The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1902-11-04
NIGEL
JACKSON
TALKS
Denies Completely
In the Fire
Tragedy.
CFrom Saturdays Daily)

tfrom saturday baliy.)
Nigel Jackson has denied absolutely
that he had any connection with tho
origin of the fire which destroyed tht
Friel residence in which three mem
bers OF Mr.. Friel's family perished. A
sworn statement made by him 10 the
two juries sitting In the mater OF the
deaths of Mrs. l.. b. Friel, Miss Eta
Friel and Mrs. Mamie Friel Jackson, Is
a denial in toto Of any completely oi
knowledge of the origin. He told a
smooth tale of his wanderings the night
of the fire. a clandestine meeting with
his wife. now deceased, under a tama-
rind tree in the Friel premises, OF d
goodbye kiss, and of his entrance a;
12:l0 a. III. TO the room in the native
house where he has been sleeping for
couple of weeks His narrative was
filled with dramatic effusions and he
dwelt particularly on his love for hi:
wife and the reasons which compelled
him to leave the Friel domici'e.
r. b. Friel, the stricken husband cnd
father. also appeared before the juries
and made a statement of the tragic
events leading up TO the deaths of his
wife and daughters. At times he was
so much affected by the remembrance OF
tine fearful scenes, and especially when
telling of the screams of the women
that it was with difficulty he was able
to proceed.
There were a number of witnesses ex-
amined. Oscar Kreuter, John y. Wat
son. Clifford Kimball, Paine the hack
man, Chas. Kreuter S. +. Chillingworth
Louwaialeale the statements made by
Jackson taking up a large portion OF
the time.
Clifford Kimball stated that he took
car on Nuuanu street and saw Jack
son on the same car which was bound
up the valley. jackson got on at Kui-
KIM street and spoke to Kimball who
returned the salutation. Kimball got
off at Pauoa road going TO Atkinson's $
house. This was at ten minutes past
eleven.
Jackson's statement was to the effect
that he took a street car down town at
nine o'clock and arrived a Friel's place
at 500. remaining in the rear yard with
his wife. who met him. until II: :3j when
he returned to his quarters. He re-
iterated this statement several times
and was positive he was not mistaken.
Other witnesses have testified that Mrs.
Jackson was in the Watson's room with
friends playing cards until 1880.
y. y. Friel said his wife awoke him
by saying the house was aflre. He
went across to his daughters window
and saw the kitchen afire. He ordered
everybody downstairs. He went down
and on looking into the kitchen saw the
fire enveloping all the walls. and Just
beginning to break through the roof.
He went out to get the garden hose but
as there was no force of water he
dropped IL. He had occasion to go up
stairs again. He then saw Mrs. Jack
son in her room. He ordered everybody
down stairs. He supposed when he
came down that everybody was out but
on going around the house he heard
screams. He tried to go up the stairs
but was prevented by the smoke. As
he ran around again something shot
down past him; he thought 1t was a
pillow. But a voice came to him, "ls
that you, papa" He found 1t was his
daughter, Mrs. Jackson, and asked
where her mother was and Mamie said
she was in her own room. Then he
knew nothing more.
He stated that on the afternoon OF
"Wednesday his daughter Georgia found
Turkish towel saturated with oil in
a pantry closet, somewhat charred.
The towel had been hanging on a line
the night before and was missed We'd
nesday morning. Early that morning
he thought he detected the odor OF
something burning but could not To-
cate II. In the afternoon the cause was
found.
He suspected who had done this and
his wife and Mrs. Jackson felt as he
did, but Mrs. Jackson said there was
no direct evidence and they should not
accuse any one until they knew
Oscar kreuter said he was awakened
at the native house by Jackson calling
fire" but neither went to see IT, Kreu-
ter thought il was I'm Pauoa. Said
Jackson had said something about
going over
s. +. Chillingworth, attorney for
Mrs Friel in the divorce case, said
Jackson met him on the street after the
suit was brought, and told him that he
would fix the whole d-n crowd, re
ferring to boarders in the house and
Mrs Frel.
Nigel Jackson told n story in a man
ner which showed he was not excited.
Il saw Mrs. Jackson on Wednesday
night about twenty minutes past nine
and was with her until twenty-five
minutes TO twelve. | know the time
because looked at my watch at II 80
and saw the time. The watch keeps
oyeellent time, At 1880 when / saw
the time my wife said, oh, my God,
VIII get locked out and she returned
TO the house at once went 10 the
premises OF my wife by going around
on Bates street 10 the Bishops place
ana then through 90 the back fence,
meeung my wife under the tamarind
tree, ! Was a litile late,
amer reaching the place where I
slesp al i2l0 | went 10 sleep l was
awakened by people running through
The yard ana ! got up, saw the glarf
"i hrf ana yelled, Oscar, nreN This
nas about twenty minutes 10 three,