ARSON ALLEGED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 289, 7 December 1931, Page 3

ARSON ALLEGED.

"fire in timber yard. STRANGE ONEHUNGA STORY. «TO SAVE HIS JOB." MAN COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. A strange story of alleged arson was told to Mr. F. H. Levicn, S.M., in the Onehunga Police Court this morning, when Walter Kelly, aged about 60, mpeared on a charge of attempting wilfully to set fire to the premises of the Parker Lamb Timber Company, OneDetective Hammond, who conducted the case for the police, explained that accused had been employed by the company as a caretaker. The mill had been closed, and, although accused was still looking after the premises, feared that he would lose his job. He sutrcested that a nightwatchman should be° D appointcd to look after the mill. Accused had caused a fire in the mill for the purpose of pointing out to his employers that a watchman was needed. The value of the mill was £16,000 and the insurance was £6OOO. Mr. Hammon said -that he could see no way of conducting the case other than making .it an indictable The charge"couia not be reduced to mischief. Fire Reported to Owner. James Alexander Lamb said accused jad been employed as foreman. He 'ived in one of the company's houses to the mill, and it was part of bis duty to act as caretaker. The value of the property was £143,000, and the Insurance was £6OOO. About two months age the mill was closed, and accused was the only man kept on. HiS'-duty was merely to look after the night of November 20, about 1030, witness said he received a telephone message from accused, who said ie had discovered a fire in the mill. He mid he had put the fire out and also iiiat he had seen a man running through •he mill. Witness told accused to inform the police. Witness and his son went over to the mill and accused ••howed him where there had been a fire, elose to the main machinery building. He said he had seen the fire from his -erandali. Accused took him under the •nill and showed him some paper and chips stacked a couple of feet high and saturated with kerosene. Accused had been in the employ of the firm about :our and a half years. He had always been a reliable man. Ser°eant Brown said he was informed by accused about 11.30 the same night ;lmt an attempt had been made to burn down the mill. Witness saw accused at :he mill. Accused said he had discovered ;ke: fire about 10.30. The position of "jhe. buildings made it almost impossible • or' a man to see the fire from the verandah of accused's house. The spot where" the fire was lit did not make it serious. ~/ Admission Alleged. Detective G. A. McWhirter . interviewed accused on November 24 and asked him if he had anything further to add to what he had already told the detective. Accused then made a statement in which he admitted that he had caused the fire himself. "It is for your Worship to say whether there is a case to go to a jury," said counsel for accused. "The whole thing appears to be merely a gesture on the part of accused to show his employers that a nightwatchman was needed." . "I don't sec what other charge could be brought against him," said the magistrate. Accused pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial Bail of £IOO was allowed.