A MYSTERIOUS FIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 71, 24 March 1910, Page 6

A MYSTERIOUS FIRE.

i" iiir..."' CHARGE. OF .ARSON. ' "In the Police Court this' afternoon, - before Mr. E. G. Cutten, S.M., Walter ■ Bates • was charged. that on the 20 th February, 1910, lie wilfully set fire to ' premises occupied by him as a shop at. , 112, Jervois-road,. Ponsonby, with intent j to defraud. • . ...... r Chief Detective Marsack conducted the 1 prosecution, and Mr. Allan Moody appeared for the defendant. The pro.'.ec-ution was the outcome of the l finding of the Coroner at the inquest conducted by him concerning the fire. His finding was to the effect that Bates wilfully set fire to the building -with intent to defraud the Standard Insurance Company and the Royal Exchange Insurance Company. On the night when the fire ■ occurred the brigade were summoned as i tiier- reisult of an alarm given by a , passer-by, who saw fire or smoke issuingfrom the premises, and they were promptly on the scene. When the firemen broke open the door they found that fire was burning in three separate places, and they were of opinion that the outbreaks could not have spread from the one initial outbreak, and that tha origin of them could not have been accidental. Accused was not on the premises at the time. At the inquest it transpired that accused had his personal effects insured for £25, and his stock for £80, and that the stock, at any rate, was not worth the amount of the insurance. Itwas proved on accused's own admission also that the business, that of a general | ironmonger,, was run by him at a loss for '■ some time prior to the fire. The prosecu- | taon suggested, therefore, that accused i was the only person who could have had any motive for setting fire to the place. (Proceeding.)