SUSPICIOUS FIRE. Incendiarism Suspected as the Cause. Madame Valentine Arrested by the Police. Auckland, March 2.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 92, 7 March 1885, Page 3

SUSPICIOUS FIRE. Incendiarism Suspected as the Cause. Madame Valentine Arrested by the Police. Auckland, March 2.

Rokeby-street was the scene of a destructive conflagration between two and three o'clock this morning. Paddington Villa, a well-known house of ill-fame, was converted into ashes, while the residence of Mr Thomas Quoi was badly damaged, and other surrounding houses injured to a greater or lesser extent. The brothel in which the outbreak occurred was rented by a woman known as Black Julia, but whose real name is supposed to be Julia Wilson. She was in possession last night, and a number of girls of loose character lived with her on tho premises. It appears that one of these, named Hennessy, was awakened about 2.30 a.m. by a crackling of flames, and she gave the alarm. Julia Wilson alarmed the neighbours, and within a few minutes the tire-bells were ringing. Tho fire had obtained a good hold before it was discovered, and some time necessarily elapsed before the Fire Brigade reached the scene. There was then no possibility of saving Paddington Villa, which was

Completely Enveloped in Flames. There was a good pressure of water available, and Superintendent Hughes directed a lead of hose to be taken from the plug in Upper Queen -street, and played betwoen Paddington Villa and Mr Thomas Quoi's house, which is separated from it by a very short space. This kept the fire in check, while two leads were brought from the plug in Rokebystreet, about twenty yards distant One ot these was played on the rear and the other on the main body of the fire. There was not the slightest doubt at that time that the outbreak had occurred in the backportion of the Villa, as the fire was burning towards the front. VVithin a very few moments from the arrival of the Brigade several copious streams of water were beiner directed against the burning building, and with admirable effect. The occupants of bouses for a distance of several hundred yards were meanwhile busily engaged in the removal of their furniture, but in the majority of cases their course of action was anything but judicious. The Brigade had the fire in hand so rapidly that there did not appear to be any danger of damage beyond that which was certain to be done to the adjoining house occupied by Mr Quoi.

Progress of the Fire. Those who were watching this house closely soon observed signs which indicated that the wooden roof under the iron sheeting had taken fire. The ceiling was promptly pulled down, and the seat of this incipient outbreak reached by means of a handpump. The shingles of the next house occupied by Mr Poulson also took fire, and immediately afterwards emoke was seen ascending from the eaves of the Brick House opposite. A carefully • directed stream of water quickly removed all cause for alarm, but the intense heat rendered it necessary to play upon both buildings again and again. Paddington Villa was ere long completely reduced to ashes, and the utmost efforts of the brigade could not prevent almost the whole of ono side of Mr Quoi'3 house [from being burnt. The fencing around the Brick House shared a like fate. The firemen continued to play upon the debris, and it was not until two hours later that Superintendent Hughes was able to call off his men. We should mention that during the progress of the conflagration, the Salvage Corps, under Captain Field, rendered valuable assistance, while a number of members of the Naval Artillery worked heartily in saving household property and assisting the Brigade. The police, too, mustered in force, and rendered useful service.

Discovery of the Fire. Detectives Twohey and Hughes lost no time in investigating the circumstances connected with the fire, and these, it may be added, are of an exceedingly suspicious character. The house is one respecting the conduct of which repeated complaints have been made to the police. Disorderly scenes are said to have been of nightly occurrence, and yielding to the appeals of the residents, the police at last gave the occupants notice to quit. They had made their arrangements accordingly, and would probably have removed to their new mansion this week. There were in the house at the time of the outbreak, Julia Wilson, Lily Cash, Annie Dunn, Lizzie Hennessy, and Madame Valentine, otherwise Becquet. Madame Valentine is the owner of the house, and was accustomed to receive a rental of £6 per week from it. She has been in Sydney lately, but the action of the police in ordering the girls from her house, and the certain loss of revenue thereby involved, are said to have led to her return. She came back to Auckland by the Wairarapa last Wednesday, but does not appear to have been stopping at the villa until last night. As we have already said, the alarm was given by the girl Hennessy, who was sleeping en a couch in the sitting-room. She was awakened by the crackling of flames, and upon rising found smoke and flames ascending from the kitchen on the lower floor. She also says

The Gas Exploded in a small room at the top of the stairs, and shattered the glass in the diningroom windows by the force of the concussion. There were several men in the room at the time besides the women named, and these lost no time in making their escape. Two of them were seen by a resident in the neighbourhood making their way over the backyard fence clad in garments of a decidedly scant character. Their Sunday-goto-meetings were rashly left behind to add fuel to the flames, or to assist the detectives in their investigations. Julia Wilson informed the police that there had been no fire in the kitchen downstairs during the day. She went through that portion of the house with a candle before they retired to rest, and everything was then perfectly secure. Neither she nor the girls who were with her can account for the fire breaking out. They all went to bed at 1 o'clock, and there was no disturbance in the house until the alarm was given by the girl Hennessy. Julia Wilson immediately ran out, and, rapping at Mrs Quoi's door, called fire and awakened her. Mr Quoi was sleeping at his restaurant in town. All the girls, with the exception of Madame Valentine, took refuge in the brick house opposite,

Arrest of Madame Valentine. The facts connected with the outbreak were of such a suspicious character that Detectives Twohey and Hughes promptly decided to place Madame Valentine under arrest on the oharge of incendiarism. Some difficulty was experienced in discovering her whereabouts, but at six o'clock this morning she was found at the house of a woman named Annie Absalom, in Upper Nelson-street,and taken in custody. We are not aware of the nature of the evidence to be brought against her,, but the officers no doubt were justified in

their action by the information in their possession. It is, however, alleged that since her return from Sydney last week, Madame Valentine has been threatening that if she could not sell her house she would burn it down. The girls who were in the villa last night also declare that shortly before the fire broke out, Madame Valentine asked for a candle and matches, and having been supplied with these, went downstairs to the kitchen. Madame Valentine communicated with her solicitors, Messrs Hughes and George, by the latter of which gentlemen she will be represented.

Scene in Court. Madame Valentine appeared in the Police Court this forenoon, and was charged with unlawfully setting fire to a certain dwell-ing-houue situated in Rokeby-street with intent to defraud the South British Insurance Company. Superintendent Thomson said the prisoner was a well-known prostitute and brothel keeper. She was only arrested several hours previously, and he would therefore apply for a remand till next Friday. He did not know if bail would be applied for, but if so ne would oppose the application on the ground that the liberation of the prisoner at this stage might thwart the ends of justice. PerhapB he would not object to bail later on. The prisoner here began to sob violently. Mr George appeared for prisoner, and said that while he would not object to a remand, he thought that under the circumstances the prisoner should be admitted to bail. His Worship said he could not admit her to bail at this stage, and Madame Valentine left the Court under the guidance oi Constable Mitchell, crying hysterically. The case now stands adjourned till next Friday.

Insurances and Loss. The only insurances on Paddingron Villa was a policy in the South British, taken out by the mortgagee, for £300, but this amount had been reduced about a half by re-payments. Mr Quoi's house has been greatly damaged, and his furniture almost completely wrecked. His house is owned by himself, and is insured in the South British for £200, while the furniture is also insured for £100 in this office. Most oi the neighbours had their furniture more or less injured by removal. Immediately the firb was extinguished, the police searched at various spots among tho debris, and recovered a quantity or jewellery and money. The girls who were in the house lost all their clothes and other possessions.

Previous Outbreaks. The neighbours were not at all surprised at the destruction of the villa by fire, and they declare that they have long been expecting such an occurrence. Two previous outbreaks are said to have happened. On one occasion, about three months ago, the house took fire at the back, while only several weeks ago an , outbreak occurred in the parlour, but was extinguished without much damage being done. The nightly scenes in the house are said to have been of a most shocking and abandoned character.