HAYSTACKS ABLAZ

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12525, 10 April 1935, Page 5

HAYSTACKS ABLAZ

MAN BEFORE COURT COMMITTED FOR. TRIAL (Press CHRISTCHURCH, April 9. Two charges,of wilfully setting fire fco two haystacks were preferred against Chanel Patrick MftrpHy, in the Magistrate’s Court to-day. One stack. .Valued at £l2O, was the property of Mr, William Rogers, dairy farmer, ,of Marshlands, and the other, Valued at Clio, was the property of Mr T. E. Jones, Hill road,- Shirley. Accused pleaded not guilty, and was coiflniittod to the Supreme Court for trial. No application was made forihbil. . ■» Mr Rogers said h : 6 Vvas awakened at 1.30 or 2 . a.m. dn March ; 20, to firtd his Mack blazing. It would have been easy for anyone to fire tlvc stack without going hear the house. The accused had been employed by witness, and had been sleeping in witness’s house. Accused Went out on the evening of March 19 and did hot return until about 4 a.m. on March .20. Witness on id he did not think the accused boro a grudge against him over the non-payment of wages which accused thought to be due to him. A milk war was, on at the time of tho fire, but the matter had hence been adjusted. Mr Jones also gave evidence cf being awakened about 1.30 a.m. oh Marcli 2.0, when both stacks were blazing. Clifford Lee said that Murphy had spent the nights of March 19 arid 20 at li:p place, going to bed at 9 p.m., after asking to be awakened at 3.30 a.m. Witness called him at this hour, when accused was sleeping. Statements, obtained from the accused were, produced by actingDetectiVe Burns. In the first statement Murphy denied the charges, and in the second he admitted, them, and described what he had done.