RECENT FIRES.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 6968, 28 January 1918, Page 3

RECENT FIRES.

Youth Arrested

/ At the Police Court tliis morning before Messrs J 0 Adams, M Walkerand X E Price J.P.s, Arthur David Padlie, a youth seventeen years of age was charged with set tine; tire to the " Yorkshire Grey " on the evening o: Thurs 'ay las-t;. Constable Skinner conducted the case on behalf of the Police. Ho stated that in the coarse of investigations into the cause of the tire, hs interviewed accused who eon - fe-sed to having set firo to the building. Mr C A Orsbbe, who acts 8S caretaker for the owner, Mr fl B Mountfort, gave evidence as to discovering the fire. Accused pleaded guilty and was remanded to the •Supreme Uourt for sentence. The same lad was also charged with setting fire on November oth las-t 10 a 7-rooined house on Edgtcumbe Road owned by Mr b) 0 Carter of liarainea, which w s totally destroyed. Mr H L Jones gave evidence that he was the first to arrive at the tiro. . Ab'>ut five minutes befoie the Brigade 'reached the scene accused arrived in ; his fire brigade uniform and ordered ■ witness eff the premises, eUting that moouebut firemen were allowed an the ground. Herbert Mills stated in evidence thatsometime before the firo accused spoke to him about burning tho house down, and hn told him not to be a fool. Shortly afterwards the house was burnt down and aJittle time later accused toid him that he had' burnt it down. In answer to the bench Mills stated that he did not inform anyone of what he had been told. .Ho did not care to teli on accused. Constable Skinuer stated that when interviewing accused regarding the "Yorkshire Grey " tire ho admitted having set fire to the building in question. Accused thau said to witness that he would like to be put on a farm Accused pleaded guilty to this charge also and was committed to tho Supreme Court for sentence.