INCITED ARSON

Hawera Star, Volume L, 29 July 1930, Page 4

INCITED ARSON

FATHER’S ADVICE TO SON WANTED HOUSE BURNED DOWN (By Telegraph—Press Association.) NEDSON, July 28. James Giles, a carpenter, aged 52, was arrested by Detective Sinclair this morning and. appeared before Mr T. Mail ns eh, >S.M., charged with inciting his son, Arnold Jaimes Giles, to commit ■arson. At, first, accused pleaded not guilty. Detect iVe .Sinclair explained that accused had! a. house at Auckland) insured. for £9OO, with a mortgage on it for £OOO. Ho handed the magistrate a. letter which accused bad sent to his son. The fetter came into the possession of accused’s wife, who gave it

to the police. The letter is as follows

“Dear Arnie, this is a, private letdo not let anyone see it, and burn jit. as soon as you have read it. Now ■be very careful with it. I have been annoyed at you not doing what I asked you. Now get busy.. There is work for you doovn here, and you will be a goiocl help in the band. You get your job when you get d/oWn .here. I will look after you when you arrive and get yon all you need. There is no chance of .selling the house just now, and: we would not get much for it. The Bank of Now Zealand will sell it, and that will mean nothing for us, so read this carefully and then l burn this letter and squash the ashes. “I want you to burn the house and make a good job o : it. Set it going in the workroom. 'Get a couple of sacks of shavings from Uncle 'Tom’s shop. Te'l'l him you want a fire in the dining room. You could lay them round the walls ini the ’workroom and to see that it gets a. good start leave a window open in the back upstairs room and in the workroom. That will help it along. About 12 o’clock or 2 in the morning is the best time.

“If Maim is home ge; her out just when you think it ’s time. Do not tell her .anything about it, or she will spoil the show. If she is out late or away ail night all the better. You could get the shavings in and keep them a few days. Of course you will say that you did not know how it started. I will send you your fare up straight after.

“Now destroy this straight away. A? I told you, you will like Nelson; it is ja fine place. We don’t get any rain down here. T want von fo he down here for festival week in August. If you get. down in a couple of weeks’ time you will have time to. get some practice in.—Yours for over, Dad.” 'When the magistrate had finished reading the letter he said! to alec used, “Well. what, do you say lo that?” A'eeuscd: It. sound's a bit guilty, d'oesn’t it? He then, pleaded guilty. The magistrate said accused hart taken the wisest .course. Giles was convicted and sente need) to two montfis ’ imprisonment.