CHARGE OF ARSON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19607, 8 April 1927, Page 14

CHARGE OF ARSON.

-' ' \ J- • :•' - . , L '• : BIJBUBBAK HOUSE BURNED - PROSECUTION OF OCCUPIER. f-">CrS!' 5 • ; • , ; EVIDENCE OF A NEIGHBOUR. USE OF NAKED LIGHT ALLEGED. - '•** i / ' The events leading up to an exciting fir© at Newmarket on the evening of March 29 were related in the Pclico Court yesterday, when Stanley Keble Clark (Mr. Singer) was charged with wilfully setting fire to a dwelling owned by Harold. Denton* at 43, Victoria Crescent, Newmarket. Harold Denton, motor-driver, s.i.'d the house bad been occupied by accused and his wife/ for over three years. The house consisted of four rooms and a scullery and was valued at £2lO. , On the uiglit of- March ; 29 it was partially destroyed by fire and damaged to the extent of "£l5O. All witness knew of the cause of tha outbreak was that Mrs. Clark made " a rambling sort of statement" that she had set the house on fire by setting fire ,to the curtains with a candle. Thomas J. Watts, superintendent of the Newmarket Fire Brigade, said that when the alarm was given at about 10 p.m. Mrs. Clark was running to and fro in the street and screaming. On entering the house he found Clark and took him outside. Clark returned to the house and there- was some difficulty in getting him out again as he was apparently under • the impression that his wife was still in the house. Witness later discovered that Clark was in a state of drunkenness and he was arrested. The fire had a good hold and had apparently begun in tha kitchen. Mrs. Clark was highly : excited arid also showed some -signs of liquor.: "A Good Deal of Noise." Margaret Froggatt said she resided in a house adjoining that occupied by accused. On the evening of the fire witness heard a good deal of noise in : Clark's honse and ? got out of bed to investigate. She saw a man whom she thought to be Clark come out of the back door with a candle in his hand. Witness heard him say : " If you do not cofne out of that room I will jolly well set fire to the place." He was apparently talking to someone in the back bedroom. Witness-called to him, but he did not hear. Witness saw him pat the candle to the curtain of an open window, but he then put the flames out. Witness called out: ■ *" For God's' sake cut it put, Stan." - Witness then dressed and walked along by Clark's fence. She could still hear the noise in Clark's house. She went to the corner in search of a constable and then • . returned, thinking' that things might quieten down. Witness then noticed that the house Was ablaze. Mrs. Clark was calling out in a loud voice: " He has set the house on fire;" Clark was standing afc the door and witness called out: did, you dirty dog." She then gave the alarm. Witness knew Clark well by sight. He was a 44 white" man when sober, but , witness had previously heard disturbances between him and his wife. Statement to the Poiice. Senior-Detective Hammond said he interviewed Clark on March 30. He seemed a little bewildered and said he did not know there had been a fire. Witness Rave him a newspaper containing an account of the fire. He then exclaimed: "Good God, is that so? I have lost my house and home. Is my wife all right?" Mr. Hammond said accused then made a statement, in which he said he spent j some time. in a hotel during the day and took home a gallon jar of beer. He did not remember, any of the incidents of the evening until a constable caught hold of his arm. The house was then on fire. He could not, remember quarrelling with his wife, «.a.ud would never dream of setting fire to the house or injuring his w.ife.»"lf Mrs. Froggatt saw. him setting , fire to? the curtain he could not deny it as he did not remember anything about the matter. If he set the house on fire he must have been mad. Mr. Singer suggested that the charge should be .reduced to one of mischief and deait with summarily. He said accused's wife had informed him that she accidentally set fire to the house by lighting ornaments on the mantelpiece. This was confirmed by her statement to Denton on the night of the fire. The magistrate, Mr. Hunt: The people next door might have been burned to death. I have no jurisdiction to try the case.; . Accused then v pleaded not guilty and ■was committed to the Supreme Court {or trial, bail being fixed at £2OO.