FIRE IN A SHOP

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 111, 11 May 1923, Page 8

FIRE IN A SHOP

GROCER CHARGED WITH FALSE

DECLARATION.

Arising out of a fire at his shop in Bay road, Kilbirnie, on 21st December last, a grocer named Stuart Brown M'Donald appeared before the Supreme Court yesterday afternoon and to-day on charges of making a false declaration before a solicitor (such as would amount to perjury i£ made in a judicial pro-; ceeding) in respect of his stock and the damage caused as the result of the fire, and of attempting to obtain the sum of £300 from the New Zealand Insurance Company by means of a false pre' tence. . . . .

The Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) presided. Mr. P. S. K. Macassey appeared for the Crown, and the prisoner,, who pleaded not guilty, -was represented by Mr. A. Dunn. Mr. Ernest Gaby was foreman of the jury.

"Although a considerable amount of evidence will be called in this case,", said Mr. Macassey in opening, "the actual issue which you will have to decide is; really a very simple one." The case, dealt with a fire which occurred at the prisoner's shop on 21st December last. Two days after the fire the insurance company sent out a man to estimate the damage, which was assessed at £25. This assessment was later confirmed by an inspector of the company, but the accused objected, and it was arranged that he should appoint an independent assessor. Prisoner therefore secured the services of another grocer, whose estimate of the damage was £50.. M'Donald declined to accept this estimate also, and in his return stated the extent of the damage as £300. Evidence on the lines of that brought in the Lower Court was then called. ■ ■

(Proceeding.)