Jessica Minns - False Testimony

MISS JESSIE MINNS. 

-Whose extraordinary story 

In connection with the Grand Hotel Fire

 is the talk of Auckland just now.

'Sir George Grey Special Collections,
 Auckland Libraries,
 NZG-19010713-71-4 

Lenora, Eva, and Mina Johnston died from suffocation and burns in the fire at the Grand Hotel July 1901. The fire also claimed the life of Dora Wallace who jumped some thirty feet from the top storey to escape the fire.
Frederick Ayers was later found in the debris of the bedroom he occupied at the Hotel.

Jessica Minns, a scullery maid at the Grand Hotel was originally arrested and charged with the murders and brought to trial.

She caused a sensation when she admitted to giving false testimony, having fabricated a story “to shield three former employees, whom she saw on the night of the fire with the night porter "

Jessica had made up a story of three men burning down the Hotel and threatening 'to kill her if she gave a warning of their intention  … “ , apparently inspired by a fictional novel she had read. Jessica had even used names of characters in this book for the men involved.

The case against Jessica was ultimately dismissed, the actual cause of the blaze was not determined and those actually responsible were not found.

At the inquest, the jury considered that the Fire Brigade had acted promptly after receiving the alarm, but were of the opinion that more modern appliances with electric alarms should be provided without delay.

The jury also suggested that appropriate legislation was needed to govern safety, including and the provision fire escapes at boarding houses, theatres, and places of amusement etc. They accordingly recommended that the Minister of Justice be so advised.

The jury also recommended that the Auckland City Council be strongly censured for not enforcing fire escape bylaws.

Jessica Minns disappeared from public view until she again came to the Court’s attention some years later charged with vagrancy.
She was charged as a disorderly person lacking sufficient means of support and was apparently not amenable to the discipline of the various charitable organisations in which she had been previously placed.

She was remanded for a week whilst the Police sought a home placement for her.

Jessica died 21 June 1926

Compiled by Susan Reid - Discover Waikumete

Sources:
Image: Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, NZG-19010713-71-4

Papers Past:

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 151, 27 June 1901, Page 8      https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19010627.2.68

 Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 164, 24 July 1901, Page 5    https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19010724.2.48

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Isuue 15821, 19 January 1915, Page 5      https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19150119.2.29

Nonconformist Division C, Row 18 Plot 46 – unmarked

Ronald Morris - Orphanage fire

St Joseph's Industrial School and Orphanage,
Takapuna, Auckland.
Morrison, John M, fl 1883-1951 :
Photographs of Takapuna and Milford.
Ref: 1/2-C-021066-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22761810
View of St Joseph's Industrial School and Orphange for boys, Takapuna, Auckland. Photographed by an unknown photographer in 1924.

Date of photograph and sources of information relating to date and the history of this building supplied by John Webster, January 2009.

The two storied wing was built as St Mary's School which opened in 1849. This was built of localy quarried bluestone. St Mary's school closed in the late 19th century, and reopened in 1894 as St Joseph's Industrial School and Orphanage for boys under the care of the Sisters of Mercy. In 1923 a fire gutted the building leaving the walls standing. It was rebuilt and a three storied wing was added, both the old and the new buildings were faced with a plaster finish. It reopened in 1924 which was when this photograph was taken. What are possibly builders huts can be seen at the near left hand corner of the new wing. The building still stands today (2009). (Information from John Webster of Takapuna, and from Auckland-Waikato Historical Journal September 1989 page 4-5, and September 1992 page 40.)

The charred remains of Ronald Morris, aged 9, were found during a search of the debris,
following a fire at St Joseph's Orphanage, Takapuna in the early hours of Sunday the 4th of March 1923.

The body was lying face downwards on the wire mattress in what remained of the boy’s dormitory, and was not far from where the fire originated. Ronald had been a fit and able bodied boy, and it was presumed that he was overcome by the flames before he could respond to the alarm.

When the alarm was given, the Sisters and older boys had roused the younger boys and  carried out the babies. The Sisters had then arranged for the boys to be taken to local homes, where people had kindly offered to take the children.

At the first roll call, authorities at the Orphanage were initially quite confident that the lives of all the boys had been saved. However, when the Sisters checked on Monday and Tuesday at each of the “foster” homes, Ronald could not be located. Exhaustive inquiries were made, and it was discovered that another little boy, Frank Brett, aged 10, was also found to be missing.

Both boys were reported missing on Tuesday night the 6th of March, and an appeal was made for anyone knowing the whereabouts of either boy to communicate with Father Holbrook, Roman Catholic Presbytery, Grey Lynn.  Happily, Frank was found safe and well at the home in Mt Eden where he had been temporarily billeted but sadly, on Wednesday the 7th of March the Police found Ronald’s remains.

An inquest was held, and the coroner found that Ronald had accidentally burned to death in the fire that destroyed the orphanage. From witness accounts, no one was considered to be, nor held responsible for the boy’s death, and there “was no reason why he should not have come away with the others.”

The origin of the fire could not be determined and was held to be “purely accidental”.

There followed an urgent need to rebuild the Orphanage and a committee was formed to collect subscriptions. Sadly, whilst many contributed, a warning had to be issued to the public after “bogus collectors” tried to cash in on the enterprise.

Roman Catholic Division C, Row 2
Plot 18: Ronald Morris (9) 1923 – Schoolboy – unmarked

Sources:
Papers Past https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/
ORPHANAGE FIRE Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 57, 8 March 1923
TAKAPUNA ORPHANAGE FIRE. Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 56, 7 March 1923
Image: Ref 1/2-C-021066-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22761810

Compiled by Susan Reid, Discover Waikumete