The Late Suspicious Fire.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 231, 6 December 1888, Page 3

The Late Suspicious Fire.

AN OPEN VERDICT. An inquest on the late fire in Russell street was held yesterday afternoon bef >re Mr J. Booth, Coroner, and the following jurv : Messrs Maynard (foreman), Quigley, Mills, Morgan, Scrivener, and T. Morrison. F Dufaur deposed that he was agent for the owner of a house, the subject cf this enquiry. The owner. Mrs Webb, is in Australia. The house was insured in an office of which W Adair is agent, for £lOO. He did not know the name of the Insurance Company. The property was encumbered in the Building Society for about £lOO or £l2O. The policy was in favor of the Bui'ding Soo-ty. He valued the building at £l3O or £l4O. Had the keys in his possession, and did not give anyone permission to enter the house.

By the Foreman : Had reason to believe that the place was entered several times after the Strearer’a had left, because when bespoke to Mrs Webb, the next neighbour, she complained that the larrikins and people were al vays going about the house. The original insurance was about £2OO. R. B’reater deposed that he had occupied the house for over two years, and he gave up possession two months ago, The house was in a bad state of repair when he left. By the Foreman : The house was swept out when he left, but one of the kitchen windows was broken.

T Faram deposed that he was Fire Inspec tor and knew the house in Russell Street. He bad reported the fire to the Borough Council and stated that he su-pected it was a case of incendiarism. He felt certain in his own mind that the house was wilfully set on fire. E. L Webb deposed that she had twice turned two men away from the hou-e in the evenings. O i Tuesday or Thursday evening previous to the fire she had turned a man and woman away from the house. She was not at home on the day of the fire but returned shortly after 5 o’clock, and on passing the house she noticed that the back door was open. When she first saw the fire the front of the house was in flames. E. Kenney deposed that he was going home on the night of the fire and when near Orr’s he heard someone calling him and on turning round he saw a glare at the back of the bouse and a man came up and asked him to come along and ring the bell, but he refuged, The Jury returned aa opeo terdkt.