GRAVE SUSPICION

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 8, 4 October 1929, Page 9

GRAVE SUSPICION

HOUSE WILFULLY BURNT

NO PROOF OF CULPRIT

By Telegraph—Press Association.

Christchurch, October 3.

“If there is over-insurance of property of the nature shown in this case it will be a direct incentive to incendiarism,” said Mr. Levvey, S.M., atthe conclusion of an inquest into a fire which destroyed a house in Holly Road on the evening of September 9. The house was owned and occupied by A. V. Clements, and the evidence was that when the fire occurred there was no one at home. The Coroner’s verdict was that the premises were damaged and partially destroyed by two fires, one in a bedroom and one in the scullery, that both fires were deliberately and independently started with the intention of destroying the premises. “I further find,” he added, “that while circumstantial evidence gives rise to grave suspicions as to the originator of the said fires, the full evidence falls short of enabling this Court to arrive at a final decision on that point.” The evidence of A. V. Clements, owner of the property, was that he bought it for £925 or £950 in 1918. Since then he had improved, it. He claimed that the value of the house was £llOO or £l2OO. The insurance on the house was £1425. The furniture was insured for £450, aud he estimated it was worth about that amount at the time of the fire. He was at Cheviot, and had not been home for two or three weeks prior to the fire, Rebecca Matilda Clements, wife of the previous witness, said she went out on September 9 for the evening with five children to the pictures. After going out she returned to write a note. Witness told the children to go on. Witness could not find a letter-card and did not - write a note but hurried after the children. She did not see them on the tram, but met them after the picture show at the theatre. She returned home to find all the lights out, and a fireman in charge of the house. Some clothing was missing. Someone must have broken into the house and stolen the things.

Petrol Soaked Dress.

Chief-Detective Carroll produced a child’s fancy dress costume, part of which was saturated with petrol. It had been found at the seat of the fire in the bedroom. The value of. the goods destroyed was £3B. and of those missing, £B. The Chief-Detective: There's no doubt that you were pushed for money at the time of this fire. Witness : No, A was not. Do you think the things in the house were worth £404? Witness: Yes.

James Hutchings, assessor, gave evidence of having inspected the. damaged property. The value of the goods damaged was £3B Ils., and £2OO would be the outside limit of the value of the goods remaining.

Other evidence was that the key wos found in a back door. A tin of petrol was outside, two feet from the door. Detective-Sergeant O’Brien said he found sacking and part of a child’s fancy dress, smelling of petrol, at tbe seat of the fire. There was no sign of anyone having forced an entry into the house.