OPUNAKE FIRES.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 November 1915, Page 6

OPUNAKE FIRES.

AN ENQUIRY YESTERDAY. OPEN VERDICT RETURNED. At Opunake yesterday a coroner's enquiry was held into tbo circumstances surrounding the recent fire at Opunake, when, on the night of October 6, an outbreak occurred in the residence owned by Frederick Jas. Buttenvorth, and as a result the residence, together with the adjoining one, owned by W. Cubbon, was totally destroyed, the contents of the former and the greater part of those of the latter also being burnt. Considerable local interest was taken in the proceedings, as there have been numerous fires in the district of late years, many of which have originated mysteriously. The court house was accordingly crowded throughout the enquiry, which was held before Mr. G. W. Rogers, .T.P., Acting Coroner, and the following jury: Messrs W. L. F. Chambers (foreman), W. J. Todd, 11. Dugan, S. Parkes, C. Sorrenson, and S. Feaver. Sub-Inspector Fouhy conducted the enquiry on behalf of the police, whilst Mr. F. J. Buttenvorth, owner of one of the cottages, was represented by Mr. A. H. Johnstone. Mr. A. Gow looked after the interests of Mr. W. Cubbon. The first witness called was Kenneth Burns Barn, manager of the State Fire Insurance Office, who deposed that his office held £l5O on the furniture, £IOO being taken out on June 26, 1900, and an additional £SO on July 0, 1912, and £2OO on the building on 'September 20, 1910. The insurance on the building was in the name of Abraham Clough, Opunake, as mortgagee. /Hie amount of the mortgage was £OO, He saw the furniture in 1912, but did not take particular notice of the house, which was not insured with his office at the time. He had never inspected the house. Since the fire, claims had been put in for the full amount, of the loss.

In cross-examination by Mr. Johnstone, he said that the insurances were granted after inspection by the local agent. Adolplms Harry Moore, land and commission agent in Opunake, deposed that the house in question was sold through him to Frederick James Butterworth in 1910, for £lls and half cost of survey, £2 12s 6d. Witness was at the time agent for the Commercial Union, and valued the house for insurance purposes at £l5O. The house was built before 1882. There was a little over an eighth of an acre of land. The building wanted painting. About a week or ten days after the fire Mr. Clough, told him that he would sooner have the money for the mortgage, £9O, than the property. The statement was made in conversation, as the property had not been offered to Mr. Clough by witness. To Mr." Johnstone: In 1911 he the building at £2lO and insured it in the Commercial Union Office for £l5O. Since then building material, etc., had increased in value. About six months before the fire Mr. Butterworth put the property in his hands for sale at £450. He did not consider he was agent for Butterworth after the fire. He had been Mr. Clougirs agent for seven years. He did not know whether Mr. Clough would be a loser if the insurance company did not pay up. Frederick James Butterworth, billiard marker, of Opunake, deposed that he was the owner of the five-roomed house in question, burned down on the night of October fi while he was absent at New Plymouth. He left home on October 5 ! and did not hear of the fire until his sister-in-law, Mrs. Connie Murphy, sent [ him a telegram on October 7. Witness returned practically at once, arriving home between 1 and'2 p.m. Nothing whatever was saved. The property was insured for £2OO, jointly in the name of himself and Mr. Clough. The latter would probably deduct £9O mortgage and then hand the balance to witness. There was also £l5O on the furniture in the State Office. He had paid £7O on the piano, which was insured by Collier and Co. The piano cost over £BO. It was not correct that lie purchased the piano for £O6. He estimated that he had lost over the furniture and effects at least £IOO. It was hard to say what he lost on the house. He gave £ll7 10s for the house and land, and had expended over £IOO in improvements and repairs to house and fences. He estimated that the house, which was built of all totara, was worth £IOO more than it was insured for. He had bought the property seven years ago as a "nibble," very cheap, and had sense enough to know that property had gone up in value in Opunake since. He had not the slightest idea what ea.used the fire. His wife and three children were in the house when it was burned down. There was absolutely nothing inflammable about the place. There may have been kerosene in a tin in the porch for the lamps, but no benzine. About four months previously his motor ear was burnt on the road at TataraLmaka. It was his own property and was insured for £2OO in the London and Globe Office, which he received. It was between 0 and 7 p.m. when tlie car was destroyed. He considered it was due to back fire through the carburetter. He was cranjdng up at the time. There was no truth in the rumor that he had offered money to any person to burn the house down.

Mr. Johnstone here objected, saying that when the Sub-Jnspector asked such a question, lie should mention to whom tho money was alleged to have been 1 offered. Continuing, witness said he had no interest in the car that was burnt down at Masterton. He was two miles away t ' at the time. The car was driven by C. , Cannell, Toby Byrn and witness' be- ', ing passengers. He knew a man named Tot Cooper. He had seen him at the i "Waverley races, but only spoke to him for about a minute. Cooper was "boozed [ up" and wanted witness to back a horse, ; but witness did not remember which , horse.it was. Witness was certain Cooper did not accuse him of having put him , away to the police, nor of "putting his [ pot on." Witness did not say he would I get even with Constable Clouston, nor , with.any other person that "put his pot on." Ho knew Mr. Lyitle, who kept a . motor garage in Opvmakc He did not , tell any person that he would shoot any , one who went into tho witness box and "put his pot on," and then blow his own brains out. He may have told several people whose names he did not know ' i that if he found out who had said that lie came down the night of the fire to i burn his wife and children out he would ' shoot that person. He had not seen i Cooper since the Waverley races, and did i not know where he was now. He had not sent any message to Cooper since i the fire. He had a Paragon Sewing ■ Machine destroyed at the fire. In the , statement of claim this was valued at | £l4. This yvas bought_from Mr. Henty, of Opunake, and witness was under the | impression it coat £l4. He would now Wear that hj« K»v*v*i(i for it. Hi

would be surprised to hear that they cost only £0 or £7. He had since been to Mr. Hcnty, who was now in Hawera, and the latter had told him that the machine on time payment was worth £l4, but as witness bought it for cash it would probably cosh him £lO. Mr. Hcnty, however, could not give him a duplicate receipt, as bis books bad been burnt in another Opunake fire. Sub-Inspector: This is a great place for fires. (Laughter.) In reply to the Sub-Inspector witness said that he must have made a mistake if he valued the machine at £l4 in a statement after ho had interviewed-Mr. Henty. Referring to other items, he could not swear that they were exactly what the articles cost, but they were a rough estimate. To Mr. Johnstone: He had given the statement because the policeman from New Plymouth was insinuating things and required an itemised statement. To the Rub-Inspector: Every item mentioned in the statement had been burnt. He was certain the debris of the fire contained the remains of the bedsteads. To Mr. Johnstone: He hud bought the house cheap; had improved it considerably, and did not think that he could rebuild under £3OO. He owed about £lO on the piano, which was held under hire agreement from Collier and Co. The insurance company paid out on the ear without any trouble. He bad, since the fire, been annoyed by all sorts of extravagant stories, and any statements made by him re shooting were designed to stop such things when people became so low down. He had spent at least £94 in repairs. To Sub-Inspector: This included the fence, but not the motor shed. Mrs. Eileen Buttenvorth, wife of the previous witness, deposed that on the night of the fire she was in bed with her three children. When Mr. Buttenvorth was away the children always slept with witness. About 11.20 p.m. witness -was awakened by the baby coughingand found the front bedroom full of smoke. She could see under the bedroom door that the hall was alight. She put the three children out of the bedroom window then climbed out of the window and awakened Mrs. Cubbon, who lived a few yards away. She then gave evidence as reported at the time of the fire. She had no idea as to the cause, nor as to where the fire originated. She corroborated her husband's evidence as to the kerosene. Mr 3. Donnelly and her mother were in the house from about 7 p.m. til! 10.45 p.m. A little coal fire was left in the range when witness retired to bed. On the afternoon of the fire witness received a wire from her husband asking her to draw £SO from the Opunake Post Office, as he iiad to pay a deposit next day on a new motor car. Witness got the money, which sho took home. The money got burnt in the fire. Her husband was to get it next day, when he came home. It consisted of five ten pound notes, of which she did not know the numbers. Her husband wanted the money before he went, but she would s not give it to him, as she wanted to see the car first. It never entered her head that it was strange to draw the money out on the 6th and keep it in the house all night when it was not required till the next day. There were several visitors to the house the Jay before the fire, but not more than the usual number. Referring to the items of furniture, witness stated, that her husband told her when he bought the machine that he had given £l4 for it. Her husband consulted her when making out the list for the insurance claim.

To Mr. Johnstone: The police interviewed her after the fire, and she told them that she had been using a copper in the yard during the day. Everything in the list was burned, witness and her children escaping in their night clothes. The cheque from the post office was cashed by Mr. Still at the bank. Witness' husband had been a motor car owner previously, and used to ply for hire. To Sub-Inspector Fouhy, the copper was at least seven yards from the back of the house. Witness knew that Mr, Cubbon's house was also burnt the same night." To Mr. Gow: Cubbon's house caught fire as the result of the flames from witness' house. Witness put the lamp out when she went to bed. Mrs. Mary Murphy, mother of the previous witness, deposed that she visited her daughter about 7 o'clock on the night of the fire. She did not take anything away from the house when she left. Witness never took a perambulator to Mrs. Buttcrworth's. She would swear that she had nothing belonging to Butterworth. To Mr. Johnstone: If there was any swindling suggested she had ,been no party to it. Chas. Lyttle, motor garage proprietor, Opunake, deposed that he had had some conversations with Frederick James Butterworth on the subject of the fire. He could not remember the exact words, but he thought that Buttenvorth said that he would feel like shooting any man that accused him of setting his place on fire. He did not remember the words' 'putting his pot on." Mr. Johnstone objected to the SubInspector putting words into the witness' mouth. To Sub-Inspector Fouhy: This conversation took place a fortnight ago, in front of Butterworth's billiard room. Butterworth told witness that he had been to Waverley races, but he could not swear that Butterworth said that he had met Tot Cooper there. Sub-Inspector Fouhy here reminded witness that he was on his oath. Witness could not swear whether Butterworth had said so or not. The Coroner: You must remember, surely. To the Sub-Inspector's question, witness affirmed that Butterworth had not told him that he would settle Constable Clouston and get even with anyone that "put his pot on" and then blow out his own brains. Witness would also swear that he had not told Constable Clouston the foregoing. About five or six months ago Butterworth had asked witness to buy his house, but said nothing, as far as witness could recollect, of furnishin" and insuring it. ° The Sub-Inspector: Has he ever said': "Take the house, furnish it, insure it and burn the lot"? ' Witness: No. Sub-Inspector: Have you said that to anyone else? Witness: No. Sub-Inspector: Are you frightened that Butterworth will do you an injury' Witness: No. ' J ' Sub-Inspector: Nor your property? Witness (hesitating): No. I can look after myself. To Sub-Inspector: He was not on good terms, nor was he on bad terns with Butterworth. He had had several conversations with Buttenvorth, The last was on the previous clay. Sub-Inspector: "What was the conversation ? Witness: I can't recollect, Sub-Inspector: Did you speak to Mm this morning? Witness: Yes. Sub-Inspector: What was the sub»t»B«i of yew coavwiatiea? X knew

perfectly well you are here giving evidence against your will, but we want to get the matter thrashed out. Witness: He asked me if I had any lawyer, or if I was going to get one to look after my evidence. Witness said he did not know what Buttenvorth was driving at. He did not know if Buttenvorth. was afraid he would tell too much. Questioned regarding the conversation the previous day, witness remembered meeting Buttenvorth in witness' garage. Witness paid very little attention to the conversation, as he waa working at the time. His boy was near by, and could hear all that was said. Witness, to Sub-Inspector: He did not remember any of the conversation. Buttenvorth was in the garage a few minutes Between 2 and 3 p.m. It was on the Sunday that he saw Buttenvorth in the garage. He saw him the previous day at the coach. On Sunday Butterworth said that he was going in to New Plymouth on Monday to see his solicitor, and suggested that witness should go with him. Buttenvorth also suggested that witness should have a lawyer to look after his evidence. He had not discussed with Buttenvorth the evidence that witness was to give, nor whether he was to "put him away" or not. Witness saw Buttenvorth again on the Slinky. Witness remained in the garage about half an hour. He went to Cooper's about 3 or 3.30, and remained there till 7 p.m. Mr. Johnstone: What "pot" has Cooper got to put on? Has he. been before the Court? Witness: Not that I know of. To Mr. Johnstone: Witness frequently mot Buttenvorth, but it was some time since he had business relations with him. There were quite a number in the garage on Sunday, including Constable Clouston, Cubbon, and others. Mr. Johnstone said that it was only fair to say that the lost witness had consulted Mr. Gow. and asked him to look after his evidence that morning. Constable ft. C. Clouston gave evidence that when he arrived on the scene the fire appeared to have started in the back bedroom, as there was a hole burnt through the floor, and the debris was dropping through. He looked ir at the window and saw a pillar of white flame from the floor to the ceiling, as though something was feeding it. The back door was locked. The smoke was too thick to allow him to get to the front door, but inspection afterwards showed that the lock had been turned. Mrs. Buttenvorth informed him that she had used the copper that afternoon, but as the house stood fifteen to eighteen inches off the ground ho did not see how the fire could have been under the house without some of the people who had left the house some twenty minutes previously noticing it. The hole was right away from the scullery. The only fire that could be seen at the time was through the hole in the floor and the back window. Mr, Cubbon's residence and part of the furniture waa destroyed as the result of the fire. To Mr. Johnstone: The flame appeared to be between the two bedsteads, the clothing of both of which were on fire. He would not like to say what caused the white flame. He did not think that it was kerosene. Ten minutes would elapse from the time the fire was first noticed till he arrived on the scene. There was a good roaring fire at the time. It did not follow because there was smoke in every room that there was also fire. Witness was told three weeks previous to the fire that the building was going up. He had heard the same about two or three other fires. Mr. Johnstone: And did they go up? Witness: They did. To Mr. Johnstone: He did not Tcnow the evact date that the fires were to take place, but he knew to within a fortnight. He had reported to headquarters at the time. He had also sent a signed statement from his informant, whose name he refused to divulge publicly. This concluded the evidence. At 3 p.m. the jury retired, returning ten minutes later with a verdict that there was no evidence to show how the fire occurred.