THE BROADWAY FIRE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 20, 24 May 1915, Page 6

THE BROADWAY FIRE.

OFFICIAL INQUIRY. An inquiry was held by the ActingCoroner (Mr C. 1). Sole, J. L*.) at the Stratford Magistrate’s Court this morning. Sergeant Dale conducted the case ou behalf of the Police. Mr E. S. Rutherford appeared on behalf of the owner ot 'the premises (Mr I'. ■W. Wake, of Auckland); Mr R. Spence appeared for the owner of the billiard room (Mr B. F. Corrigan, oi Hawera); and* Mr T. C. Fookes appeared on behalf of Mr Mercer. The jury consisted of Messrs R. Masters (foreman), W. P. Mark, J. Fredric, H. J. Hopkins, G. Hunter, and W. Robinson. , After the Acting-Coroner had formally charged the jury, the following evidence was tendered ; POLICE. Scregant Dale, Stratford, said that the only evidence he had as to the value of the premises was based on a letter he had received from the Insurance Co., who estimated the value at £7OO. If the jury were not prepared to accept this, he would have to subpoena the Town Clerk (Mr Skoglund). The Foreman said that the Jury would accept the letter.

THE HAIRDRESSING SALOON

Thos. Mercer, hairdresser and tobacconist, said that he occupied the shop in Broadway on 11th May. The fire took place on the morning of 12th May. His stock-sheets showed value of stock and fittings as £I3OO. Stock and fittings to value of £I3OO were in the building on the night of the fire. Of the stock, the bulk was totally destroyed. He paid £2OO rent to Mr Wake for the whole building. He sublet the billiard room to Mr Corrigan for £IOO per annum, tie did not own the stock in the billiard room. There was an insurance of £6OO on the stock and fittings in the Phoenix Office. There were no fires in the premises, on the evening of 11th May. He had a fair stock of matches in the shop, and there was one and a-half tins of kerosene, xv’hicli he used for heating water. There were four compartments in the shop and nothing inflammable in the shop or store room. The back room was used as a store room for surplus stoex. There was no straw or waste paper of any description lying about. The kerosene tins were about 3ft from the fire place, one tin being unopened and the other half empty. A person could get under his building from Pivac’s side. A person in the railway ya-d and right-of-way could get under the building through some loose corrugated iron, and one could easily get in from the side hear the restaurant. He left the premises at 6 p.m., leaving the place locked up. He -did iy t return to the shop, although he was in town again on business with a commercial traveller. Both he and Mr Kelly'‘fisfkPa key to the door leading from the back door of his shop to the billiard saloon. The key of the door at the back had been lost about a (reek prior to the fire, a fact which was reported by one Kivell, one of his assistants. He could give absolutely no idea as to the origin of the fire. He had formed the opinion that the fire originated in the back room between the door and the kerosene. The kerosene is still there and was there after the fire. He could not say whether any kerosene had been taken from the, tin. He hAd had no previous fires iu connection with his business premises. His loss amounted to £7(l0. To the Foreman: His loss (ff premises bore heavily upon him. He took rough stock last September. He had, then ££lloo on the sheets. There were no fires in his department of the building. The lost key had never been replaced. THE BILLIARD SALOON.

William Bernard Francis Corrigan, of Hawera, the proprietor of the billiard room and fittings, said he subleased the room from Mercer at £IOO per annum. He held a lease for three years from last January. The tables were of full £llO, (3) £IOO. He gave £550 for the room and fitetings. He had a New Zealand Insurance Co. policy for £3OO. He valued it at £493. He was in Hawera on the night of the fire. Mr W. Kelly conducted the rooms at a wage' of £3 per week. He had no idea as to' the origin of the fire. j To the Coroner: The property paid well. He had no enemies in Stratford who would he likely to firo the buildings. His loss was about £2OO. j William Herbert Kelly said he had been in charge of the saloon for the last four years and eleven months. He received £3 per week. No one slept' on the premises on the evening of the 11th. There was an exhibition match by Clark McConochie, and it termim ated a little before 10 o’clock. There were about sixty present. The hack door was used by Mercer and Kelly. During the match no one to his knowledge went in and out of the door. He knew the kerosene was in the room.' Patrons of his saloon never went out of the back door. There was a fire in the saloon all the evening. He left the premises a little before 11 p.rn., after locking up. The fire had burnt down low enough to justify his considering it safe. He thought the lire did not originate near the fire place. Mr Davis was with witness when ho left, the buildings. Witness called Davis’j attention to the fire, but Davis replied that it was safe. He missed the hack door key about a week before the fire. He tried hi* front door key and found it would lock tbe back door, and had used it since. The lost key has never been found. The building was lighted by electricity. He lujd no heaters or matches on tbe premises. Tbe audience on the evening were mostly sjnok-

ers. He had to eject one young man named Green, who had a lew drinks and had made objectionable remarks about the play. Witness could not account for the fire in any way. The windows were locked, and no one could get into the premises except by forcing an entrance.

To the Foreman : He had to take the key with which he locked the back door to lock the front door on leaving.

THE FISH SHOP. AI oil i Dean, a Dalmateian, said he was employed in Pivae’s shop-, and slept at the back of the restaurant. He saw Green about 6 p.m. having tea in the dining room. He was “just a bit drunk.” He retired at about 11.30 p.m. of 11.45 p.m. Later be heard a , crackling noise, and saw a reflection towards the railway station. He ran out into the street, where he saw Green at the front door taking jeweli lery out of Stone’s window. He saw no one else but Green. To the Coroner: He could not say whether Green brbke Stone’s window or not. o Leslie John Young said that on the night of the fire he left the saloon about 10 p.m. He then went to the Foresters’ Hall with a young minx named Louis Cramer. He left the Hall at about 1 a.m, with Cramer. After Cramer left him, he proceeded homewards past Mercer’s, but there was no sign of fire. The Post Office j clock showed 1.10 or 1.12 a.m. He saw ' a man standing at the station corner of Mercer’s, five yards towards the back. At the time he did not think it was Green, but afterwards he made a statement to the police hat he thought it was Green. He noticed several men holding an argument near the Bank of New South Wales. He was getting , into bed when he noticed the glare of the fire. He lived at corner of OrI lando and Fenton Streets, about three I minutes’ walk from the P.O. From l the time he saw the man at Mercer’s till he got home would not be more I than seven minutes. He went to the fire, hut did not remember seeing Green. He may have spoken to Green. There were-about 20 or 30 at the fire when he arrived there. To the Coroner: The man lie saw was of Green’s size and description. He thought that it was peculiar Dial a man should be standing rear the premises which afterwards was burnt.' To Mr Fookes; He notices the man standing near the building. The man moved towards the station alien he passed. He did not think it suspicious at the time. THE FIRE BRIGADE. Thomas Gilmore Grubb, Fire Brigade Captain, said he was informed that j the time of the alarm was 1.15 a n. When he reached the scene of Die fix; the back premises were bunting. He thought the fire originated at tne back door of Mercer’s. He did nut think the fire could have started hi the billiard room. The premises were boa ded to the ground. There was uc s.gii of any breakage of the understrncDno other than that made by the Brigade. ' He would give no theory for 'be file. ! GREEN’S MATE. John Blair Crossan, bricklayer, said that.at 6 p.m. he had tea at Pi vac s with Gropn, who was not sobe*’. He left the premises with Green. Alone he went to Kelly’s to see the til Hard match. Green came in abo it a few minutes later, but he was put out fm passing remarks, and got his money back. He then went for supper at Si sari ch’s with others, including Green; As a result of a disturnance in the rooms there was a figut in the street. After the fight, he look one of the fighters to the back of S'sarich’s and washed his face. When they had done that they sat at Anierson’s window. From the time the meal started till they got to Anderson s it would be about 1* hours. Green and Yandle were sitting at the window with witness. They sat there for about 20 minutes. Witness was sober. Green was “a hit mixed.” (Pressed by the Sergeant) “Green was drunk. . Then he left for home round King’s corner as far as the lower corner of the Rec., Cordelia Street. It took him about 10 minutes to get there. Green left them at Anderson’s, but came back in about ten minutes. From there they went to King’s corner. There was no trouble with Green. Green drew his attention to the lire. He did not think Green covdd run about two or three hundred yards shouting “fire.” Witness wont to the fire via Juliet Street and the Railway Station, and afterwards rang the boll. He was the only one at the fire boll. He afterwards assisted the Brigade as a fireman. Ho next saw Green at the scene of the fire after the fire was out.

William Green, laborer, married, said

lie lived near the racecourse, about half a mile from the scene of tlie lire. He left home about 5.30 on 11th May. He had only one' drink. He had a shandy at Lovett’s. He went to Bendad's, and remained there for a while, and then went to Kelly’s saloon. Ho had no other drink. Ho was asked to leave the saloon because be passed a remark on the game. He was perfectly sober at the time. He went back to BondaU’s. He left Crossan in Kelly’s. He did not remain in Bendad's, but bad one drink at the Stratford hotel with Bendad. He then returned to the saloon with Bendad;. Ho had supper with Crossan. There was a row between a “Scotch Bioko, one Wiseley, and one Yandle. There was a scrap. He did His best to stop the fight. The fight started in Sisarich’s, and was finished in the back street. After the fight lie went to the back of the shop to wash Yandle’s face. He had no more drink except one at Whittle’s. He remembered having three drinks only. To the Coroner: There was liquor in the room ; Wisely had it. He left An-

derson’s and went to the back. He did not know wliat time it was. From Anderson’s they went down Fenton Street. Witness was not drunk. At Cordelia Street be saw the glare in the sky. He fololwed Crossan to the tire. He ran up to King’s corner, then nj> to the tire. He did not know where the tire was till he got up to it. There was no one else to his knowledge there then. He sat down in the middle of the street to get his breath and called out “Fire!” Some one came out of Kirkwood’s hy£el. This person told him to ring the bell. Witness could not do so, as he could not run further. He teold the stranger where the bell was. The Brigade came and he remained in the road. He did not break Stone’s window. He saw it broken, but did notL notice who. did it. From the time he left Bendall’s till the time of the fire, he went no where near the burnt permises. An open verdict whs returned.