BURNED FATHER’S HOUSE

Hokitika Guardian, 15 July 1931, Page 3

BURNED FATHER’S HOUSE

ui..- with mental "mnk," „\i Afeijsif U.L\, Jn.v 13. in toe (JUiuiue euun eu-uay a j-ung gui apj-marcu on w cin.ige oi navn.g, set me to her nttner s nouse at Aiiiui'.ceviiie \vest aou-ui tlnee _,ears ago, wren tile result tnat it aas named uoivu. Sne was further charged with having attempted to set fire lo another house belonging to her lather at M an l ice vi lie East on May AJ. , The police stated that in >928 there was an epidemic of fires at Mauriveville West, where the girl was living at the time. Her l'atner’s house gviis burned down in July, 1928, and inquiries were made by the police, butwithout result. .Residents of Maurice- \ ille became'.alarmed at the frequency of the fires, and detectives, investigated, but did not meet with success. Although the girl was suspected she denied all knowledge of the fires. On ,lay *29 last an attempt was made to ourn down her father’s house at Maurlceville East, and the girl admitted setting lire to some newspapers and chips which had been placed in a washstand in one of the rooms. She also admitted setting fire to the house at Mauriceville West in 1928. There was nothing to connect the girl with other fires in 1928, although there were suspicious circumstances. In her statement to the police the girl said she could not account for her action. The magistrate, Mr Miller, said thej girl had a mental “kink’.” He commit-} ted her to the care of the Superintendent of Child Welfare, in order that she might he sent to a home where she would hnve medknl care.