CHARGE OF ARSON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19691, 18 July 1927, Page 11

CHARGE OF ARSON.

THREE BOYS BEFORE COURT. BLAMED FOR ELEVEN FIRES, Fifty-four charges, including allegations of setting fire to the Normal School and wilfully causing ten other fires and also a number of charges of burglary, were preferred against three boys in the Children's Court on Saturday. One of the boys was 15 years of age and the other two 14 years. As the Children's Court has no jurisdiction to deal with indictable offences, which must be referred to the Supreme Court, the charges were adjourned until this afternoon, when the preliminary hearing will take place in the Police Court. The three boys were jointly charged with giving six false alarms of fire on May 30 and 31, breaking and entering the counting-house of George Kennerley on June 22 and stealing 2s and a firstaid outfit valued at Bs, setting fire to a storehouse owned by Kennerley in Power House Lane on the same date, setting fire to packing cases on the premises of Smith and Smith, Ltd., in Albert Street on May 31, setting fire to the premises of Marks, Morrin and Jones, Ltd., at 12, Nelson Street, on June 1 and setting fire to a dwelling at 76, Grey Street, the property of the Salvation Army, on June 5. The eldest boy and one of the younger lads were charged jointly with breaking and entering the counting-house of T. C. Grant on July 3 and stealing a fountain pen valued at £1 and stamps valued at 13s, the property of John Moir; setting fire to a building at 5, Rutland Street, occupied by Moir and F. S. Sullivan, also on July 3; setting fire to a building at S3, Lome Street on the same date and committing mischief by setting fire to two sheds, the property of the Auckland City Council, in Sturdee Stoeet, on June 28 and causing damage to the extent of £B. These two boys, together with two others, who, it was alleged, played only a minor part in the escapade, were also charged with' setting fire to the Normal School, the date of this offence being also July 3. The two younger boys were then charged joint!}' with breaking and entering the shop of Amos Firth in Great. North Road, Avondale, on June 29, setting fire to the shop on the same date, setting fire to the shop of John G. Nook, in New North Road, Avondale, on the same date and setting fire to the premises of Harrison and Gash, Ltd., 346, Manukau Road, Newmarket, on Jane 3. The eldest boy alone was then charged with stealing a revolver on June 29 and stealing a bicycle valued at £6 on June 11. One of the younger boys was also charged with stealing a bicycle valued at £3, the property of some person unknown on April 1.