ALLEGED INCENDIARISM.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 68, 25 July 1913, Page 6

ALLEGED INCENDIARISM.

I itt'* .>• i'j 'I n | i i'| •RECENT EIRE AT HUiROil A _ * 1 , . At Huij'oa yesterday', an inqtury^^ras 4i<sa .intp . a fire which occurred ifef Stanford’s store early on the morning of Die 19th. Mr- 0.l £>.- Sold,. acted as Coroner, and Mr Bocock was chosen! foreihaiv of the jury of six.

J. A. Stanford, owner of the premises, gave evidence that his store and dwelling were combined in the one building. About 2 o’clock in the morning of the IQth he was awakened by his wife calling “Eire.” He went outside and found the corner of the shop on fire. His wife procured some water, which was thrown oh the fire. A neighbour, Kerrisk, was then called up, and with his help the fire was extinguished. While witness was feeling underneath the flooring to see if there was any heat there he felt four pieces of wood, also pieces of a bottle which smelt of kerosene. A .few of the lining boards had to be removed ,in order to put the fire out. The total damage was about £lO. He had three dogs tied up outside, hut ho did not hear them barking at the time. There was a bakehouse between the dogs and where the fire was, and the dogs could not see the spot. The building was insured for. £2OO in the State Office, and the stock for £4OO in the Phoenix Office. In his opinion the stock was insured at just about its value. The house cost between four or five hundred pounds when erected, and had since been added to.

Margaret Stanford, wife of the previous witness, stated that she was awakened by a roaring noise. She at first thought it was the ballast train, but as the noise continued she got up to investigate, when she saw a glow of fire from the direction of the shop. She at once awakened her husband. She did not hear”tho dogs barking at the time.

Michael Kerriek, settler, said he lived about a chain and a half from Stanford. On the morning in question lie was lying awake for about five minutes before he was called out. He did not hear the dogs bark, though they usually harked at anything. Ho saw nobody when on his way to Stanford’s.

The jury returned a verdict that the building was wilfully «et on fire by some person or persons unknown.