Suspicious Circumstances.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3745, 28 December 1880, Page 2

Suspicious Circumstances.

A fire broke out early on Christmas moraing in a house occupied by a man named James Adams in the Hape Creek. The fire bells rang out the alarm about 3 o'clock, and the fire-engines were quickly brought to the spot by the Fire Brigades. For some time the fire blazed briskly, and, when it become known that there was a quantity of gunpowder in the house, and it was feared that the man was in the house, grave apprehensions as to his safety were engendered. The neighbors, assist? 1 by the police and the Fire Brigades, used every effort to save the building, but their efforts were comparatively useless, as the house was completely enveloped in flames, and a few minutes after the conflagration was discovered the powder explod-d, blowing out the side ot the house. The house belonged to Mr Greenville, and we learn was totally uninsured. When the flames were at last subdued, the police entered, and found the remains of the unfortunate man, who was almost cremated. The remnants of a watch and some silver were also found. The remains were conveyed to the Morgue at Shortland until the inquest was to be held.