FIRE AT MR. WARRENS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 14, 16 January 1872, Page 2

FIRE AT MR. WARRENS.

An enquiry was made into the cause of the fire which took place at Mr. Warren's, butcher, Bridge-street, Nelson, before W. Squires, M.D. Esq., Coroner, and the following jury : — Messrs. W. Wilkie (foreman), E. Barnes, VP. Darby, J. Gorrie, J. Graham, T. Harley, W. Healy, A. B. Jackson, — Jones, J. Lucas, J. Thornton, W. R. Waters, and T. S. Wymond. Henry Warren stated that the premises destroyed by the fire were not insured. They consisted of a five-stalled stable, with hay-loft and corn-shed. The property destroyed consisted of about two tons of hay, a little corn and straw, a cbaflcutter, and oatcrusher, the value of which was about £23 ; the damage to the buildings would amount to about £120. The fire was supposed to have originated in the corn-shed, in which there was nothing but the oatcrusher and a little straw and corn. Giblin and Ball were there about 5 o'clock tending the horses. He (Warren) passed the place about 6 o'clock, when the back gate was closed. Was tho la3t person on the premises, and left about ten minutes past six. No one was in the house, and no one could get into the back premises without getting over the fence. Anyone could get over the neighbors' fences into the premise s #

Had no idea or suspicion how tho fire originated. Nq one was smoking there. JosiaH GibliN said that he worked for Mr. Warren, and lived in the house. Was in the stable about five o'clock with Ball, attending to the horses for the night, but did not go into the corn-room. Left the premises with Ball about six o'clock, leaving Mr. aud Mrs. Warren at home. About 9 o'clock witness aud Heury Newport were at the Trafalgar corner, when they saw smoke issuing from the yard, and at once started for the back lane, and got over the gate into the yard, and saw that the straw was on fire, and the smoke was bursting out all round the roof. They then opened the gate, took out the horses, harness, and trap. Humphrey Ball stated that he worked for Mr. Warren, and lived in the house. Bedded down the horses about five. When the horses were finished he went into the corn-room, but had no light nor did he smoke. Had finished the ■•^lorse'sN .when Giblin came., G-ibliu wj-^-^*&(Jfr-..smoking. Did not get to* 'the place till after the firebell rung. This was all the evidence. A discussion took place among the jury on the paltry sum given by the Insurance Companies to lhe Fire Brigade, to whose exertions they owe so much. A verdict was given to the effect that there was nothing in the evidence to give a clue to the origin of the fire.

An Execution at Sarawak. — Two Djaks wore kriss:*d by tbe executioner on the 20th September, and an eye-witness gives the followiug account of the execution : — " It is by no means a pleasant sight, and the nerves of the spectators are very differently acted upon by it. As soon as tho graves had been dug, which is in such cases done previous to the execution, one of the crimiuals was brought lo the brink of one of them, and was made to sit down, and his legs were stretched out at right angles, with lm body in a sitting posture; about six men stood on his legs to prevent hira raisiug them when dying. Others held his back and legs. The executioner then drew his kris, and placed the point near the top of ihe criminal's right shoulder, in such a position as to have a free way to his heart. He then slanted his kris aud pierced , the body in the direction of the heart, aud moved it up aud down two or three times, cutting tbe heart to pieces. Upon this the blood might be heard rushing towards tho hole made by tho kris. When the blade was drawn out, the man expired in a few seconds. Whilst the blade was in his body, the man uttered a few deep-drawn sighs. The body was then thrown into tbe grave and covered up at ouce. The other criminal was then brought to the edge of his grave. His face was pallid, knowing that his comrade was already dead. For a short time he struggled, but soon had to give in. Tbe same method of krissing took place, except that in this instance he was krissed from the left shoulder in place of the right. The blade of course weut to tho heart in a perpendicular direction. Just previously to their beiDg executed, one of the dyaks on guard cut off their hair with a parang and distributed it among the dyaks present, each taking a little. While lhe criminals were dying, and the blade was still in tho body, the dyaks, having a white cloth ready, held it as close to the mortal wound as possible, to get some of the blood, saying it would make them strong and brave, at the came time licking it. Those who have no cloth bring a branch furnished with leaves. The executioner, an old man, rubs the krisses, when drawn out, on a piece of white cloth, which he then licks."