CHARGE OF ARSON.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 123, 27 May 1930, Page 11

CHARGE OF ARSON.

• FIRI2 IN CAR PAINTING SHOP. t ■ ELTHAM MAX ON TEIAL. (By Telegraph. —Press Association.) NEW PLYMOUTH, Monday. A sequel to a fire in a car painter's shop at Eltham on January 10 was heard in the Supreme Court to-day when Robt. Thomson was charged with wilfully setting fire to his shop and, alternatively, with wilfully setting fire to substances in the shop knowing that the building was likely to be set on fire. He pleaded not guilty. The Crown Prosecutor referred to the discovery of the fire and said accused, who was •in partnership with his brother, was in straitened financial circumstances. The brother owned the property and building, but there were two mortgages on it. They had £300 of unsecured debts and were being pressed for the overdue interest on the second mortgage, also by some of their creditors. Accused was made bankrupt about a fortnight after the fire. The financial position was so bad that the telephone and electric light services had been cut off because the fees' had not been paid.

Counsel suggested that from the poitn of view of insurance a successful fire would have been a godsend for Hie accused. There was a policy of £5(50 on the building, £220 on the plant, £100 on the stock and £100 on the work in hand. On the day of the fire accused had purchased a tin of benzine. After the fire an empty tin was found near the front door. Fire was discovered in several parts of the building simultaneously. The fire actually did little damage. In a statement to the police Thompson had said he had been using benzine to clean a car. He left the building but, noticing the parking light burning on a car, he returned to turn them off. He struck a match and an explosion occurred. The case for the defence has not yet begun.