33

I.—4a

Mr. Buchanan.

27th Sept., 1878.

Inspector Atchison.

27th Sept., 1878.

Mr. Izard.

Ist Oct., 1878.

898. Have you got a receipt for the book ?—I have not. Ido not say it was brought from the station when it was pulled down. 899. Do you consider yourself responsible for the book going a-missing ?—lf it occurred while I had charge. Sometimes another constable had charge. 900. AVhere was it kept? —In the search-room; and if there was any one present at the time a prisoner was brought in, he would sign the book. 901. AVho? the prisoner?—No; the second constable. 902. The Chairman] A list of the prisoners' property would be entered in the book ? —Tes. 903. And that is signed at the time by witnesses ?—lf there is a second constablo in the station. 904. Then, that is the record ?—Tes. 905. A copy of that is no record ? —Tes, if signed by witnesses. Inspector Atchison, being duly sworn, was examined. 906. Mr. Swanson] This police-book which seems to have been lost—l understand the property found on a prisoner, and everything else, is entered in that ? —Tes. 907. Tou look upon that as the record ? —Tes. 908. Tou would not consider any copy a record?— Not unless it is a certified copy. 909. I suppose it is understood that tho original should be kept?—lt ought to be kept. 910. AVho is responsible for the custody of the book? —This man (Buchanan) was responsible in 1875. 911. He says that the building was altered ? —lt was pulled down. 912. And the book should have been taken to the head station ? —Tes ; if it had been we should have found it there now. We have searched everywhere, but it cannot be found. 913. Well, what is your theory as to its loss ? —That it was not brought down to the station. 914. Who is the officer who should take charge of these books and papers at the central station ? —Sergeant Fraser.

Tuesday, Ist Octobee, 1878. Mr. C. B. Izaed, Crown Prosecutor, being duly sworn, was examined. 915. The Chairman] Do you recollect some suspicion having been thrown upon ono Morton Quin, in regard to a case of supposed arson ? —I do. 916. Was the matter put into your hands as Crown Prosecutor?—No; the agent of the insurance company interested came to me privately about it. 917. Did you investigate the matter ?—I did. I had a report from Detective Farrell on the matter placed before me. 918. In your opinion, was there a case for a prosecution ?—I think there was ; but I did not think it was a very strong case—in fact, I thought it a weak case—but there was, I thought, sufficient to justify an inquiry before the Magistrate. 919. No investigation took place ?—I did not hear of it. 920. Did the Inspector of Police ever speak to you on the subject ? —I think he did ; but lam not sure. I had very little to do with the Inspector, and I cannot charge my memory as to what was said. After the insurance agent spoke to me, I had a conversation with Farrell about what had taken place ; and, when the insurance agent came again, it was agreed that a prosecution ought to take place ; at the same time I did not think it was a strong case. 921. Did you hear anything of Quin's relations with the Foresters ? —All I heard about it was this : They were looking about for some motive which would have induced him to set the place on fire. The insurance was not in his own name, so that he would get no money from the policy. I think it was his father's property —at any rate he would get no benefit personally from the payment of the insurance money. We then looked about to see if there was any motive which could be suggested, and it was suggested that the accounts of the Foresters might be wrong. It turned out there was a meeting of the Foresters on the night of the fire, that Quin ought to have submitted his accounts to that meeting, but that he did not attend. It was thought that was the clue ; but I was informed that the accounts of the Foresters were all correct. 922. That his accounts were correct ?—I think so. The Inspector of Police told me the accounts were correct. 923. Did the Foresters ever tell you so ?—-No. 924. Did Farrell ever tell you so?—No ; I think it was Atchison. It was some months ago, so that I cannot say absolutely. 925. Mr. Barton] Was it not stated in Farrell's report that the accounts were not correct ? —I do not think so. I have a copy of it here. [Reads the report.] No; the statements of the sister, which refer incidentally to a meeting of the Foresters, is all that is given. I think it came verbally from the insurance agent that the accounts might be wrong. 92G. I suppose, after reading that report, you came to tho conclusion that undoubtedly somebody had saturated the place with kerosene for the purpose of burning it down ? —I believe there was good ground for supposing that somebody had attempted incendiarism. 927. There was no doubt of it ?—No. 928. Tou bad found from this document that the office was in the occupation of Morton Quin ?— Tes. 929. That his sister made a statement regarding; the last time he had been seen in the office ?— Tes. 930. That he was found in bed next day with his sleeves smelling of kerosene ?—That was very weak, slight evidence. 931. Aud the statement you said you were made aware of by somebody that he was accountant