AUCKLAND "FIREBUG"

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 133, 3 December 1930, Page 12

AUCKLAND "FIREBUG"

MENACE TO COMMUNITY

COMMITTED TO ASYLUM

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, This Day. When a constable arrested Vincent Criehton (26), labourer, in the act of giving a false alarm on 21st November he arrested more than a mere mischiefmaker. That was made clear in the Police Court to-day, when Criehton was charged' with giving three false alarms and twice setting fire to a private house. The Magistrate (Mr. F. K. Hunt) said he had a long report from the Mental Hospital superintendent, who concluded that Ci'ichton was an imbecile of a criminal type and a menace to the community. Counsel for the accused said it was obvious that he must be committed. The Magistrate: "I think this will clear up a lot of undetected crime. I understand that a large number of cases have been traced to him." Detective Kelly: "Yes. The damage he has caused runs into thousands of pounds. He admits setting fire to a warehouse in Auckland about 1920. The amount paid in insurance after that fire was £42,600." The detective added that the accused also admitted that when a boy he set fire to the Napier Street School (Auckland) and the Foxton School, also empty houses in Wellington and the freezing works in Nelson. The accused hud been employed at the works, and he admitted that he had set fire to his own tent. Tha damage at the works, which were fired twice, amounted to £3000. The machinery was also damaged. There were other similar offences. The accused was committed to the Aueklanil Mental Hospital.