went into the house to put my trousers on. I did not touch anything in the bed-room that I remember after Mr Dungan and Mr Straker arrived. I may have tossed up my bed, but I cannot remember that I did so. I do not remember whether I tried to save the bed and bedding ; I could not have saved anything out of it. I got out of the house by the front door, but did not notice any flames there. The kitchen is adjoining the room behind the store, but I did not notice any fire there. I had to pass through they sitting-room from the bedroom. We had some fire in both kitchen and parlor during the evening, but when we went to bed the fire in the latter was very low. I mean in the kitchen. I believe there was also fire in the parlor, but I could not swear to that fact. I took no notice of the fire-place when I came out. As a rule I am very cautious with fires, and on the night in question I put a guard be-

fore it. I instructed some one to remove the saved furniture to Mr Abrahams. Most of the furniture was saved from fire, but a quantity was broken and destroyed. I have some horses, which, for the last fortnight or three weeks I kept in the stables, close to the house. The horses were not harnessed on that night. I do not think it was half -past eleven when I left Gilbert's, but would not be surprised if witnesses should swear so. I cannot in anyway fix the time of night at which the fire occurred. I do not think that, between the time of leaving Gilbert's, we would have had time to drink the port wine hot, have half-an-hour's chat, and be asleep in forty minutes. Mr. Abrahams left the Royal with me, and stayed with me at my house for about half-an-hour. Directly he left, my wife and I went to bed. I did not go into the store before going to bed. I have not been lately hawking goods about the country, although I did make a trip to Feilding at Christmas, but I brought the goods back again. I deal in jewellery, .and I keep it usually exposed for sale in the store. I might have had about £50 or £60 worth, consisting of brooches, bracelets, and other things. They were all destroyed in the fire. I had a case of jewellrey usually kept in the shop, but it was not saved, only my wife's trinkets. I did not save even that, and do not know who did. I do not think my wife had an unusual number of rings on the night of the fire. To the best of my recollection l did not say to anyone that there was a case of jewellery planted in the garden. There was at cabinet planted there ; but by whom I do not know. I think Mr Turner, the banker, told me it was there, and I wanted him to take it home for protection or safety. Neither Abrahams nor myself were watching it. It was not part of the stock, but private property, I had some rings in stock, but not many. I do not know that any of the jewellery was saved. All my books were in the safe. They were completely destroyed. Every book had writing in it, and there were no dummy-ones. I have not been receiving much goods of late, but I valued by stock on the night of the fire at £2000. Stock has not been taken for the last two years, but when last taken was about £4000. I would be suprised to hear that a rough valuation taken lately set my stock down at £1000. I have not sold much goods of late. I broke open no door to get into the store, as it was all ablaze from one end to the other. I do not remember whether I interfered with the bed or not. I removed the jewellery out of the garden, but I could not say who put it there. I would be prepared to swear that my stock was worth £2000. I could not say what new stock I got within the year, but l had considerable quantities. To the Coroner : The distance from the store to my dwelling house is about twenty-five feet. To the Foreman : I had been making some improvements in the place. There may have been some matches about, but none loose that I know of. The sbop was lit up with eight lamps on the night of the fire. The kerosene appeared of the usual kind, and I put all the lights out before I shut up. The safe was a new one, but was filled with sawdust.. All my books and its contents were destroyed. To the Coroner: I have been in business in Palmerston for about six years and a half, and have always been insured but have not increased the amount within the last twelve months. To a Juror : When I referred to the cabinet being " planted," I meant it was behind some shrubs, with a door placed before it. To the Coroner : Whatever surplus remains, after satisfying Nathan's claim, will go to Levy. There is nothing setting forth that on the policy, but I suppose they have a verbal agreement to that effect. I expect to receive none of it. The debt to Levy is for bills endorsed ten years ago. He held a bill of sale over the house and ground. Caroline Phillips examined : I am the wife of Henry Phillips. I remember the night of Wednesday the 8th instant. Mr and Mrs Abrahams were at my place on the night in question. Sometime past eleven they went away, and before twelve o'clock Mr Phillips and I went to bed. I went to sleep, but was awakened by the noise of something falling. I called Mr Phillips to see what it was. He said he thought it was somebody next door. Shortly after I heard another noise, and my husband got up to see what it was. I understood him to say, " the house was on fire." I put on a dress, and then rushed to take the child up out of bed. I took her out of the house, and screamed "fire." That is all I remember. I did not save anything that I recollect, but may have taken my cabinet. It contained my ordinary jeweilery. I did not put away any jewellery belonging to the store (previous to the fire) into the cabinet. I generally wear about three rings on my fingers. I may have had on an extra one, but certainly not half a dozen. Neither Mr Phillips nor myself went into the store after the time of closing up. I cannot account for the origin off\ the fire. To Mr Staite: We had two fires on the evening—one in the parlor and one in the kitchen. I do not think the fire in the parlor was out when we went to bed. I think there ought to have been embers there. I should imagine Mr and Mrs Abrahams stayed half an hour from the return of the former from the hotel. We did not go to bed immediately afterwards. Mr Phillips said his prayers, and I was just in bed when he came into the room. I was awakened by a knocking at a door, but could not swear whether it was that or something falling. I would not swear which I said to my husband—falling or knocking. Mr Phillips, on getting up, called out, "The house is on fire !" We were both asleep in bed. It took me some time to waken the child ; she was drowsy, and I dragged her. I ran out screaming " fire !" after which I never returned into the house. I have no recollection of what I did, I was so confused. The horses were regu a ly kept for the past three weeks in the stable. I never remarked to anyone that the case of jewellery was planted in the gaivlen, or say that Phillips and Abrahams were watching it. I could not swear that I saved it. (To be continued in our next.)