MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3566, 22 June 1872, Page 3

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Friday, June 21. (Before C. 0. Bowen, Esq., R.M.)

Drunk and Disorderly. —William H. Derry, arrested by constable Maelay, was fined 10s.—Martha Jones, arrested by constable Wilson, and also charged with having used obscene language, was dismissed with acaation on promising to refrain from drink and go to work. Fighting in a Public Thoroughfare. —Thomas Dalt i and John Brown, arrested by constable Jones, were each fined 10s. Arson. —Margaret McGuire, now undergoing sentence of imprisonment for stealing wearing apparel from the premises of Messrs Petersen and Co., High street, was now brought up on a charge of having attempted to set fire to the premises. Constable Wilson sworn: On Tuesday last, the 17th inst., I went to Petersen’s shop, in High street, and took possession of the burnt rags in a box produced, which were given to me as having been in prisoner’s room. On the following (Wednesday) morning I took possession of a box and the muslin curtains produced, which were handed over to me by Mr Monson; the curtains are partly burnt. John Monson : lam manager for Messrs Petersen and Co., High street. Prisoner was in servfco there for about five weeks. She was dismissed on the 7th June. On the night of the 6th, I happened to be sitting up rather late. At about half-past 111 was sitting in the workshop, next to the room occupied by the prisoner, when I heard some strange noises. I went into the kitchen, and saw prisoner going from thence into her own'room. As she opened the door of her room, a lot of smoke came out.. I asked what it was, but she had closed the door, and said it was nothing. She refused to open the door, but I insisted upon being admitted. After I had repeated my demand several times, she opened the door, when I found the smoke so strong that I could not, for the moment, get in. I then Called two friends, who were in the workroom. They came, but we were again unable to get in for" the smoke. Prisoner was undressed, and we told her to dress, so that we might go in. She -tdid' so, and we wen* in and opened the window, to let out the smoke. Prisoner was then on the floor, with a lot of clothing about her. I asked where the fire was, but she said there was no fire—that there was nothing. Mr Gunderson, one of the friends with me, then called my attention to the box produced, which was used -as a dressing table, under the window, and had the curtains hanging about it. I went to look, and, when we lifted the curtains up, we saw a lot of rags, and straw, and old paper, smoking. There was no flame. The -straw was in bundles, leaning against that part of the box nearest the window, and was like the straw in American brodms. There Vas a large quantity of old rags put amongst the. straw. They were all smoking when ! saw them. The. effects of the fire is shown on the wood box now, produced. The curtains were hanging round the box, covering up Hie fire. There was water on the floor, all-about the box. The water must have been thrown on during the time prisoner, refused to admit us to the room. I have never seen any straw, about the premises like that in the, box. -Prisoner remained on her, knees all the time we , were in the room. We put out the fire, and-watched all night, as we were afraid what she might do. She was intoxicated. Next morning, when she was sober, I asked her what she had been doing, and she said it was nothing. I then discharged her. . Half an hour before observing the smoke I was in the kitchen, and saw no signs of fire or smoke. The fire amongst the rags could not have occurred accidentally. The rags and straw had all the appearance of having. been put there purposely. I remarked at the time that the fire looked as if it had been planned.. When I came down in the morning, everything connected with the fire had been cleared out of prisoner’s room, except the large box used as a dressing table. The paper box and rags partially burnt I found in the yard. Albert Gunderson gave corroborative.evidenee, adding that when he first went to look into the box under the window prisoner pulled down the ourtains again to hide the.interior. Inspector Pender asked whether evidence respecting a similar attempt on the part of prisoner a short time previous would be entertained. His Worship said a separate charge could be laid, but it could not be taken in connection with |the present one. Prisoner, in defence, said that she kept the straw and rubbish in the Box for the purpose of lighting tho kitchen fire in a morning, and that they could only have become ignited on the occasion referred to by accident. She went to bed at nine o’clock, and the candle must have fallen amongst the rags then. Alter she had been asleep some time she was awakened by something, and found the room full of smoke. She got up and went into the kitchen for a match. When she returned to her room she found what was the matter, and at once used water to put out the fire. She denied being intoxicated. Prisoner was committed to take her trial at the next session of the Supreme Court. LAND ON DEFERRED PAYMENTS. TO THE EDITOR OP THE LYTTELTON TIMES. Sir, —In the Timet of Wednesday Mr Hart is reported to have said to the electors of the Coleridge district at the Hororata meeting that “ Mr Brown himself hod told him that the system he proposed was not for those who were now in the country, but for those whom they were bringing ouffrom Germany, Sweden, and other places.” If Mr Hart really made such an absurd statement, he certainly has misrepresented me, as well as my proposal to sell land on deferred payments to every man in the province possessing or occupying less than 100 acres. Had Mr Hart read my Laud Bill to tho meeting, I venture to soy the most ignorant man present would easily have understood it quite differently from what Mr Hart is reported to have recited it. J. EVANS BROWN. Swannanoo, June 21,1872.