ARSON AND ROBBERY. [BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 33, 8 February 1908, Page 9

ARSON AND ROBBERY. [BY TELEGRAPH — PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

AUCKLAND, 7th February. At the Supreme Court to-day .Nicholas Albert Maddren, 32 years of age, was placed upon his trial charged with arson and theft at Kinpaka. The Hon. J. A. Tole, K.C., Crown Prosecutor said the prisoner was charged firstly with setting fire to 'a -dwelling house oh Ist January, and secondly. with breaking into a dwelling house a.nd stealing therefrom a sum of £180. The prisoner was a son-in-law of Mrs. Olsen, whose money was taken, . and brother-in-law t» Mr. Wethcrall; whose house was burnt on the night of the fire. Mrs. Olsen was in her house, which prisoner knew well, having lived there. Prisoner had some unpleasantness with his brothervn-law, so much so that he tlneateaed that he would "settle with him another lime." On Ist January prisoner was living at his mother's house. He apparently resorted to the expedient of setting fire to Wetherall's house, and then went over a distance of •.abAut half a jnile to, his. wthiUcixti&Hdsj

house. He threw stones at the windows, and getting no response went round to the house and knocked at>ths door. He aroused Mrs. Olsen and told her that Wetherall's house was on -fire. By that expedient he got his mother-in-law and her son out of the house. Whilst they were away prisoner broke into the house and with a poker broke 'open a drawer in a chest of drawers containing the money. Prisoner took the drawer and money away with him. Evidence was given, and prisoner found guilty, and remanded lor sentence.