FIRE STATION ALIGHT

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 9, 11 January 1923, Page 8

FIRE STATION ALIGHT

A YOUNG MAN CHARGED

ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL.

A charge of wilfully setting alight to the Lower Hutt Fire Brigade Station was preferred against a young engineer named Roland Thomas Ferguson, before Mr. E. Page, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court to-day. j The prosecution was . conducted by Senior Detective Lewis, and the accused was represented by Mr. H. F. O'Leary. Thomas William Slinn, a butchen, residing at Lower Hutt, said that he was the superintendent of the Lower Hutt Fire Brigade, of which the accused had previously been a member. About 6 p.m. on 25th November, the fire-alarm was given, and upon arriving at the station he saw several civilians and one fireman already bn the scene. Ferguson was on the motor-lorry, which had' been taken from the shed. The cupboard where the kerosene, waste, etc. was kept, was in flames., Mr. Cormack, the fireman) had taken the tin of kerosene outside, but there was still a strong smell of kerosene. The Senior Detective: " Have you heard of the agitation which has been going on for the erection of a new fir* brigade station?"—" Yes." " Over what period?"—" Two years." Counsel at this stage objected, and th» Magistrate ruled that this kind of evidence was not admissible. Cross-examined, witness said the extent of the damage done was about £5. Lily Cotton, proprietress of a shop situated on the opposite side of tho road to the fire brigaHe station, said .that about 6.10 p.m. on the evening in question she saw Ferguson come out of the station, mount llis bicycle, and ride away. A little later, noticing smoke issuing from the roof of the building, witness told two men, who rang the bellAfter only a few seconds had elapsed, Ferguson reappeared, and entered the station. The evidence of Arthur Francis Wyeth indicated that he had often heard the accused advocating the erection of a new fire brigade station. Witness and the accused often went about together, and when discussing the proposed new fire brigade station, Ferguson had stated that " he would be right for a billet as caretaker," as he was always looking after the motor, etc. It was common talk among members of the brigade that they were going to get a new station, and that the defendant was to be appointed as caretaker. Detective Eevell read a written state-, ment which the accused had made, admitting that he had set fire to some waste in the locker of 'the station. He had no intention of burning the station down, and was not in any way connected with previous attempts. He had been drinking on this particular day, and was not responsible for his actions. At the conclusion of the case for the prosecution, the accused, who pleaded not guilty, reserved his defence, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was fixed at £150.