A CHARGE OF ARSON.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 227, 29 October 1914, Page 8

A CHARGE OF ARSON.

CASE AT LYTTELTON. An outbreak of fire, by which a fourroomed dwelling-house, situated on the Bridle path, Lyttelton, was completely destroyed on' September 28, had its sequent the Lyttelton Magistrate's Court this morning, before Messrs J. R. Webb and W. Radcliffe, J.P. 's. Carlo Guabello Bartolomo was charged with setting fire to the dwelling, which was the property of Charles Havelock Agar and others, valued at £2OO. Accused had been remanded on the same charge several times. As he possessed a very poor knowledge of. English he was allowed the services of an interpreter. "He pleaded not guilty. Sarah Jane Vogan, widow, residing in Heathcote Valley, stated that until September 24 she lived in the house on the Bridle.j>ath. She knew the accused. He had living at her house off and on for about three years. In July last she ordered him away from the house. He came back in September. She remembered, on the morning of September 22, when she ordered him away, and he returned the same evening. She locked the door against him, and he burst it in. She went to push him out, and he turned round and knocked her down on the floor. She sent for the police, and he was taken away. On the following day she took proceedings against him for assault. On the night he came to the house again, and knocked at the bedrooxh window. On being" ordered away he would not go until all of thenr had said good-night. He then said that when he was paid off the Morning Light he would came back and burn down the place and all of them in it. On the following day witness and her family left the house and went to live in Heathcote Valley. They did this for fear accused would set fire to it. On the night of the fire she saw accused in Heathcote Valley. He asked her not to go into Court with the case, but she would not withdraw the summons. He then said that they would not go back to the house to live again, because there would be none there; he would burn it down. Accused left Heathcote by the 9.30 p.m. train. When she left the house for the Valley, all the doors and windows were secured. The furniture and effects belonged to her, and were not insured. After the hearing of other evidence, accused persisted in pleading not guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.