INCENDIARISM

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 January 1933, Page 7

INCENDIARISM

A REMARKABLE STATEMENT. MELBOURNE, January 6. Evidence of remarkable alleged confessions of attempts over a period of more than a month to destroy buildings in the Broadmeadows district was given at the Broadmeadows Court today, when Robert Henry Harmer, 36, labourer, of Broadmeadows, appeared to answer three charges of arson and one charge of wilful damage. The charges were that on or about November 12, 1932, Harmer wilfully set tire to the Broadmeadows. Shire Hall; that on the same occasion he wilfully and maliciously damaged and destroyed trees and shrubs belonging to the Broadmeadows Shire Council; that between December 4 and December 18, 1932, he wilfully set fire to the Yuroke Presbyterian Church; and that on December 8, 1932, he wilfully set fire to the Greenvale State School. Harmer pleaded guilty to each charge. ' Detective McKenna read a statement signed by Harmer in which Harmer said that he had tried to burn the shire hall down on the night of November 12. He had broken the rose bushes and pulled up the plants on his return from the races, where he had lost, everything he possessed. Some weeks later, he went to the Yuroke Church. He remembered throwing the books about and lighting a candle which he placed under a chair and covered with cloths from the church organ and from a table. He then left them to burn On December f, late at night, he went to the Greenvale School, broke a window with a shovel. entered, set fire to some papers, and left. On his way back to the farm where he was working he saw the flames coming through the roof of the school. His reasons for doing these things were that he was tired of life, and wanted to do as much damage as possible and commit suicide. He intended to burn all I churches and schools in the district. He came to Melbourne intending to throw himself over Princess Bridge, but after interviewing a Salvation Army officer, he decided to give himself up. Harmer was committed for trial. '■