A CHARGE DISMISSED' Auckland, November 4.

Otago Witness, Volume 11, Issue 2280, 11 November 1897, Page 43

A CHARGE DISMISSED' Auckland, November 4.

The charge against Samuel Adams of having, ou October 6, set fire to premises owned by G. C. Evans and occupied by aocused was heard afc Pareora Police Court yesterday before Messrs Colclough and Nathan, justices of the peace. The Crown Prosecutor (Mr Tole) appeared for tho police ; Mr O'Meagher and Mr Parr for th« accused. A man named Evans deposed that'at 2 a.m. on the day in question, while in a hub behind Adams's store, ho heard footsteps, and • rushing out saw a man disappear down a passage.' Soon afterwards he heard a crackling? as of fire inside the store. John Lawaon, the official assignee, said' his investigations showed that accused made an average loss of about; £135 a month, or a total deficiency of .'£1073 6« 6d. He could not say what advantage would accrue to bankrupt by the burning.' The stock was worth about £350, and. it> was only insured for £100. By Mr Tole : The, destruction of the 'store would conceal the whole financial state of the bankrupt. Nine other witnesses wera examined for the prosecution. The , Bench held there was • a prima facie case ,to answer. Mr O'Meagher then said that, the defence would be an alibi. . Emm* Adams (wife of the accused) said that her husbands came hrime**f half-pastr 8> p.m. After the visitors left they looked 'up the placeand went to bed. She' was positive :that her husband had not, left, his^-bed. Miss ,Hendley deposed to spending the evening with accused - and wife.' .' The.presidfng. justices .dismissed'the- - case, not considering the ■ circumstances mpra than suspicious. ." ..... •-„,., >- ' '-