FOUND GUILTY OF ARSON.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIV, Issue 124, 2 June 1910, Page 8

FOUND GUILTY OF ARSON.

JURY'S VERDICT AGAINST

PAWELKA

THE PALMERSTON HIGH SCHOOL

FIRE

[press association.]

PALMERSTON N., June 2. Joseph John Pawelka was before Mr Justice Cooper at the Supreme -Court yesterday. The prisoner pleaded guilty to twelve charges of breaking and entering and theft. To a of arson in the case of the High School fire he pleaded not guilty. The school was burned down on April sth.

The Crown's principal evidence was finger-prints found on a pane of glass xemoved from a window in the school •just prior to the fire; also a chain of circumstantial evidence—a bicycle stolen from near the school just before the outbreak was found at the gate of the paddock from which the horse was taken which Pawelka was riding at Pahiatua, and also a cadet belt from •the High School was found at Miller and Giorgi's. After a retirement of 50 minutes the jury returned with a verdict of .guilty. Sentence was deferred.