HOUSE WILFULLY SET ON FIRE

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 218, 11 June 1929, Page 12

HOUSE WILFULLY SET ON FIRE

.EVIDENCE AT INQUIRY By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, June 10. An inquiry concerning a fire which partly-destroyed an old two-storied wooden nouse of eleven rooms in Arthur Street, Ponsonby, on April 30 last, was held today before the Magistrate (Mr. F. K. Hunt). Evidence was given that the house, with the furniture, was bequeathed last August to Mrs. Catherine Gavegan, and had since been unoccupied. It was subject to a mortgage of £1250 to the Public Trust Office, and was insured for £l9OO, and the furniture and effects for £650 in the South British Company. Mrs. Gavegan said she entered hospital on April 26. She first entered th? house to see if everything was in order, and this was the last time she visited the house before the fire. Her husband was away in Wellington at this time, and did not return until May 5. Chief-Detective Hammond said that after the fire the police found a line of fuse such as was used by miners, laid from the front door , along the hall to under the switchboard, a distance of 21ft. There was a strong smell of kerosene, and there was proof positive that the house had been wilfully burned by some person. The fire went right through the place, which was extensively damaged. The fire brigade superintendent (Mr. Wilson) and Detective Allsop gave evidence regarding their investigations after the fire, and Mr. K. M. Griffin, Government Analyst, deposed that debris taken from the house showed traces of keroS6 (Jecil Percival Gavegan, husband of the owner said the first he heard of the fire was oh his return from Wellington. .He did not know of anyone who had a grudge against him who would be likely to set fire to the house. “There is no difficulty about reaching a verdict,” said the Magistrate. ‘ The evidence shows the fire was wilfully caused by someone, but who that one was there is no evidence to show.” He returned a verdict to that effect.