FIRE FIEND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 286, 3 December 1930, Page 8

FIRE FIEND.

"CRIMINAL IMBECILE." BRREST OF FALSE ALARMIST. SERIES OF CONFESSIONS. S SENT TO MENTAL HOSPITAL. Described as an imbecile of the feriminal type, and a menace to the Community, Vincent Crichton, a labourer, aged 26, who gave the Auckland Fire Brigade much trouble by causing it to rush-out to false alarms of fire, was this' morning committed to the Auckland Jfental Hospital. Crichton, who was arrested by Constable McElhinney at the corner of East Street and Symonds Street, on the night of November 21, after he had given "a false alarm of fire, appeared at the Police Court this morning before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M. . Accused was charged with wilfully damaging a fire alarm box to the extent of 4/, and three other counts with wilfully giving false alarms of fire. He •was further charged with wilfully setting fire to the house of James Brewins, Boston Eoad, on October 20 and again on October 29. "I understand that a number of other case 3 have been traced to Crichton," said the magistrate, when accused first appeared. "That is quite so," said DetectiveSergeant Kelly. Mr. Hunt added that Dr. Buchanan, superintendent of the Auckland Mental Hospital, Tiad examined Crichton, and in a report had stated that he was "an imbecile of the criminal type, and a menace to the community." "That is correct," said Mr. R. A. Singer, who appeared for accused. "I have seen the statement." Mr. Hunt said that Crichton would be stood down so that he could be examined by Drs. Lindsay and Harold Pettit. Mr. Singer sa'd he trusted that if these two doctors,, certified that Crichton should be committed to the Mental Hospital, that the police would make application for his admission to the institution. Counsel suggested that Dr. Buchanan's report should be shown the two doctors. .. Mr. Hunt: That will be done. Subsequently Crichton was brought back into court, when it was announced that both doctors declared him to be a mental defective. After committing accused to the Mental Hospital, Mr. Hunt said: "Well, Mr. Kelly, I think that will clear up quite ft lot of undetected crime now. ,. Detective Sergeant Kelly: It will, sir. *Fir.es running into thousands of pounds.

Mr.'Kelly said that Crichton had made several admissions since his arrrest. lie admitted setting 'fire to Archibald Clark's factory in Williamson Avenue, about 1920. "in that case/' * added the detective sergeant, "£42-600 was paid dut'in insurance. He also admits being responsible, when a boy, to burning the Napier Street school and the Foxton (jjjhool, as well as a freezing works ui the South Island, and a number of empty ife'ouses in Wellington. "Since Crichton's arrest on November 21, Detective Knight made exhaustive Inquiries, and, it is stated, obtained full confessions from Crichton in the presence of his solicitor. About three seasons ago two serious fires occurred at the Nelson Freezing Works, when thousands of pounds of damage was done. Damage was also done to machinery at the freezing works by mischief. liater 'accused's tent at the works was destroyed by fire. On another occasion, ft is> alleged, when Crichton was staying in the house of a relative, the housa &ughfc fire, and the occupants narrowly escaped in tlfeir night attire.