SET FIRE TO HOUSE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 252, 23 October 1936, Page 15

SET FIRE TO HOUSE.

LABOURER FOUND GUILTY. SUICIDE INTENDED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. A verdict of guilty, with a strong recommendation to mercy, was returned by a jury in the Supreme Court to-day in the case in which Francis Herbert Dennis Fitzgerald, aged 27, labourer, was cha:ged with arson on August 18 at Woodend. The building set on fire by accused was a four-roomed house belonging to Charles George Stevenson and occupied by accused. Evidence showed that accused, who had been very susceptible to the effects of drink since receiving a head injury some years ago, had, after drinking, tri,>d to commit suicide by burning himself to death. It was stated by the Crown Prosecutor that accused was unstable mentally, though not irresponsible or insane. Evidence was given that accused had had . drink on the day, had quarrelled with his wife and had tried to commit suicide by slashing his arms with a razor. In a statement to the police accused said he intended to die in the burning hou*e, but the smoke and heat were too much for him, and lie went outside. Accused was remanded for sentence.