CHARGE OF ARSON

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 December 1934, Page 7

CHARGE OF ARSON

THEATRE OWNER COMMITTED. SYDNEY, December 12. The district coroner (Mr A. J. White) to-day conducted an inquiry into a Are which .caused damage to the amount of £6OO to the Star Theatre. Gloucester, on November 22. The coroner committed Alfred Augustus Smith, proprietor of the Majestic Theatre, Gloucester, for trial on a charge of arson. John Erpel stated in evidence that, about last March, Smith spoke to him about burning down the Star Theatre. He asked witness whether he wanted to earn “half a hundred.” Witness replied in the affirmative, and later it was arranged that witness should get a mate and “do the job.” He spoke to Roy Haddon, and they later interviewed Smith and asked for £l5 deposit. Smith replied: “I have been caught that way before. I will give you a ‘fiver.’ ” He also told witness he would provide the benzine and other necessary material for the “job.” He showed witness some boxes which were under the stage of the Majestic Theatre, and in witness’s presence filled the boxes with benzine. It was arranged that Haddon should pick up the boxes that night, also the £5. Later, witness found one of the boxes at his home. He took the benzine out and left the box in the yard. The box disappeared two or three days later. Witness added that he and Haddon had no intention of “doing the job,” but they thought they would get a few pounds easily from Smith. The £5 was equally divided between them. Roy Channel said he had conversations with Smith over a period of three months about two years, ago relating to the burning down of the Star Theatre. Smith told him there was no risk, and that the owner of the Star Theatre would not lose by it, as the building and the plant were insured. He told witness that the “job” could be done by soaking bags in petrol and by running a piece of film from the soaked bags to the billabong, which lies a short distance behind. the Star Theatre. Another way was by throwing benzine on to the stove in the residence adjoining the Star Theatre, where the proprietor (Mr Bdwstead) lived. Witness would have nothing to do with the suggestion. Mr Bowstead said that, shortly after her husband’s death about IS months ago, Smith asked her whether she would sell the Star Theatre, as he had a buyer if she would also sell. Jack Watson said that, about 10.15 O’clock on the night of the fire, he saw a man of slim build, about sft. Ilin, high, leave the front portion of the theatre.