BURNING OF HOUSE

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 125, 20 February 1941, Page 10

BURNING OF HOUSE

Claim By Owners And Insurance Company

ECHO OF ARSON CASE

Dominion Special WANGANUI, February 19.

Without retiring, a jury in the Supreme Court todav allowed the full damages claimed, £705/11/2, in an action by Albert Thornley Symes. James Cochrane Cray, and the New Zealand Insurance Co., Ltd., against Alfred Francis Blake and Elvie Ruth Blake. The ease arose out of lhe destruction of a building by fire in respect of which defendants were dealt with at the November sessions, of the Supreme Court in Wanganui. The New Zealand Insurance Co., Ltd., claimed £5OO. plus £5/11/2 expenses, from defendants, and Symes and Cray. Waverley, as trustees for the estate of Dunean McDonald. claimed £2OO, being the difference between the £5OO they received from the insurance company and the £7OO at which the house was valued. It was stated in evidence that the insurance company had tin id to Symes and Gray as trustees lhe £5OO. lor which the house was insured, and that the house had been destroyed by fire by defendants, who had been convicted of conspiracy to commit arson at the previous sessions of the Supreme Court in Wanganui.

Mr. Justice Smith entered judgment in accordance with the jury's verdict. Mr. B. C. Haggitt represented plaintiffs.