A SUDDEN IMPULSE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24134, 28 November 1941, Page 8

A SUDDEN IMPULSE

MAN COMMITS ARSON COURT GRANTS PROBATION A farm worker, Eric William Spear, aged 28, appeared for sentence before Mr. Justice Fair yesterday after having admitted a of arson at Maungatapere, near Whangarei. His counsel, Mr. Burns, said prisoner was on the verge of a nervous breakdown at the time of the offence and his only explanation was that when he had been looking at a neighbour's house he was suddenly seized with an irresistible impulse to see it burning. There was no thought of hatred or revenge in his action and he had since paid in full the damage to the house, and intended to pay the damage to the furniture. Counsel asked for probation. After emphasising the seriousness of the offence. His Honor said the case presented some exceptional circumstances. In view of the local probation officer's recommendation, and because prisoner was clearly on the ? verge of a nervous breakdown at the time, he would admit him to probation for three years, a condition being that he repay £2O for damage to the furniture and £lO toward the costs of the prosecution. In addition the prisoner was to be directed by the probation officer in the work he undertook and in the locality of this employment.