HOUSE SET AFIRE.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19480, 29 November 1928, Page 12

HOUSE SET AFIRE.

A CORONER'S FINDING. (press association teleobam.) NEW PLYMOUTH, November 28. "J. find that the house wasset afire by some person or persons," was the verdict of the Coroner, Mr E; W. Tate, S.M., following his enquiry into the cause of a fire, on October 12th* The evidence showed that when the fire was extinguished three clumps of inflammable material, were found : in cupboards and in the sitting-room,-each with a piece of candle which had been lighted, standing "in it. The material had been soaked with kerosene. • Mra Mary Mather, of the house, which, was insured for £750, and to which the damage was about £2OO, had been seen to enter the house previously with a bottle of kerosene, but this, she said, was to clean the windows of the house, which had been vacated by a tenant two days earlier. Bags had been tacked over the windows, but Mrs Mather said that.was to keep neighbours from looking in. Mrs Mather, aged 68, and her. grandson, aged 18, were closely examined. Sensational allegations were made by witnesses.concerning the methods adopted by Detective Meiklejohn in. the course of his enquiries, and regarding these the Coroner added to his verdict: "I do not believe the statements in the depositions reflecting on the methods of the detective."