SET FIRE TO HOUSE

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30364, 13 February 1964, Page 16

SET FIRE TO HOUSE

Woman Under

Strain

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND. Feb. 12

Gillian Elaine Murray, a 20-year-old shorthand-typist, pleaded guilty to setting fire to the house she and her husband lived in at Runciman when she appeared in the Magistrate’s Court at Papakura today before Mr Stewart Hardy, S.M. Sergeant R. Burrows said the house was gutted. Damage totalled £l4OO. The house was owned by a local farmer and was occupied by Murray, her husband and a land girl.

Accused’s excuse was that the land girl was causing trouble and she wanted to get rid of her. She had only wanted to cause a little damage and had personally lost £lOO worth of property in the Are.

Sergeant Burrows said it appeared the accused had been under some emotional strain. She was due to have a child in May. Mr F. M. Morice, for Murray, said it was clear she had made a mistake in marrying her present husband. The husband had brought the other girl into the house to torment her in her pregnant condition.

The Magistrate convicted Murray and released her on probation for three years. He ordered payment of £lO towards the cost of the prosecution.