SEQUEL TO FIRE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 108, 18 February 1936, Page 3

SEQUEL TO FIRE.

ALLEGATIONS OF CONSPIRACY. ARSON AT PALMERSTON NORTH. (Per Press Association). WANGANUI February 17. Allegations by the Crown that he conspired and counselled with Edwin Blomfield McGill to commit the crime of arson, led fo the trial in the Supreme Court, which commenced to-day, of Harold Hales Hutchison, a married man, of Palmerston North. McGill, who was the chief witness for the prosecution, said in evidence that he had agreed to set lire to the accused’s house in College Street, Palmerston North. He had received £5 from accused, and purchased methylated spirits in Feildiug for the fire. A further £ls was to he paid over after the job was llouc. Accused teld him lie had the place well insured. Articles. were taken from accused’s home to witness’s lions';. This was commenced about a week or ten days before the fire. With one exception, the goods were transported at night.

’Witness said accused had left him two funnels to pour the methylated spirit into holes which he was to boro in the walls with an auger. Witness accompanied accused and his wife and child as far as Alanakau in accused’s car, the back scat of which was full of articles from the house. At Alanakau witness caught a train hack to Palmerston North and accused proceeded on to Wellington. At 11 o clock that night he left his home and took with him an augur and quantity of methylated spirits. He met two othei men on the way, and they accompanied him to the house. He bored about six holes in the wall of a passage, and through these holes poured, the methylated spirits, using a funnel. He then set the wall on lire with a match. Arrested on Leaving. As witness was leaving the premises he was arrested. His reason for burning the house was because he needed money, as four of his children weie in hospital, and to help accused out of his financial trouble. To Air Relling, who represented accused, witness said lie was caught redhanded. He made a statement to the police, but this was full of lies. However, he had made a true statement ten days later. There was no time before the file when he and accused, were not on friendly terms, nor had he ever borne ill-will against the accused. He was surprised to see two detectives and two constables outside the house. Ho had been informed that accused had sent them there, and still believed this. He had pleaded guilty to a charge of arson at Palmerston North, and had been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment with hard labour. The defence indicated that the whole matter vested on whether the jury believed the story of accused or that of McGill. Accused had commenced, to give his evidence when the case was adjourned until to-morrow.