ARSON ALLEGED

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 August 1930, Page 2

ARSON ALLEGED

A BANKRUPT’S STORY.

NARRANDERA (N.S.W.), July 28.

Evidence of a sensational nature was given by Hughie Robertson in an examination of the causes of his bankruptcy before Mr B. D. Barker, P.M. Robertson said he had a farm in the Merriwagga district, which he sold in 1927, and went to Whitton, where his brother-in-law, Thomas Gqprge Myers, was licensee of the Albion Hotel. Myers, said Robertson, induced witness to purchase the licence of the Commercial Hotel, and said that, if he paid him £BOO, he would do away with the Albion. Something was said about a. fire. Myers said he would get Angel, a brother-in-law, to do the deed. Angel, who agreed, was to get £lOO from Robertson, and either £lOO or £2OO from Myers. Robertson duly purchased the lease of the Commercial Hotel. Subsequently Myers went 1,0 Sydney and fixed the date of the fire with Angel.

Alice Robertson, wife of the bankrupt, said that she know nothing about the alleged arrangement. She said that Angel once admitted burning the hotel. Myers’ version of the payment of £BOO was that, after the fire, he rented a temporary bar, and some time afterwards entered into an agreement with Robertson to close the temporary bar, on condition that Robertson paid £BOO, and Robertson’s would, then be the only hotel in Whitton. The Albion Hotel was burnt down on April 27, 1927, and was well stocked at the time. Myers, who was in Sydney, collected £l9OO insurance on the stock, furniture, and fittings. He denied Robertson’s allegations as to the cause of the fire.