THIS AFTERNOON.

Auckland Star, Volume IX, Issue 2500, 29 March 1878, Page 3

THIS AFTERNOON.

Mr Barstow took his seat at 2 o'clock, and the evidence was read over.

Mr Barstow asked the prisoner if she had anything to say. Mrs Warren : No, sir.

Olaargs of Arson,

The same prisoner was also charged ■with wilfully, maliciously, and feloniously, setting fire" to a dwelling-house, then occupied by Adolph Louii. Mr Pardy gave a brief resume" of the principal, features of the case. Mrs Haslett was then called, and deposed as follows : My name is Margaret Haslett, I take in a few boarders. I know the prisoner, Mrs Warren, she came to my house about three weeks ago. I know Mrs Lourie, she also lodged with me, as well as Mrs Jones aud Mr Hetley. They all occupied rooms on the second floor. (A plan was handed to the witness.) This plan fairly represents the rooms on that floor. Glass doors open out on to the balcony from these rooms. My residence is a wooden house, rented by me. There is an insurance of £100, which is far below the value of the furniture. I remember Saturday last. The prisoner was staying at my [house on that day. I went out about 8 o'clock with my son. It was afterjnine when we'came in. I djd not go upstairs then. I had been sitting in my room sometime when Mr Lourie came down and informed me there had been a fire in Mrs Warren's room. lat once went upstairs. When I went into the room I found it had been on fire, parts were much charred. The bed clothes outside were still on fire. I savr the prisoner on the balcony. I said, " Mrs Warren how could you be so careless, you must have left your candle burning." She said, "I did. not." I can recollect no more conversation. She did not account for the room getting on fire. Adolf Lourie deposed : I visited some friends, with Mrs Lourie, on Saturday, the 23rd instant, returning home about nine o'clock. I first saw the prisoner downstairs. Afterwards .we all had some refreshment up in our room. I went down stairs for a quarter-of-ap-hour ; when I got back the prisoner went out by the balcony to her own room, taking matches with her. She was away only a few seconds. When she returned we all went down-stairs. We remained down-stairs about half-an-hour. Some friends called., and the prisoner went upstairs at Mrs Lourie request to tidy up the room. Soon afterwards we again (all) went upstairs. I cannot recollect whether the prisoner went out on the balcony or not. I thought I smelt something burning. Someone remarked " There is a bush fire." I believe it was one of our gentleman friends did so, and not the prisoner. About a quarter of an hour after I thought the smell was getting stronger, and I was going downstairs to tell Mr Haslett to look to the chimneys. ■ I visited Mr Jones's room, which was all right. The • prisoner's room was full of smoke. After some trouble I and my friends extinguished the fire. Various articles in different parts of the room having no connection with each other were charred.

Mrs Lourie gave corroborative evidence of a like nature.

The prisoner was committed for trial on the two charges.