CHARGE OF ARSON.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 205, 28 August 1918, Page 8

CHARGE OF ARSON.

DISMISSED 'iV COl.Kl*. The charge against Win. .1. Warrin.. ton (Mr. Moody) of wilfully setting tire to an unoccupied house nt (tnchntiga, owned by Mi's- X- Vales, was further heard in the Police four! yesterday afternoon. •I_rt. Sreraiin. uiitler cro_>-examination, admitted lie «as present when accuse I told his story of the lire. Finishing .t. he turned to Constance, who was present. and said: •That's _o. Stan, isn't it?"' and Constance, who then said no thing _ to how the lire --tinted, replied in the aflirmative. lie seemed rather eccentric. Constable Micks said lie examined tbe house with (iiUiert. and corroborated the previous eviilence and <>] vuni< >n Hint It"' lire was caused by incendmrit .11. 1" the backyard Warrington and ('.instance approached, the former saying lie could smell lire, and could .cc smoke i._uing from between the boards at one quarter of the house. In reply to Mr. Moody witness said ne <•<_-.idere'l Constance more than eccentric. Nonstable Mellugli said :■ ■ look a statement from Constance, and stil'soijiiently interviewed accused, who confirmed Constance's statement when read lo him, with the exception that lie denied the accusation of lighting the lire or of going upstairs in flic house. When arrested accused said if Constance knew .-0 much about the fire, why did be not tell the police. Witness replied, "Because you fold him not 10 tell any one," to -which Warrington made no response. Constance was one of the lirst to report the lire. To Mr. Moody: If took between halt an hour and an hour to get the Btatement from _*o_sta__e. In giving hi. judgment the magistrate said the police had acted quite correctly in bringing this charge, and de_orvcd credit for the way the ease had been prepared. At the same time, hits Worship had to consider whether he was justified in putting the country to the expense in sending the case for trial, tie ■was convinced that the accused would not be convicted iv any Court upon thus charge, -which prat -lie ally depended upon tiie evidence of a man who was admitted on all sides to be very eccentric. Hie charge would be dismissed.