MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2930, 31 May 1870, Page 2

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

CHRISTCHURCH. Monday, Mat 30. (Before C, C. Bowen, Esq., R.M). Drunkenness. —William Pogson was fined 10s for the above offence.—John Gemraell was fined 20». —Mary Fullmann, for being drunk, and using obscene language, was fined 20s, Arson. —Walter Neillas was charged, on the information of the Inspector of Police, with setting fire to the dwelling-house occupied by the Rev. W. C Harris, at Christ’s College, on the 6th November, 1867. Inspector Pender deposed as follows :—The fire at the College occurred on the morning of the fifth November, 1867. That portion of the building occupied by Mr Harris was burned to the ground. I was there very soon after the alarm was given. The fire originated in the gutter of the roof. An inquest was held on the fire on the 13th November, 1867, by the Coroner. About the time of the ii quest, a statement was made to me, in which the prisoner was connected with the fire. In consequence of further information recently received, I laid the information against the prisoner. I arrested him on Saturday night, on the warrant produced. I told him the charge, and read the warrant to him. Prisoner said—“ It was no such thing, Mr Foley would account for where he was that night, and that he was at present in Mr Foley’s employ.” About the time the fire occurred at the College several attempts were made to set fire to other buildings in the city. An attempt was made to fire the churches of St. Luke and St. Michael, also Mr Gould’s bouse, and the Devonshire Arms. The attempts were all made in the same way. At this stage of the proceedings, the Inspector of Police applied for a remand for the production of witnesses. The prisoner was accordingly remanded to June 2.