ARSON ALLEGED

Northern Advocate, 6 December 1935, Page 2

ARSON ALLEGED

PALMERSTON CASE

three men charged

HOUSE “WAS TO GO UP.”

r p er press Association.— Copyright! PALMERSTON N., This Day.

Charged with having committed arson, on or about October 28, by wilfully setting fire to a dwelling house, at 128, College Street, Palmerston North, Edward Bloomfield McGill, William lan Hankins and John Armand Borlase appeared before justices of the peace. James Willoughby Rutherfurd, barrister, said he administered the Crabbe estate, which owned the house. It was occupied by Mr H. H. Hutchison and his wife, and was insured for £llOO. The damage amounted to £l4. Mrs Hutchison said that on October 27 she and her husband went to Paraparaumu. McGill, who was her brother-in-law, had knowledge of the house. What Detectives Saw. Detective Power said that about 8 p.m. on October 27 he went to th<house with Detective Barling and two constables. They took up a position in the grounds and waited. About midnight a man entered the grounds, followed three minutes later by two others. One was carrying a sugar sack and another a parcel. After twenty minutes a light appeared in the house. Two men disappeared out of the back door and another went to the front door and was stopped there by Barling. Witness entered the house through a sliding door which was unfastened and found a fire burning strongly in the hall. The brigade was called and suppressed the flames. Witness found that four holes had been bored In different parts of the hall and methylated spirits poured into them and set alight. Detective. Power said Hankins made a statement in which he said that McGill asked to be driven to Cook Street, and on the way explained that Hutchison’s house was “to go up.” Hankin’s Statement. “I did not like the idea of that and I did not want to take any part in it,” continued Hankins in his statement. “Borlase did not want to take any part in it. McGill had a bag with him when he got in the car. ' When we pulled up McGill walked ahead of of us and we followed and caught him up at the front gate of Hutchison’s place. We all walked up the drive to the back of the house. McGill opened a sliding door. We all went into the house together. Borlase and I then started searching for a book we wanted. While we were doing that " McGill was occupied in boring holes in the wall in the hall. McGill opened a sack and took out a bottle of methylated spirits.

“As I was going past McGill said: ‘Finish this hole for me.’ I used an auger and finished the hole. Then we poured some of the liquid out of the bottle into the hole. I then suggested to McGill that Borlase and 1 should get out before he actually set fire to the place, as we did not wish to be involved. Borlase and I then left by the back door and went back to my car through the back of Hutchison’s property, I had no interest in the burning of the house and received no payment. McGill would not tell us why he wanted to set fire to the house, but we presumed it was to aid Hutchison.” Statement By Borlase.

Detective Compton produced a statement which Borlase had signed. It dealt with the facts as related in Hansen’s statement. Hansen and he made up their minds that they would get as far away as possible from the scene and have nothing further to do with McGill. Had he known McGill was going to the house to set fire to it he would not have gone with him. Detective Barling said he had asked McGill what he had been doing on the premises. McGill replied in words to the effect: “She’s alight. We set' her off. You had better hurry as the house is on fire.”

McGill had given a statement regarding the part he played. He said he was 36, married, with six children and a relief worker. Prior to the fire he had been commissioned to get in touch with a certain man with the object of setting fire to Hutchison’s house. He was given £ 5 for the purpose but had decided at the last moment not to say anything to him about the job. He decided he would do it himself and retain the £5. He was badly in need of money as he had four children in hospital. He had arranged with the person who gave him the £5 for the fire to take place on Sunday night, and for that purpose the house was to be empty over the week-end. He met Borlase and Hankins down the street and asked them to accompany him as he did not have the courage to do the job alone.

Borlase uncorked and handed him the bottles and Hankins assisted to bore the holes. McGill pleaded guilty and was remanded to the Supreme Court for sentence. Hankins and Borlase pleaded not guilty, and were committed for trial, bail being renewed.