ADMISSION OF ARSON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19621, 27 April 1927, Page 16

ADMISSION OF ARSON.

BUILDINGS BURNED DOWN.

A LABOURER'S CONFESSION.

REFUSED BOTTLE OF WHISKY

DESIGNS ON HOTEL PREMISES

[By TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] DANNEVTRKE, Tuesday. Before Justices of the Peace, Douglas Praser, a labourer, was charged at Ormondville to-day with wilfully setting fire to a stable, the property of the Napier Brewery Co., and leased to James Mackie Smith; with wilfully setting fire to a motor garage, the property of Henry Perry; attempting to set fire to a stable, the property of Wm. Henry Ed kins; wilfully setting fire to a four-roomed cottage, the property of Henry Perry. The fires all occurred at Ormondville on Saturday night last. Mr. Perry 3 garage and the Napier Brewery Company's stables, also Mr. Perry's cottage, were all destroyed, the loss running into some hundreds of pounds. The accused pleaded guilty and was committed for sentence. In a statement to the police the accused said on Friday last, after having spent a considerable sum at a hotel since April 14, lie was refused a bottle of whisky by the hotelkeeper. He was very annoyed at the refusal, and the idea struck him to burn down the hotel before he went back to work. On Saturday evening he went to Mr. Edkins' stables, close to the Ormondville Hotel, and lighted some paper with the intention of burning the stable, with a view to igniting the hotel. He was discovered and went away, returning later to the hotel stables, which he set on fire and ran away to his home. He was niad from the effects of drink, otherwise he would not have done it. BURNING OF A HAYSTACK, CHARGE AGAINST YOUNG MAN. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] TE AWAMUTU, Tuesday. Lance Alfred Redfern, aged 21 years, was brought before Justice of Peace today on a charge of wilfully burning a haystack, valued at £6O, the property of Michael O'Halloran, farmer, of Pukeatua. The evidence showed that on the night of April 15, in bright moonlight, Redfern was seen riding a pony along the road between Parawera and Pukeatua. The next morning an attempt to burn a letterbox at the gateway of Mr. Brett's farmwas discovered, also Mr. O'Halloran's haystack was completely destroyed. The police found hoof marks at the letter-box and ' round the haystack corresponding with , the hoof marks of the pony ridden that night by Redfern. One hoof was broken away, making a peculiar impress. When questioned by Constable Doyle, in the presence of his employer:?, it was stated that Redfern admitted he had burned the stack, opened the farm gates, and tried to burn the letter-box. He said he did riot know why he did it, adding that the owners were his friends. Police witnesses were questioned by accused's counsel as to Redfern's sense of responsibility, and all agreed he was not of 'normal mentality. A plea of not guilty was entered, and the accused was committed to the Hamilton Supreme Court for trial on June 7. The police strongly opposed an application for bail, saying the accused two years ago was admitted to probation for attempting lo burn down a building at Pukeatua. They regarded the accused as irresponsible, and if he were released on bail the settlers would be alarmed. The application for bail was refused.