ARSON SUSPECTED

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 48, 25 August 1931, Page 10

ARSON SUSPECTED

ARREST AT AUCKLAND BIG ROOMING HOUSE (By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post") AUCKLAND, This Day. Prompt action by tlio city 'Western Districts Fire Brigade prevented the destruction of a 19-robined apartment house in Sentinel- road, Herno Bay shortly after 2 o'clock yesterday nioriiing. About fifteen people, including several children and a woman of 70, escaped in their night attire. Describing the fire, Mr. W. L. Wilson superintendent of the Auckland Fire Brigade, expressed the opinion that it was a case of incendiarism. AVhen the brigade arrived four separate fires, entirely unconnected, wore burning in different parts of the building. "It is the clearest caso of a building having been deliberately set on fire that I can recall," said Mr. Wilson. "Even a layman can see that it was no accidental occurrence. If the fee had got another five minutes' atart all the evidence would have been destroyed." The police have taken possession of several partly-burned bundles of combustible material. Detectives were engaged on the case all yesterday, and an arrest was made by Detective Knight. THE OWNER CHARGED. Charles Vcrnon (53), a tailor, and owner of the premises, was charged iv the Police Court to-day with wilfully setting fire to them, and was remanded for a week. Counsel asked for bail, saying that the accused intended pleading guilty and wanted his liberty to put his affairs in order. The police opposed bail which the Magistrate, Mr. F. k! Hunt, refused, as tho accused could be given the facilities he required while m custody.