THE ALLEGED ARSON CASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7914, 5 April 1887, Page 6

THE ALLEGED ARSON CASE.

Violst Kate MoPhbb surrendered to her bail at the Police Court yesterday—before Mr. H. G. Seth Smith, R. M.—on tho charge of wilfully Betting fire to the premises oocupied by her off Victoria-street West, with intent to defraud the Norwich Union Insurance Company of £125, on March 26. Mr. Hugh Campbell appeared for the prosecution, and Messrs. T. Cotter and G. N. Braaeey on behalf of the accused. All witnesses being ordered out of Court, Mr. Campbell opened the case, by shortly recounting the evidenoe which he purposed to produce. He enlarged upon the fact that there were signs of four separate fires quite unconnected with one another, and therefore extremely unlikely to have occurred accidentally, and proceeded to detail the various circumstanced, which have already appeared in the Herald. He also stated the several motives which were alleged to sustain the charge of arson on the part of tho accused. The first witness called waa Detective Walker. Hβ deposed to preparing a plan of the premises burnt, which showed the ground floor, and the upper storey of the building. He visited the scene of the fire about half-past three on the morning of the outbreak. Ha examined the sittingroom, and saw that there had been a fire oloae to the window, whioh had run up the scrim and paper of tho wall, reaching the coiling, and partly destroying a sofa standing at the foot of the window, also burning the oilcloth and net ourtains. He further stated that in another room there had been a

fire which burut the oil cloth, ou which

traces of kerosene were seen. At the other end of this room, near a dummy fire place,

there was another lire, which had partly destroyed two chairs and a hearthrug (produced), which were between the tire placo and tho door. This rug was soaked with kerosene, and still bore visible traces of it. Under the table, which, stood in the centre of the room, he observed signs of still another fire, which had damaged the floor, the legs, the cover, and the top of the table. All these bore marks of kerosene. These various places at which fire was discovered were quite distinct from each other, and the floor between them uninjured. The witness stated that he examined the bedroom up-.staire, and found the mattress and bedclothes on the bed had been alight all along one side, also the matting and floor near the foot of the bed. This fire, although directly abovo that in the sitting room downstairs, was quite unconnected with it. The mattress, which wa3 stuffed with pine needles and tow, appeared to have had a greater heat under one part of it; as if a small flame had been concentrated upon that spot. In reply to Mr. Campbell, witness deposed to arresting the accused about half-past six o'clock on a charge of arson, since when the premises have been in charge of the police. On the day of the fire he received a box containing goods from Mrs. Wells, of the Albert Park, which had been sent to her by Mro. MoPhee. Frank fern, Victoria-street, valued the effects in tho house and those iu the box, and assessed them at £4G Oa 2d, and £23 ISs 10d respectively. Mr. Cotter croas - examined the vyitnesß as to the time of his arrival at the fare and the demeanour of the accused aud Miss Woolner. He drew attention to the exposed positions of the rooms in which the fire occurred in regard to the other rooms in the house, and that any outbreak was more likely to be seen iujhem from outside than in any othor room in the house.

Detective Walker stated that Mrs. AlcPhee had told him that she was using keroaeue to revive the oilcloth, and, in reply to Mr. Campbell, gave evidence showing that access from the roof of the lean-to to the yard was uot difficult, owing to a plank and bench being there.

Jonn Place, the next witness called, deposed that on tho morning of the 26th nit. he was aroused by hearing women screaming, " Save us ! we will be burnt." Ho ran r Wl ir fclae P aßßa ß e from nis house and met Mr. Main on the street. They both went down the right of way, and he observed smoke issuing from both the lower and upper storey windows of Mrs. McPhee'a house ; also a flicker through the door. He then went to give the alarm to the Fire Brigade. George M. Main (of the Herald staff) deposed that on the morning of the fire he was on his way home from night duty, and fell in with Mr. Place in Viotoria street West. They went together to the scene of fire, and saw a flickering light in the front room on the ground floor, and also glare of firo in the top etorey window. Witness endeavoured to effect an entrance through the front door, and then aroused the neighbours. He heard Mrs. McPheo calling, "We aro hero ; come to the back." He and another man, Rowson, after assisting to place a ladder against the front, then went to the rear of the building to assist those whom he had heard calling. He found them in their nightclotheu, Mrs. McPhee, Mies Wooluor, and a child, in a group at the threshold of the scullery. After procuring a light, they went tip the staire, and were met by a bank of smoke from the front room, when Kowson brought up buckets of water and threw it on tho bedding which was on fire. They also observed a glare under the bed, and found the undor side of the mattress was also burning. They then lifted the mattreas, and Superintendent Hughes, who at that time came into the room, found a piece of candle on the floor. As soon as they had suppressed this fire witness went downstairs, and went into tho front room, where he saw there had been fire on the table and tablecover, and the sofa aud curtaius at the window, also the chairs and the door moulding and skirtlngboard. fie observed traces of kerosene on the table and cloth, and noticed that the (ires were iu three separate places, totally unconnected. By Mr. Cotter : Tho fire in the lower room was put out by others while he was engaged upstairs. Superintendent Hughes deposed that he was roused by the alarm of tire. He went to the house, and after trying the front door, and finding it locked, he looked through the window, and saw the accused. He aslr.ed her to open the door, but she refaaed, saying she would out her feet. Soloman, one of the Salvage Corps, then went through the window, and opened the door. Hβ discovered traces of fire, similar, to those described by the previous witnesses, and gave instructions to have them /suppressed. He then went upstairs, and found that tbere was fire ninouldering underneath the mattress, that on the top having been extinguished by Messrs. Main and K,owson. On the mattress being lifted he heard something fall, and picked up a piece of candle. He stated also that the fire in the bedroom had no connection with that below. Cross-examined by Mr. Cotter, he stated that he did not think it possible that a person beating out a fira in one part with a cloth doll would send sparks over tho room that might ignite it in another place. Henry JKrnest Kempthorne deposed that he was a clerk in the Norwich Union Fire Insurance Company. He knew Mrs. McPhee, and remembered her making an application for insurance on the 18th January. Insurance for £125 was effected (policy produced). Mrs. MoPhee pointed out a box as one of the artioles to be insured. This box he had since seen in the police office. By Mr. Cotter : The accused did not mention to him her intention to go away for a month. He valued the goods, but was not an expert; he put them down at £140 gross value. Frank Fern deposed that lie was a genera* dealer, aud knew the value of furniture. Ho mado a valuation of all the articles in Mrs. McPhee's premises at £46, and considered it a fair value ; but in January last would have been worth more—say, £53 or £54,

Lewis Moses, money-lender, deposed that ho knew the accused, and had dealings with her in January last, lending her £12 on the security of her furniture. He. examined the furniture before he advanced the money, which was to be repaid in three months, whioh would expire on the 21st instant. She mentioned that she was going away for a, time, and he advised her to place any valuables in safe keeping while she was absent. He had not pressed her or even asked her for repayment of money previous to the fire.

At this stage the Court adjourned till 10-30 on Wednesday, the bail being enlarged.