THE CAFE CECIL FIRE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2713, 19 January 1910, Page 3

THE CAFE CECIL FIRE.

INQUIRY AND VERDICT OF INCENDIARISM.

[Pick Pkebs Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 18

An official enquiry into the- fire which occurred at the Cato Cecil on January 4th was held to-day'. The first half-dozen witnesses gave formal evidence. Evidence was given by the girl who discovered the fire as to being awake Vied by a noise. The other employees denied any knowledge- of the fire until the arrival on the scene next day. Superintendent Erck, of the Fire Brigade, said the- whole circumstances pointed to ; a deliberate attempt at incendiarism. The lessees of the eal'e portion said notice had been given to them to- quit, and they were about to open premises. The business was paying handsomely, and their bank account was good and nil accounts paid. The fire did not originate in the cafe, but on the- first floor, in tho premises occupied by Goyen and King, dentists. Evidence was taken at considerable length, but nothing tending to elucidate the matter was brought out. In summing up the Magistrate said that it seemed to ! him a matter of great regret that so reckless and impudent an attempt to destroy the buildings and property of a number of people should not have been sheeted home to some person or persons. As it was, there was no evidence of any-sperson having sufficient interest in the property to burn the place down. He would direct the jury’s attention to one point, namely, that tho act must have been perpetrated by somebody who had habitual access to the iplace. Everything pointed to that. The outside doors were untouched, and must have been entered by some person having 'Complete access to the building. That narrowed it down to a certain extent, but beyond that it seemed to him it was impossible to go. He therefore regretted, and the jury would- regret, with him, the negative nature of the inquiry. - '.Still (such inquiries were always useful, however negative the result might be, because they showed people that any act of fire-raising would be subjected .to the closest and most searching inquiry. He did not think the jury would attach very muoli importance to the suggestion thrown out" by Mr. Herman Lewis that ever since the building was put up, attempts had been made to burn it down for business reasons. Herman Lewis: No.

The Magistrate: If I didn’t understand that from- you I don’t Tinderstand English. I don’t want to suggest anything not strictly fair or just, and if I misunderstood you I am perfectly willing to nut it right. Herman Lewis: Three attempts to burn the building down seem s very strong, doesn’t it? The Magistrate: You suggest that local people wanted to burn down this place because it was owned and erected by people outside Christchurch. The jury then retired, and after a short retirement returned a verdict that there had been a deliberate attempt -made to burn down the High -Street Chambers by some person or persons unknown. A rider was added commending the practical action of Miss Mearns in so promptly giving the. alarm to the. Fire Brigade.