MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 16 April 1907, Page 2

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before Mr H. Eyre-Kenny, S.M.)

YESTERDAY.

CHARGE OF ARSON.

TH fe ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR I TRIAL.

Furlher evidence was taken yesterday afternoon in connection with the charge of arson preferred against Leonard Thomas Easton, alias William Wilson, for having, i t was alleged, unawfully and unwillfully set fire to a storeroom at Okiwi Bay belonging to T. A. and H. Field. • Sydney A. Campbel, manages.' toy the Messrs Field at Okiwi Bay run, gave evidence similar to that given by the previous witness, and in reply to a question from the Magistrate, said the hay in the barn was very dry, and the barn could hardly have been burnt down as a result of spontaneous combustion in the hay. To accused : The forge had been used inside the shed on the day of the fire. There was no sign of fire when he went into tea about 7 o'clock, or half an hour before the fire was first observed. To the Magistrate: He and the accused had always been, on good terms A horse was shod in the shed in the afternoon. Detective Hill, of Napier, stated that on the 15th November last, he was in Napier Gaol, and was informed that the accused wished to see him. Accused said he wished to make a confession of a crime he had committed some time ago. Acused then made a statmeent, which witness took down in writing, afterwards handing it to accused, who read and signed it. (The confession had reference to the fire which accused said he had started out of spite because he could not. get a rifle and some cartridges from Mr Field's store at Nelson, The accused in his confession also admitted burning down a shed on the Asylum property about three years ago, he being an inmate of the Institute at that time). • To accused : When the confession was made accused had been committed for trial for what was practically robbery under arms. Having never previously seen the accused, ho could not say whether he was excited when he made his confession. Accused, however, said that he wished to make the confession because he was committed for trial on a serious charge ,and wished to start afresh when he came out. The Magistrate said he would Have to send the case on for trial by jury. The accused reserved his defence, and was committed for trial on a charge of having wilfully destroyed by fire a barn which was not fixed to the soil. (The information ha,d set out that the barn was fixed to the soil, but as no evidence had been presented proving that the barn was "fixed to the soil," the charge was altered. The accused was then formally committed for trial at the District Court on the 25th April.