THE KAIAPOI MYSTERY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 11, 14 January 1903, Page 3

THE KAIAPOI MYSTERY.

FEB PBJSSB ASSOCIATIOH. Ohristchuhch, January 13. At Kaiapoi to-day, an enquiry was opeued into the fire which occurred at Egan's bre«e-y on the morning of January 3id, when the office and strong room were rifled. The jury proceeded to the brewery, and made a careful examination of the office and strong room, the contents of which were scattered about. The contents consisted of charred piccts of paper, and the desk was also partly burned. The whole interior of the strong room was blackened by fir*. The chief damage to the books was done to the eash book, the entries in which were burned and undecipherable. The ledger was also considerably charred, as was also the delivery book. Mr Egan drew attention to the fact of it being impossible for any on? man of ordinary strength to open the strong room door, owing to the air snet'on. Then was a piece of rope on the door handle, and a lever was placed in this to open the door. Frank G. Hempleman, the clerk employed at the brewery, repeated his statement as to having been attacked by two man outside his house early in the morning, and the brewery keys taken from him. He was closely examined as to the state of his ac counts, and admitted that he had been taken to task by Mr Egan for not promptly banking the takings. Among the missing, money was £l7 10] belonging to the local Druids Lxlge, of which Hempleman was treasurer, and which money he said he had forgotten to bank. „ On the application of the police, an adjournment was granted to February 2nd, to permit of an audit of the book", and of thi attendance of Dr Murray, who had tr?atad the witters Hemp'eman for his injuries