E. F. RENNER FOUND GUILTY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7141, 31 May 1910, Page 1

E. F. RENNER FOUND GUILTY

' ARSON AT WADESTOWN JURY COMES TO AGREEMENT ON THIRD TRIAL. SENTENCE ON WEDNESDAY. Eberhardt Ferdinand Rc-r.ner was tried for tho third time yesterday on a charge of arson, the jury returning a verdict of guilty. The accused,'who is a young man, and a cabinetmaker by trade, had already been tried twice—once in February last, and again last week—and on both occasions tho jury failed to agree. Tho offence was alleged to have been committed in December last. Mr W. 11. D. Bell conducted tho case for tho prosecution. Tho accused defended himself. At the last session Mr C. 1\ Skerrett, K.C., defended the accused, and last week he was represented by Mr T. M. Wilford and Mr J. W. Ciacroi't-Wilson. On this occasion tho accused could not find the money to provido counsel, and had to take his own case. Tho accused was thereforeallowed to leave the dock, and take his place at the lawyers' table. Tho evidence for the prosecution was to tho effect that Renncr had been seen dragging a blazing arm-chair towards the house, situated at Wadestown. A lady living next door asked him what he was doing, but ho gave no answer. A few minutes late. l ' he appeared at the fence, and announce 1 that the place was oa fire. Tho house, which was the acci sed's property, was unoccupied. The accused's statement to the police was' that he had been burling rubbish in tho kitchen range, so as to make the place fit for the next tenant. The house was insured in tho Commercial Union office for .£350. The accused stated that he had purchased tho section for ,£l7O, and ejected the house for JM3O. Ho had been negotiating to sell tho house for .£5-10. on terms.

Thj witnesses for the prosecution vore:—-Henry Edward Manning, builder; Herbert Walter Ilawke, accountant in tho Commercial Union office; Mrs Sarah Watt; Mrs Maggie Buns; William Burns, book-binder; Simon Fraser, driver; Mrs Eraser; Robert James Watt, grocer's assistant; William Henry Edwards, builder; Thomas W. Ward, builder; Constable Mullooly; and Detective Hammond.

The jury having gone to Wadestown b> view tho promises, the accused called the following witnesses:—William Alex- . M-.6er Thomson, laud agent; Thomas Harman, builder; Frederick Henry Myors, builder; Albert August Renner, joiner, a,nd a brother of the accused; and William Charles Noot, painter. The evidence'-of these witnesses was with regard to tho value of the building. A f ter the accused and Mr Bell had addressed the jury, his Honor summed up. Tho jury retired at iAO p.m., and Teturne 1 exactly an hour later, with a. verdict of 'guilty. His Honor said that ho did not know that the ca.se anight not be one for probation .He would defer the passing of sentence uniil Wednesday morning. The prisoner: In that case might I bo allowed bail, your HonoT? His Honor: I could not allow bail. You will have to wait until Wednesday. I always like to give young men a chance. This was a first offence and no great harm was done. I hope to be able to see my way to allow you out on piobation. In the meantime 3lr Millingtam (the gaoler) will furnish a report on your character. At the same time I may point out that if you had confessed your crime in the first place, you would not have been .put to all this expense.