SENTENCE FOR ARSON

New Zealand Mail, 5 February 1902, Page 27

SENTENCE FOR ARSON

A HAWERA CASE. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) AUCKLAND, January 30. At tlio Supreme Court this morning John Savage, who recently pleaded guilty to two charges of arson at the Magistrate’s Court at Hawera, came up for sentence. The facts of the case are ' somewhat peculiar. On accused’s own confession on Sunday night, the 12tli inst., after having been drinking for some time past, lie wont into the loft of the Empire Hotel, Hawera, and set fire to it. On the following morning he went into the sitting-room of the hotel and tried no less than six times to set fire to tho room, and on the sixth attempt he succeeded in firing the draperies over the mantelpiece. He had no motive in doing what he did. Mr Martin, who appeared for the accused, said accused had .been a resident of the colony for some fourteen years, and had never been charged with any offence. He asked his Honor to get a report from the Probation Officer or postpone sentence until the New Plymouth sitting. There was tio doubt that the crime was the result of drink. His Honor said whatever the Probatioif Officer’s report was he could not consider tho case as one for probation. Addressing the prisoner, he said his was a very bad case indeed. Accused had deliberately tried to set fire to a house in which there were a number of people. If ho had succeeded in his intention and anybody had been killed as a result, accused would have been guilty of murder. Accused could not claim probation .because of the effects of drink upon him. Ho would direct inquiries to be made as to his state of mind. The sentence of the* Court would bo that accused be imprisoned for four years on each charge, the sentences to be concurrent.