FIRE ENQUIRY . [ 23 of 1888. ] 1061
No. 23 of 1888.
An Ordinance to authorize in certain cases judicial
investigations into the causes of fire.
[27th October, 1888. ]
*
in cases of
1. Whenever a fire shall have taken place, or shall have been fire Captain
attempted, the Captain Superintendent of Police shall as soon as Superintendo
ent of Police
possible take possession of the premises where the fire is supposed
to have originated or have been attempted , to the exclusion, if tothereport
Magis to
he shall deem it necessary , of the owners and all others ; and trate.
shall make or cause to be made, personally, or by some officer
of not lower grade than an inspector of Police, a full and minute
inspection of the said premises , and shall forth with make a
written report in detail to a Magistrate of the state of the said
premises and of the contents , if any, thereof, furnishing also
all such information touching the origin and circumstances of
the fire as he may be able to obtain .
2. Upon the receipt of such report the Magistrate, unless Investigation
upon a consideration of the facts stated therein he is clearly of thebemadeby
opinion that the fire was caused by accident, shall proceed to trate.
investigate the causes of the fire and shall, within the shortest
possible delay, take the depositions upon oath of all persons
likely to know the facts and circumstances, and of all other
persons who in his opinion may furnish information in respect
thereof.
3. It shall be lawful for any inspector of Police, or for any Examination
interested person present at such investigation, with the leave by
ofwitnesses
interested
of the Magistrate, to examine the witnesses, and to cause such parties.
persons to be examined as may give due and proper information
touching such case of fire.
4. If in the opinion of the Magistrate the investigation does Dismissal of
not disclose any offence or, although it disclose an offence, does theinforma
not show any reasonable cause for giving the order in the next
section mentioned , the Magistrate shall dismiss the information,
and order the release of the premises.
Provided that such dismissal shall be no bar to a subsequent
information of a like nature, or to an information against any
person or persons for an offence against the law .
5. If in the opinion of the Magistrate the fire shall have been Order of
the result of a crime, and there is reasonable cause to suspect, prosecution,
and he shall suspect any person or persons of such crime, he
shall order aa prosecution to be instituted before another Magis
trate against such person or persons for such crime.