SEVERAL CHARGES

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 220, 15 August 1927, Page 7

SEVERAL CHARGES

YOUTHS BEFORE COURT.

RECENT INCIDENTS IN TOWN.

DESIBE FOB EXCITEMENT.

Two youths, whose names were in the meantime ordered to be suppressed, appeared before Messrs B. Edwards and N. 11. Sinclair, J.P.’s, at the Police Court this morning to answer a series of charges in which thoy were alleged to be singly or jointly concerned.

In tho absence of a magistrate certain charges were held over till this afternoon.

Accused were jointly charged that on July 21, 1927, they did set fire to tho Boman Catholic Church in Broadway.

Detective Sergeant Quirke conducted proceedings for the police, while Mr Ongley appeared for the accused. Joseph Albert Cole, of 20 Broad Street, gave evidence to the effect that he resided next door to the old Catholic Church in Broadway. At about 8.15 p.m. on July 21 he noticed someone striking matches at the rear of the church and had then perceived a “blow” of fire coming from underneath the building. Two figures had then hurriedly decamped—one being taller than the other—-but, it being a dark night, ho did not recognise them. Assistance had been sought by witness and the fire, which had been built up with paper, was beaten out, the blocks under the building being slightly charred. There were, added witness, two distinct fires under the rear of the building, which was somewhat damp at the time. He was acquainted with one accused but did not know the other.

Detective Barling testified t-o having interviewed the two accused on August 4 when he had taken a statement wherein they had admitted the offence, each, however, attributing the suggestion to set fire to the building to the other. Enquiries had elicited that whereas one of the accused had stated that the paper had come from the lavatory in the Bank of New Zealand, it had been taken from a strongroom used by a surveyor in the building. He had inspected the scene of the fire and had found that two distinct fires had been built under the building, the totara blocks being scorched.

Accused pleaded guilty and , were committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.

At this stage counsel for accused put forward an application for the suppression of their names in the meantime. Both were, he maintained, mentally abnormal and their respective parents had sought various medical advice on the matter, counsel putting forward medical reports in support of his contention. Senior-Detective Quirke raised no objection and the request was granted. ANOTHEB CHABGE. The smaller of the accused was charged singly (1) That on July 6, 1927, at Palmerston North he did wilfully set fire to tho house of Bosalia Elizabth Waters, of 256 Featherston Street. Bosalia Elizabeth Waters stated, in evidence, that she resided in a wooden house about 25 years old. On the night of July 5 she had retired with everything apparently safe. The back door had been locked, but the front door had been left open. At 4 a.m. she bad been awakened by the electric meter making a noise which was followed by something falling and on going through to the rear of the building she had found the kitchen alight. The fire brigade had been called out and had been successful in quelling the outbreak which had apparently had its origin near the window. The repairs had entailed an outlay of £165 Bs. She did not know accused, but was acquainted with his parents. Constable Grant testified to having inspected the house of Mrs Waters following the fire, when he had found a hole had been burnt through tho floor alongside the kitchen window. The kitchen, scullery and washhouse had been gutted. Detective Barling read a statement taken from accused on August 7, wherein an admission of guilt had been made by him. Accused pleaded guilty and was committed to the Wellington Supreme Court for sentence. COOK’S COOPERAGE EPISODE. One of the accused was then charged that on August 3 at Palmerston North he did wilfully attempt to set fire to Cook’s Cooperage. Albert Cook, one of the principals of the firm, stated that he had been returning from town at about eight o’clock on the night in question, and when passing over the railway line running into tho firm’s property had noticed a mass of blazing material on tho roof of a lean-to attached to the main building. In company with a lad named Puklowski Ire got over the entrance gates, his companion throwing the blazing material, which was engineers’ waste soaked in kerosene, out on to the roadway. Tho seat of the fire was close to a large quantity of sawdust and small pieces of firewood. A seven-foot iron fenco fronted the street.

In reply to Mr Ongley, witness stated that the waste had been thrown on the roof and had alighted about two feet from tho uprights of the building. The iron was covered to some extent with sawdust and there had been the possibility that it would havo carried tho flames.

Clarence Puklowski, of Te Matai Road, stated in evidence that on the night of August 3 he had observed a figure mounted on a bicycle close to tho seen© of the outbreak. The cyclist had then proceeded towards him, and on witness drawing near to the building he had noticed tho fire on the roof and had assisted in quelling same. The cyclist had been fairly tall and dark, but he could not recognise the accused as he although he resembled him. Detective Barling detailed his inquiries in connection with the affair. On the day following the fire he had interviewed accused who had admitted tho offence, he stating that he had been desirous of giving the public a thrill and himself some excitement. On the morning of tho sth, in company with Senior-Detective Quirke, witness had, at the direction of accused, recovered a medicine bottle which had been used by accused to carry tho kerosene, while he had also visited the Chinaman’s shed from which the waste had been secured by accused, traces being found therein of %va6te similar to that recovered from the fire. Accused stated that he had not desired to set alight to the budding but had elected to throw the waste on tb.e roof merely to create some excitement. He had no desire to do damage to the mill, otherwise he pleaded guilty to the stated that, in view of the

plea put forward by accused, his plea had better be accepted as not guilty, an adjournment being granted till this afternoon to permit of counsel conferring with accused.