INCRIMINATING LETTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20628, 29 July 1930, Page 8

INCRIMINATING LETTER.

FATHER SUGGESTS ARSON

INSTRUCTIONS TO HIS SON

AUCKLAND HOUSE CONCERNED. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] NELSON", Honda-. A charge of inciting his son, Arnold James Giles, to commit arson, was tuada against James Giles, a carpenter, aged 52, in the Magistrate's Couit to day, before Mr. T. E. Maurisell, S.M. Accused at first pleaded not guilty.

Detective Sinclair.said that accused hud a house at Auckland insiued for £9OO. There was a mortgage on it for £6OO. He produced a letter which accused had sent to his son, extracts from which were as follows:—'This is a private letter. Do not let anyone see it and burn it as soon as you have read it. Nov, be vcrv careful with it. I have been annoyed with you for not doing what I asked you. There is no chance of selling the houss just now, and we would not get much for it. The Bank of New Zealand will sell it and that will mean nothing for us, so read this carefully and then bum this letter and squash the ashes. , "I want you to burn the house and make a good job of it. Set it going in the workroom. Get a couple of sacks of shavings. You could lay them round the walls in the workroom, and see that it gets a good start. Leave the window open in the back upstairs room and in the workroom, and that will help it along. About 12 o'clock or two in the morning is the best lime. If Mum is home, get her out just when you think it's time. Do not tell her anything about it, or she will spoil the show. If she is out late or away all night, all the better. Of course, you will .say that you did not know how it started. I will send you your fare up straight after. Nov destroy this straight away, as I told you." A\hen the magistrate had finished reading the letter he said to accused: "Well, what do von sav to that?"

Accused: It sounds a bit guilty, doesn't it. Accused then pleaded guilty. Uhe magistrate said accused had taken the wisest course. He was convicted and sentenced to two months' imprisonment.