Charges Of Arson And Burglary

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30819, 3 August 1965, Page 3

Charges Of Arson And Burglary

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, August 2. Mr Justice Perry and a jury began the hearing of charges of arson, burglary and false pretences faced by a 40-year-old man in the Supreme Court, Auckland, today.

Accused is Noel James •Reid Yardman, represented by Mr K. Ryan. He has pleaded not guilty to one charge of arson, alternative charges of burglary and of theft from a house, six charges of false pretences involving cheques for a total of £77 16s, and two charges of obtaining credit by fraud. Mr S. A. Cleal is conduct ing the case for the Crown. Evidence of Crown witnesses told of the sale of a bottle of turpentine to accused, the discovery of the fire in his flat in Dominion road, and the finding of an empty turpentine bottle outside a window. Bernice Jean Watson said she had been living at the flat with accused and her four children. On April 5 she and a daughter went to town for the day and returned about 5 p.m. Accused arrived home some time later. He had been drinking and she decided to leave. She left about 6.15 p.m. with the children and went to accused’s, sister's place at Mount Roskill.' Accused got there about 6.30 p.m. and said: “I have something to tell you.” He said he had set the flat on fire. They waited for a while, then returned to the flat. She found the lounge burned out and most of her clothes gone from the bedroom. Their remains were in the lounge. The trial will continue tomorrow.

We would rather men quarrelled with our actions to ensure peace than curse us to all eternity for inaction that might lose us both our peace and our freedom.—President Johnson.