THE LATE FIRE.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 314, 24 July 1888, Page 2

THE LATE FIRE.

A CHARGE OF ARSON

THE ACCUSED REMANDED

At the Police Court yesterday morning, before J. Allen, Esq., R.M , John Long was charged with haviug set tire to a dwelling place on 19th inst., with intent to injure one William Compton. Mr Rogers appeared for the prosecution on behalf of the Insurance Association. The Court was densely crowded, while the “fair sex” were well represented in the gallery. Mr Rogers said he wished to apply for a remand for eight days. Ho was in a position, however, to give a certain amount of evidence, which would throw grave suspicion on tho accused, and thus warrant an adjournment. He called William Shepheard, a rabbiter, residing in Blenheim, who said that ho knew the accused. Ho was living behind witness’ house—in a house in Dillou-street, belonging to Mr Compton. Witness remembered the house being burnt down on last Thursday morning, the !9th inst. Believe Long was living in the house when it was burnt down. He was living in it for about a fortnight previous. Witness’ house was about 30 yards from accused’s house. Was present at the fire, and saw Long afterwards. He gave witness a letter about nine o’clock in the morning. He asked witness to give it to Mr Smule. Saw him write it on a leaf of his pocket-book, but did not know what the note contained. He tore the leaf out of his pocket-book. Witness identified the noto (produced). He recognised it because it had Mr Smale’s name written on the back of it, and on account of the way it had boon folded. His Worship : Do you wish to ask witness any questions ? Accused: I admit having written the note. Tlis Worship : I do not want you to make a statement; all I want to know is whether you have any questions to ask. Accused : No, your Worship, I have no questions. Thomas Smale, draper, resident in Blenheim, gave evidence to tho effect that he knew the accused by sight. lie had

purchased goods from witness. 110 purchased sundry articles on the Wednesday week previous to the fire. Among them were curtains, carpeting, quilts, blankets, table cloths, &c. The articles were called for by accused. The carpets were given for use, but accused came to witness a few days afterwards, and said that he would koop them for good. He said ho intended setting up house, and that his father and mother were coming in a fortnight. He did not tell witness what street he was living in—he simply mentioned the Maxwell Road district. He said he had come from Melbourne. He did not pay for the carpet or the floor cloth, but he paid for the other things. Believo the curtains (produced) are the same, and can swear to most of the other articles-the blankets, &o. Witness recognised them by the trade mark on them. On the Friday evening witness received a document. It was delivered at his private house, hut not to witness personally. Previous to his receiving the note it Lad been enquired for by tho police. Recognised the carpeting (produced). To His Worship: I had no dealings with the accused before this. Am certain that he made the statement that he had recently come from Melbourne. Accused : I told you I came from Melbourne, but I do not think I said “ recently. ”

Witness : You said you had been in the Colony about two months. Accused : Yes, that's it. His Worship : Have you any more ciucstions to ask this witness f Accused : No, .sir.

To Mr Rogers : I am certain about my receiving the note on Friday. It was on Thursday, I think, that the police wore enquiring after it. To His Worship : I believe I gave the note to Sergeant Scanlan on the Saturday morning.

Michael Scanlan, Sergeant of Police, was then called.

Mr Rogers said he intended to take only a small portion of this witness’ evidence, and then ask permission to call him at a later stage. Witness stated that he went to the fire on the morning of the luth inst. and saw accused in Mrs ShepheaiT’s house, a few yards away. Witness went in, and found accused lying on a couch in the parlor. Witness had heard some rumors about the man being “ stuck up. ’ He aslo"! him if that was true, and he aid « ! Yes.” lie said he was stuck up A. t. wo men who had tied his hands, gagged his month, and tied his legs together

above the ankle. Thoy then knocked him down and left him there. They robbed him of his purae containing four one pound notes, and one shilling in silver. He said that they took the purse and money from his coat which was lying on the bed. They also took a . Waltham watch. He said that was all the money he had. Witness then asked him what sort of material they tied him up with, aud he replied “ with hia scarf, pocket-handkerchief and kitchen towel, which they found in the kitchen.” Witness then examined the man closely, but could not see any signs of violence, or evidence of his having been stuck up. Ho examined his legs, mouth and wrists. The man had ou his drawers, shirt and elastic side boots when witness saw him. His clothes were not torn in the least. He stated that these were the clothes he had on when ho was tied up. He had slept in his drawers, but had put on his boots afterwards. Accused then gave witness a description of tho men. One of them was a man of sft lOin in height, •10 years of age, wore a dirty tweed coat, black felt hat and moleskin trousers. He said he also had a dark brown heard. The other man was about sft 6in, and wore clothes similar to the other man. Ho said he might be able to identify the tall man if he saw him again. He stated that he did not know how the house caught fire—it might have been caused by the candle dropping out of his hands, or the mon might havo set it on fire. Aftor tho robbers went out of the back door, accused rolled himself out into the back yard, whero lie remained until two men found him. These men cut the ties and removed him to Mrs Shepherd’s cottage. He stated that he did not struggle with tho robbers as thoy completely overpowered him. Witness asked him why he had got up at 2.30 a.m., to which he replied that ho had heard a noiso in the hack room, whereupon he got up, lit a candle, and put on his hoots to go and see what the cause of it was. When he opened tho door he was caught by theso men. Witness asked him whore he caino from, and he said “ from Sydney.” He said he was a married man, with no children, and that his wife was then on her way from Sydney. Ho said his occupation was a poultry farmer. Ho said his furniture was insured for L4O. That was the bulk of the conversation which took place in the house, and witness arranged to meet him at tho station at 1.30.

To His Worship : He told me that everything he possessed was burned. To Mr Rogers : About 9.30 he camo to the police station, in order to give mo a more accurate description of the robbers. I took down his description of tho men in writing, and again asked him about the goods. Asked him who ho had purchased them from, and he said T. Smale, from whom he had bought carpets, curtains, blankets, fancy table cover and other articles which lie could not recollect at the moment. He said ho had also purchased a couch, chairs, looking glasses, etc., from Mr Howard, cabinetmaker, and said that all these had been burned in the firi/. He had bought a washing staud and other articles from Mr Brewster. I asked him if all the things he had bought were in use previous to the fire, and ho replied in tho affirmative. He said they were all distributed in their proper places about the house, and tho carpet laid. He said that none of the goods were in cases—thoy had all been burned iu the fire, and nothing had been saved. He had not been arrested at this time- I was only getting information from him. Constable Dew was present at the conversation. To His Worship: The cottage was oompletely burned down. We have found none of the furniture iu the debris, with the exception of a little china ware. There was no sign of any iron bedstead, or any other furniture. Accused : I have no question to ask this witness. What ho sail was correct. Witness : I might add that accused also sud that ho had purchased things from other people in town, hut he could not remember who they were. Accused then said that ho had told tho Sergeant that he had slept in the front room of the cottage. He heard a noiso, and got up to see what it was, and when he did so he thought he heard a noise on tho road outside.

Sergt Scanlan replied that ho understood accused to say that ho slept in tho front room and got up to see the cause of the noise iu the house.

At this stage Mr Rogers asked for a remand till Monday next, 30th inst, at 11 a.m., which was granted.