Inquest on the Body of a Man Unknown.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 155, 22 May 1886, Page 4

Inquest on the Body of a Man Unknown.

An inquest was held on Saturday afternoon at tho District Hospital, before Dr Philson, coroner, and a jury on the body of a man unknown, who died in consequence of injuries received at the fire at, the Railway Coffee Palace, which occurred on the morning of the 14th inst. Tho following juries were sworn : -Alfred Eustace, (foreman), James Hunter, Wm. Nealey, Wm. Holben, Thomas Trudgeon, and John Tozer. Detective Tuohy represented the police The following evidence was taken. Constable Patrick John McGovern de posed that he wag stationed in Auckland. Had seen the body of deceased. Did not know his name, but identified him as the man he saw lying on the floor of the Waitemata Hotel on Friday morning at 4.20. He appeared to bo in great pain. Witness ascertained that he was one who had iumped from the top window of the Coffee Palace in Lower Queen-street on the occasion of the fire. He was the first constable at the fire, and broke open tho door. He wag in Queenstreet when the fire broke out, and mot the H arbour Board watchman (Watts), who told him that he suspected a fh*e was breaking out in the boarding-house kept by Mr Borsboom. At that time he saw neither smoke nor fire. Saw no people about ex- j cepting the watchman. Sent him to ring the lueurance bell. After breaking open the door and walking through the house, he saw that a fire was raging inside towards the rear of the house opening into Little Queen-street, and ho cried out, •'Fire, fire 1" The fire was burning rapidly, rising apparently from the kitchen, fle was unable to enter the kitchen. There was a great deal of smoke, but no particular smell in the house. Went outside, and called out lustily tor help. Some one threw out a mattress from an upper window on to the pavement. A in an and three females 1 came out of the first story window. The females were about to jump from the ledging. He cautioned them, and two of them descended by a ladder which he placed against the, house. The proprietor and Mrs Borsboom waited with a child, which Mrs Borsboom cautiously dropped into witness's arms, a distance of about 12 feet. They went on to the next house. He was then joined by Constable Kilkenny, who went to the rear of the house. He believed there were about 30, lodgers in the house. ' Knew nothing of the internal arrangements. Deceased was among the injured men. Understood that he had jumped from the upper floor window.,, They were all taken to the Waitemata Hotel, and received the

attentions of Dr. Dawson and Dr. Walker. They were all conveyed to the Hospital. Saw no more of deceased. Daniel Edward Lepine deposed that he) was a waiter at the Coffee Palace and Tradesmen's Arms. The two establishments were combined under one proprietor ship. Knew the deceased, but did not know hia name. He said he was a cook from the Boycotted Butchery. He took sixpenny meals. He slept in the house on the night of the fire, but he had nothing to do with the lodging department On the night of the 13th he went to bed at 9,15 in a room on the third story. Henry Neleon, the second cook, slept in tho same bedroom. About 2.30 Mr Borsboom called our, " Tell Dan the houae is on tire, and not to get excited." He jumped up and knocked at the doors of the lodgers. He did not speak. There were 13 lodgers on the upper floor, but could not speak as to the numbers. Mr Bordboom always went round at 12 pm. to see that all was right. He had nc charge of the fires in the house Knew of no fire in the housa save that in the kitchen, which was all right when he passed through on going to bed. It was a large cooking range which was kept burning until midnight. Nothing unusual was observed. Nelson first aroused him from sleep. He said, "Dan, get up. There's fire." He opened the door. Had no light, Recalled the lodgers. Saw no flame at thia time. Smoke was in the lower rooms. Told the lodgers to clear out of their rooms and go forward down the passage. The deceased occupied either 12 or )3. Saw him in the passage outside hia bedroom, in his shirt. Told him to go towards Little Queen-st., as there was a stairca?e. Did not see him jump, but on going downstairs he was surprised to see him lying in his shirb ; ho was groaning. Helped to shift him across the street to the hotel ;he did not speak. Two other? wore lying on the ground. Saw a third man fall from the window. Asked the people to look to the injured men. He returned to the house and tried to get up stair?, but was prevented by the dense smoke. Called out, "Are you all sale?" [leard voicop, and called Wm. Bennett, who assisted in holding a ladder on their shoulder?, by ■which means two men descended in safety. (Tho remaining portion of this witness's evidence appeared in the Star of the 14th inst ) He believed the rooms were in accordance with the regulations. Had never seen an inspector i there. The rooms were not crowded. They are nearly all single rooms. Had no fire escape in the house. Had the lodgers kept their presence of mind, and took hia advice they might all have been saved. >'o strong drink allowed in the house. There is a smoking room. He lost hia clothing and box, which he valued at JE4 10s. By Detective Tuohy : He was sure the body he saw was the body of the man who said he came from the butchery By the Foreman: Deceased lost his presence of mind, or he might have been saved. John Richard H. Bond, B.M , and House Surgeon ot the District Hospital, deposed that the deceased was brought to the Hospital at 430 on the morning of tho 14th inst. with four others, all more or less injured by fire and falls. Deceased was unconscious ; the pulse was feeble, and its beating was scarcely perceptible. He was suffering from fractured riba and injured ppine ; his collar bone was fractured, nose broken, also several toe 3 on his right foot; no fracture of the skull. He only survived half-an-hour. He had a shirt on, but. no troupers ; was wrapped in a blanket (Sleeve links found in the shirt produced.) Death resulted from the shock and injuries received by the fall. He looked about 50 years of age. Henry Borsboom deposed that ho was the proprietor of the x'estaurant known as the Tradesmen's Arms and Coffee Palace. Had seen the body, but could not recognise it as the body of the man who lodged at his house. be might have been there on the night of the fire. Personally he knew nothing of his death. Witness then repeated the statement made to our reporter. He could accommodate 82 boarders in his house, which was never overcrowded. No beds on the ground flour, 29 on the second, and 43 beds on the top floor. 25 or 26 lodgers were in the house at the time of the fire. Only one fire iv the house. Tho range was an invention of his own. He looked at the range at 11,45 on Thursday night; there was very little fire in the grate; shut it up before retiring and put the etock-pot on The kitchen floor was of wood. Occasionally put wood in the oven to' dry for easy lighting in the morning, but put nothing of the kind in on that eight. No clothes wero hanging before the fire. Turned off the gas at a quarter to 12, and was in bed before tho clock struck. The chimney did not require sweeping; never had it swept in his time during two years. (The Coroner thought this was rather remarkable.) Witness could not say that the deceased did not lodge in his house that night, but he had no recollection of him. He could not tell where the fire originated, but thought it must have been in tho kitchen. Mr Goldie inspected hid house two years ago ; had no tiro escape on the premises when he took the house. Mr Goldie suggested an alteration in the staircase, which was effected. Three or four months ago a fire occurred in No. 17 bed-room through a lodger smoking, but it was at onco extinguished. Waa insured for £800 ; had been insured two years ; estimated his loss at £1,500. Alfred Bryce, bookkeeper, -was lodging at Boreboom's on the night of tho fire. Had seen the man several times on Quoen-street Wharf, but did not know his name. Witness occupied No. 23 room. Saw deceased lying on the road, and assisted to carry him to the other side of the streot. He was the last of the lodgers that left the top fiat. A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned, a rider being added that boarding houses should be provided with fireescap.es.