THE LATE FIRE. Coroner's Inquest.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1255, 15 July 1880, Page 2

THE LATE FIRE. Coroner's Inquest.

in the wheelwrights' shop. We did n( t tftko any heated iron into the shop that day. By a Juror : I once had a tent stolen from me. By the Coroner : I think both fires were the -work of an incendiary. Matilda Swarm, daughter of the previous witness, sworn, said she Avas at home on the night of the fire. Her father was at home, and she went, about halfpast 8, to fetch a book from the smith's shop for her father. She locked the shop 1 when she left it, and all seemed quite safe. She saw the fire but did not go to it. When she went for the book, she saw a bay horse, saddled, in the shoeing shed, but did not know to whom it belonged. She had a candle in her hand. Her little sister w as with her. George Brown, labourer, sworn, said he remembered the night of the 7th. He was at Black's. He left about 10 minutes to 11, and on reaching Mr J. Coombcs' house, he saw the fire. He at once gave 'the alarm. William White, sworn, said he lived close to the building destroyed. He was awoke by his wife about 11 o'clock, and saw the adjoining premises on fire. He had no knowledge as to how the fire originated, although he had an idea .about it. Duncan Neilson, an apprentice in the employ of Messrs. Cochrane & Swarm, deposed that he locked up the premises on the evening in question, giving keystoMr Swarm, S. Meacham, a wheelwright, in the employment of Messrs. Cochrßne & Swarm, gave corroberative evidence. He left the shop about a quarter-past 5, when all was safe. Constable Murray deposed that he passed the premises about half-past 1(), on the night in question, and saw no light. If one had been on the premises he was bound to have seen it. He also passed within 100 yards of the place about 11 o'clock, and again saw nothing. He went home, and shortly afterwards saw a glare and heard the noise of the fire. He went to the scene and rendered all the assistance in his power. By Sergeant McGovern : I noticed no one in the streets when I passed. I have made enquiries, but can discover nothing that would serve to throw light on the origin of the fire. The fire was first seen coming out of the centre of the building. Joseph Cochrane deposed that he was part owner of the premises destroyed. The buildings cost roughly £250. These I were covered by an insurance of £200. There was about £200 worth of stock and tools destroyed. He knew nothing of the fire as he was not in Hamilton on that day. This was all the evidence, amd the Coroner addressed the Jury, pointing out that there was nothing in the evidence to show how the fire originated, but recommending them to return an open verdict, so as to admit of the case being reopened at any time. The Jury then l'etired, and after an absence of a few minutes returned into Court with a verdict to the effect that there was no evidence to show how the fire originated, adding that they had no doubt it was the work of an incendiary.

An inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the late fire on the premises of Messrs Cochrane and Swarm was held at the Royal Hotel, Hamilton East, on Tuesday morning 1 , before Dr Bealo, coroner, and. a jury consisting of the following :—: — Messrs "W. Cummiug (foremau), G. Small, S. P.tscoe, A Potter, C. Carthy, J. If. McDonald, J. Mullions, W. Carson, E. Pearson, S. W. Buck, G. French, and G. Allen. The jury having been sworn in proceeded to examine the scene of the fire. On returning the following evidence was adduced, Sergeant McGovern conducting the examination :—: — The Rev. H. S. Davis sworn, deposed that ho lived opposite the scene of tho five. He remembered the night of the 7th. He was in his yard about 11 o'clock putting his horse in the stable. Ho had a full view of the premises destroyed. It was a dark night, and at the time lie noticed no light of any sort ; had there been one he would have seen it. He saw or heard no one on the road. Witness, after attending to his horse, went to bed. About a quarter to 12 o'clock he was aroused by hearing a noise, and on looking out saw the blaze. He got up at once and went over. The flame was then coming through the roof of the front portion of the building. Robert Swarm sworn, said ho was a wheelwright and blacksmith carrying on business in partnership with Mr Cochrane. On the night of the 7th, about 1 1 o'clock, he was in his own house reading when he heard a noise. Some time afterwards he saw the reflection of the fire through the window ; and on looking out he saw the wheelwrights' shop on fire. He at once went in that direction, and found no one about. Mr White's family were coming out of their house. He kicked in the door of the lslacksmiths' shop, and, with the assistance of Mr D. Coombes, Mr R. Harris, and others, removed the bellows and other things. By Sergeant McGovern : I believe the fire broke out in the wheelwrights' shop. There was nothing combustible in the shop at the time. I had been working on the premises all day, and saw everything •locked up at night between 5 and 6 o'clock. I went home at that time, and did not return till I saw the buildings in a blaze. My eldest daughter, a girl about 14, went to the smithy between 8 and 9 o'clock for a book. I cannot say how the firs originated, but have no doubt that it was the work of an incendiary. The building was insured in the South British office for £200. By the Coroner: I was burned out ! before in January. On the night of the first fire my two little girls saw a man crouching under the shop against the hedge two or three hours before the fire broke out. A girl named Keep was wii h them at the time, and corroborated the statement. I did not think much of this at the time, as I never thought anyone would burn the place. By the foreman : The keys were in my possession all the time. By a juror: Anyone could enter the wheelwrights' shop through a broken pane of glass. By Sergeant McGovern : It was the general belief at the time that the first fire was accidental. By a juror : All the hands loft when I did, and I did not notice anyone in particular looking through the premises on the day of the fire or for a few days previous. MrSherriffs was there that day on business, There was a bag of shaving^