SEQUEL TO EXPLOSION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 20 September 1928, Page 9

SEQUEL TO EXPLOSION.

THREE MEN F ACE ARSON CHARGE. (By Telegraph —Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Sept. 20. Thomas Francis Carrol, Sydney Fkancis) Waters and) James Tate appeared in court to-day and were charged with wilfully setting fire to a grocery shop valued at £975 'and conspiring to defraud .the British Traders’ Insurance Company of £6OOO. Chief Detective Hammond stated that a few days ago Waters was discharged from the police force. Evidence was given by a trustee of the owners of tlie sliop tiiat Oartrol iiacl forwarded proof of loss through fire and a claim for £394. Witness examined the debris. The stock dicl not appear to represent the statements in tine stock sheet. _ Evidence was given by several witnesses that inline dial Lely after the shop luad blown up early in tlie morning of August 29, they saw three men quickly entering a waiting car and drive, ofi hurriedly without lights. . Raymond! John Alurpliy, whose wife is a sister of A Via to rs said that Waters and Tate were at his house on the night before the fire. They went away about 10 p.m., returning an hour later with several boxes of groceries. Waters said 'hire .stuff was his. They left again, and returned after midnight, finally leaving Murphy’s at 1.15 a.an. on August 29. At that time Waters had no injury to bis, left arm, but two days later Mur-; pliy saw him in. liosioitaJ wiufa sevro© arm injuries. Waters' said the injuries were sustained iby falling down. Iwo days later still Carrol .saw witness, and asked what Waters was going to cm with the groceries. Murphy asked it the woods came from his shop and Carrol replied yes. Mrirphy then requested triad, they be taken away from the house. Subsequently the police dallied at Murphy's and) .seized the goods. (Proceeding.)