ALLEGED ARSON.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9314, 15 January 1896, Page 6

ALLEGED ARSON.

(PBESS ASSOCIATION TBLEGBAM.) . DUNEDIN, January 14. ] At Kaitangata to-day, before Mr ] Hawkins, S.M., James Gray was charged t with setting fire to the Bridge Hotel, Kai- . tangata. Mr Haggitt, Crown Prosecutor, ] conducted the case for the police, ■ and Mr - Solomon defended. Gray is the owner of 1 the hotel property, and had for some time 1 conducted it himself. It ia now leased to ] David Corson. Three days before the fire 1 Gray went to live in the hotel as a boarder. 1 On the morning of the 22nd of Deoember a . son of the licensee and Mr Gow, Inspector . of Mines, were aroused by the crackling of a fire. After their rousing the other occur pants, it was found that the fire was I in a cupboard in the billiard room, where, among other things, oil and rags were £ kept. After the fire was got out it was C found that apparently an attempt had been . made to start a fire in the bar parlour, a 5 lighted candle having apparently been put i against the wall. Mr Corson, tbe licensee, I when be went to call Gray, when the alarm C was given, found him fully dressed behind a

the door in his room. Evidence was given that Corson, the licensee, would bo a heavy I loser by the fire, and it was attempted to be shown that Gray would be n. gainer, as j the hotel was insured for £1075, though it cost him, seven years before, less than £1000. After lengthy evidence the defendant was acquitted.