ALLEGED FIRE RAISING.

Evening Star, Issue 7358, 2 November 1887, Page 2

ALLEGED FIRE RAISING.

[Special to tub Star.] CHRISTCBUROH, Novimbbk 1< A cane of incitement to arson, which haj attracted considerable attention here recently, oamo before the Police Court this morning. The accused was Christian Somen, who carries on a large bookselling business in Christoburch undei the name of Wood aod Co. The chief witnesses against him were Mrs and Miss Izett, the wife and daughter of Mr Izett, formerly editor of * Society' and of the Cbristchurch < Star,' but latterly editor of the Hawke's Bay ' Evening News.' Mrs Izett, assisted hy her daughter, has for a considerable time carried on business as a news-agent in Colombo street. She became indebted to Mr Somen, and it is alleged that the latter, on divers occasions, urged her to burn down the premises in order to get the insurance, money, but Bhe refused to entertain the proposal. A remarkable feature in connection with tho business is this: a short time ago .Mrs Izett 80ld the business to a young man He was in possession only a short time when he (so it is alleged) attempted to burn down the place. He was charged with the offence a few days ago, and was oommitted for trial. Tne following are exttacts from the evidence given against Somen : Mn Izett: Accused is also a stationer, carrying on business in High street. Witness got all her goods from him nearly all the time she occupied the shop in Colombo street There, were accounts between them. In February, 1885.' she was indebted to accused L 205 ; in January, 1887, it had increased to L 354. She produced the various invoices In the account. Accused often came to see her at-out his account and pressed her for payment. In April, 1886, on one ot his visits to the shop, while witness's daughter was present, they had sotr.o conversation about the accounts. Accused eaid he would have to have tho money;,there W". however, one way out of the difficulty. The Triangle was an old set of buildings, and a fire there would do a great deal cf good; the stroke of a match would do it, and no one would be a bit wiser. Witness said she could not do that. Accused said It was a little matter as her husband could do it for her; as be was doing nothing. He further said that'witness and her family were Irving On him and he could not keep supporting fheui. In November, 18S6, a day or two before the Agricultural and Pastoral show, aooused again came to the shop and began talking about burning the place down. He said then would be the proper time, during the holidays, as everybody would be out of town, and there would scarcely be any probability of the Fire Brigade being in town; there could not be a better opportunity. He said that he must have his moneysomething must be done. He spoke in this way on several occasions, but witness] could not Qx.the da'es. He usually spoke very crossly; said Mr Izett was lazy, and that it was;,the least thing he could do to set fire to the place: also, if it were done, he (accused) would set witness up in Morton's block with an entirely new stook, and wou'd take care of her. No one lived in the shop. The Btock was insured in the Viotoria efflce by witness for L3OO. Accused knew that in November, 1886, the stock was worth L3OO. Before giving, up business in January. 1887, witness had heavy losses. To'la Liura Izett (Mrs Izett's daughter) deposed that she lived with her mother while ehe had the bu4ne?B in 172 Colombo street She assisted ber mother. She often caw aooused at tho shop. He used to come about his account .Witness reoolleoted being ih the shop with her mother in April, 1886. Aooused.came in and .asked Mrs Izett if she had increased her insurance. He wanted her (Mrs Izet>) to set fire to the place. . He said, It she did so he would set her up In Morton's building and take care of her. On another occasion, about the time of Willis's fire, about the Wednesday before it, in March last, aooused spoke to witness when she waß alone in the shop. He said it was a good job her father had a situation in Napier. There wjs a way of getting out of their difficulties; a ttroke of a match would do it. A customer then oime in, and accused went out. On the next day ho oame in attain. This time witness was in the front shop alone, but Mr Carmini was behind- a earoen in the baok part of the shop doing up her mother's account-books. Accused asked her if she had thought about what he bad eaid on the previous day. H© tapped the wall with & t»mmcr that lay handy .and asked If it was of brick. Witness, said, it was. He inquired also about the other Wis, and said, that at one of them (a wooden partition) was. the place to begin. When he came'ln he asked witness if she was alone, Sbe said she was. He further asked if she went home alone. Sbe said " Sometimes," and be eaid that would be the time to do it. A customer, then came in, and the conversation ended. Crossexamined : Witnoss could not more precisely .fix ~ the-date. Apparently, • on -the-:second occasion she had spoken of, tie came to renew the.conversation begun on the previous aooasion about the "fire. There had never been an aopldentwlth the gas to her.knowledge. She had heard something about a fire which bad started while her father was there. She had never told-fecouied,that she had put the fire out, and had to be takenj'hbme ill on the Wednesday. -She had:sppkeuqf ttaedaVof the first conversation with ber ; he suggested that ape should set fire to theplao*, that it wou'd.Jewell to relieve her .mother of her.difficulties. On'the'wcopd day, however, he explicitly aSkedTiflr If she would do «), _Bhe.refu9ed,sayiog thejre.was.nev*ra flrebutlt .was. found out. .Accused apd ..her ruoth&rjverfl.riot good friend*, He waßTrtwayg't«yiqg : that t her flther owejfthioi * large turn of money, -and <tnyt J

bad her mother in his power. The second oonveru-. tion took place at about half-put three in the after* ' notin. ilr Carminl often eame in to do the 1 books. • Miss Izett's version was corroborated'by a telV qrapblßt wbo, unknown to Somers, overheard the conversation. ' '■'■■ i Accused was eommitted for trial. ■