INCENDIARISM.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 228, 19 June 1908, Page 7

INCENDIARISM.

ANOTHER CiJSE AT CHRISTCHURCH. BAREFACED ATTEMPT. Cut telegraph.—presb association.) / Chrlstoliurch, Juno 18. A deliberate attempt to destroy tho block of buildings standing next to tho Adams Star Cycle Company's premises in High Street was made late last evening. The shop, of Messrs. Masters and Son, tailors and mercers, ivas burned out sonio months ago in tho fire that occurred in Wiltshire Buildings, and the salvage stock was removed to a shop in tho building next to Messrs. Maine Bros' old boot store, wliero the firm continued business. Shortly after eleven o'clock last evening, Constable Pendor, who was on duty in High Street, noticed a glare in tho slioi) of Messrs. Masters knd Son. Ho burst in tho door at onco, telling a passer-by to give the alarm. On entering tho shop tho constable found a heap of clothing alight on the counter, and, on pullin" it apart, he discovered a piece of piping leading from a gas jet. and connected to it by "rubber tubing. The: gas was on, and there was a strong flamo. at the mouth of time tho Firo Brigade, which had turned out very (Quickly, had arrived, and a 'few buckets of water sufficed to quell tho outbreak. An examination of tho' premises showed thnt tho back door, the gate, and a window were open, a pane having been broken near the catch of the window. The cash register was, ojien, and a cheque and some silver werb'lying in it. A pair of ' steps were standing by the Window. 1 Had tho constable's good judgment not ' prompted him to break opon tho front door, • tho fire might have been very serious. : Superintendent Smith stated that tho at- ' toinp't' was one of the most deliberate ho ' had over seen, and there 'was 'no tolling what might havo happened had riot tho con- ' stable acted promptly. i The building was placed under a guard of • two constables, and some detectives began ' to make inouiries immediately after the out- < break. It seems to bo fairly apparent that • robbery was not the object of the intruders' ' visit. Tho cash resistor had been broken 1 open', but neither the silver nor cheques in 1 it were taken. The police wero in possession 1 of tho promises to-daj, and it is understood " (-hat, thoy havo secured photographs of finger I prints impressed on the window. Mr. Masters is offering £100 reward for informab tion which will lead to the conviction of tho 3 inoendiarists. Tho insurances wore: £500 on i the stock in tho Royal Exchango, and £850 on tho stock and furnishings in tire Australian Alliance. Tho total damage is csti- . mated at £100. , . Incendiarism is suspected in connection a with tho fire at tho Public Library. The if act is supposed to have been that of a » crank who is hot by any moans skilful.