SET FIRE TO BARN

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 August 1939, Page 4

SET FIRE TO BARN

LABOURER ADMITS ARSON

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

ROTORUA. August 21

Diivitl Fraser Watson. 20, a lab. onrcr and seaman, in the Magistrate’s Gouri to-day, admitted a. charge of arson by setting lire to a barn, the proper! v of llai-old Hardcastle, of Roto rua. and was committed to tin, Supreme Court for sentence.

Accused, who had been employed on the farm only a fortnight, in a statement Io the ptdice, admitted that on Saturday. August 19. he set lire to the barn by throwing into it a lighted celluloid comb. He claimed that he tided on the spur of the moment because of a grievance against the farm manwho. he alleged, had complained to the Placement. Officer that he was not. suitable for the

The manager, in evidence, estimated t!:e damage at .£737. The insurances amounted to C.'Jtin. The barn, in addition to 500 bales of hay. contained a tractor, a, car. and a number of farm implements. The tractor and ear were saved, but the hay and the majority of the implements v.-ere buried.