THE WANGANUI FIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8136, 19 June 1906, Page 4

THE WANGANUI FIRE.

A SERIOUS CASE. In the Wangunui arsou anil mufili? r case tlio evidence at the preliminary examination was startling, Stella Portland, a married woman living apart from her husband, stated that she came to the Cafe de Paris on April 28, and from then till tlie time of the fire lived with Asbwin, occupying the same room. On the night of the fire Ashwin slept till a quarter past eleven, when witness woke him to go downstairs and close the house. Ho was absent it few minutes, and when he returned lie sat at tlie foot of the

bed coughing. She said, " Why don ' you take your mediciue, Leu?" He replied, " It's downstairs," and wen for it. He came back, and was un- ■ tri'.sins, vlien a servant called "Eire!" iSjivm »uit along the passage, and

eou'ing back said, "For God's sake put your clothes on; the house is on tire." She got out of bed, put on a wrapper, and was dragged downstairs. She full most of the way. and when she reached the bottom she picked up Ashwin's portmanteau, which had followed her down. - Earlier in the evening the man who was found dead came and got a shilling from witness and bought a hot tic of beer, the contents being drunk in the room occupied by witness and Ashwin. John Glover, a hairdresser, and a boarder at the cafe, said a servant girl came into his room about 11 o'clock, and was sitting on his bed, when they heard Ash win go downstiiis Glover went to the stairhead, and heard a match struck in the kitchen, where the reflection of light immediately appeared. Glover and the girl made their escape, and saw in the street Ashwm, who asked what was the meaning of this. Glover replied, " 1 don't know what it means, but I'm looking for a policeman to look after you."

Millie Aubrey said that about three wpeks ago Ashwin look her upstairs, and said, " Can I trust my life with yon ?" She said " No," and then asked him why he put the question. He said, " I am going to burn the house do.vn to-night." Half an hour afterwards a (ire broke out in the kitchen, but it was easily suppressed.

William Francis Wall said he was put in the eafe on June o with a distress warrant for rent. Ashwin showed a cheque sullicicnt to cover the rent, but said he would see them d—d before he paid them. At lie occupied the room next to that occupied by Ashwin and Mrs Porland. About halfpast 11 he heard Ashwin go downstairs and on returning say, apparently to Mrs Portland, "It's alright. The place is on tire. You had better get up and put some clothes on." She said, "Oh,Lcn! Oh, Leu! what shall Ido ? Sliall I put on all my clothes, or only some of them P"