THE TREDENHAM FIRE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4435, 3 June 1893, Page 2

THE TREDENHAM FIRE.

wpMn, Baldwin Commit ;, for Trial. \.J$

The enquiry into the circutnstancoa connected with the destruction by fire [of the Tredenham property, at the •: Lower Hutt, on the evening of ' Queen's Birthday, commenced before- •<• Mr James Ashcroft, Wellington District Coroner, on Thursday last, The evidence showed: that Captain Bald-; 7 win, who has an interest in the property, went from Wellington toPetonfl on the afternoon of the 24th of May,. and returned to his hotel in Wellington at about 9.80 the same ovening,:) :\ bis clothes being very wet. According, to the statement of Mr J. tOethune, land, estate,, and insurance agent, in 1891 hesold Treden- ' ham to; Captain Baldwin for £IBOO. The terms.';were,a-qaaiter of the amount in cash arid the balance in two yeorsj.ut 6 per cent interest. The names of the MissesWebb. ?.Tf erev,..- ' inolurfed with that of Captain Baldwin [,in the mortgage deed. He'cofcßed interest from Captaih'Bkldwin, and at the date of the Are it was all paid up. The morgage deca'me due in March, 1692, and MfsEelhani, the mortgagee wished to receive her money y but at ; Captain Baldwin's request consented to renew the mortgage for another twelvemonths. Therewasno farther r' v . pressure, and Captain Baldwin had v . said nothing about the matter Binoe. - The was'insured in the : n Sun lusurance office for £7OO, id.- " ; " : the name of / the- mortgagee. ?'' Captain Baldwin wanted £2050 for the house and land prior to the firebrand was anxious to either sell at that 5. ■'■•■;'■ figureWlet the place..- ; The dayafter tho Are Onptain; Baldwin came to witness'.offioe and snid-ho supposed the • mortgagee, would sign the papers' to ' get- the insuranco money. : Witnees ■ replied that he about the insurance nwßfly, v as~tho ■';''' affair was in the hands of the police: •' Witness asked Captain Baldwin if he ' had been out to Tredenham the pre- ■] Vious day, and he replied that he bad, ■« and finding a number of boys there he f had driven ihem away and lockedup 7 the place. On'tho following Saturday morning called again, He appeared very excited, and burst into tears, --.: saying .that he had-not slept or eaten .j any food.since tho fire. Ho said that he was in the house on : the day of the fire] and r was smoking his pipe and throwing matches about, but he left at half-past fourtand; did not '.see tho fire.- !'■■■'''- > !■'.• X !i . ;, '■■

Constable M'Gill produced a copy fifii deposition made by Captain Baldwin to the District Clerk on the 26th : ■ : , May, two days after the fire, : in which ?- > he admitted Wing gone out toTred- ' enham-on the 21tli .-May, -He .had. .•■■■ origionlly intended going to see the football matches but tho weather being disagreeable he walked on to .. Tredenham, : On arriving thoro he i. : - 'saw two boys about the place, but they ran away on his approach, He •'• found tho back door wide open, and ' ' there was a smoll of tobacoo smoke .'' throughout tho bouse, He Btaycd in the place 10 or 12 minutes, during which time lie filled arid lit,., his pipe, throwing the match/,, away, but he was "almost certain that it went out. He left the house by the .jaftgji, staying a few balcony, he walked on tolpuSt Finding on arrival there that there would be no train for some time, he ■'" decided to walk into town; which,he ,', did, stopping only at Ngshauranga for tea, He had seen boys about theplace" on several previous occasions,, He had no pecuniary interest in the 1 property, which belonged to the Misseß Webb, for whom he was aotingas attorney. He lit the match in ' the passage. Tho Misses Webb were connections of his; but net neices.

■ The enquiry at 9.80 p.m. was adjourned until half-past 10 o'colock on Friday, morning,'

By Telegraph,—Press Association,)

W Ellington, Friday Evening.

Tho jury relumed a verdict'of to' cendiarisin against Captain Baldwin, and he has been committed for trial, bail being allowed.