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EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE OF FIRE RAISING.

(BY TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION. J Invercargill, Thursday. Sergeant McDonnell told an extraordinary story in opening the case for the prosecution of W. J. Atkinson on a charge of fraud and fire-raising. He said that Atkinson twelve months ago insured a three-roomed housie and furniture for £40 and £10 respectively in two offices. The house had no existence. Shortly before the new year he built a house of one room, and early in January it was burnt. A claim was made for insurances. He then described the house as one of five rooms. It is alleged that the accused afterwards put piles in the ground to represent the site of a large building. These were charred on the tops. The sergeant remarked that he had forgotten to burn the grass on the site. He also stated that broken crockery had been strewn about the place after the constable had visited it, apparently to represent the chattels burnt. The hearing has not been concluded.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18940420.2.82

Bibliographic details

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9490, 20 April 1894, Page 6

Word Count
166

EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE OF FIRE RAISING. New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9490, 20 April 1894, Page 6

EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE OF FIRE RAISING. New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9490, 20 April 1894, Page 6