CHARGE OF ARSON.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15220, 6 March 1915, Page 2

CHARGE OF ARSON.

THREE -MEN CONCERNED

A SENSATIONAL CONFESSION

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

WELLINGTON. March 5.

There has been an interesting development concerning the charge of incendiarism against three men named Charles Edmunds, AValter Balch, and Arthur George Young in connexion with the destruction by fire of the old White Ho:s c Hotel at Ngahauranga, winch is now in a No-liconse district, en July 19th last. Detective-Sergeant llawle produced in Court a written statement by Edmunds, i:i which he alleged that- Young said to him in Wellington on tho night of the fire: "iShe is going up to-night." meaning the White Horse Hotei, in which he (Young) was -'nteresteu. The thrco men walked out to Ngahauranga and entered the hotel, which was empty. Young got through a window and opened the side door for his companions to enter. They jointly placed some sacks in a cupboard under the stairs, where there were already some old lamps and vessels that had contained oil. Young set a light to the collection and afterwards did the same thing to an old couch in another room, after ripping it open and pouring kerosene upon the stuffing. Edmunds was present in that room while Balch watched outside on the road. •>, Edmunds, continuing his statement, said he had no interest in the hotel, but receive;! £10 from Young on the following Sunday. As the matter worried him he decided to confess. When Balch was arrested, he said he was innocent.