ARSON ALLEGED

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10966, 30 July 1921, Page 7

ARSON ALLEGED

FIRE IN",A GARAGE. A MAN AND HIS MOTOR-CAR. (By ’Telegraph—Special to “Times.”) PALMERSTON N., July 29. At the Police Court to-day Percy itusseU Roberts was charged with having set lire to a motor-car at ICoputnroa on o,r about July 4th, knowing that a carriage shed in which a motorcar was stored was likely to catch fire therefrom. Detoctivo-Sergeant Quirke, who conducted the prosecution, said that the accused had stored a car belonging to himself .in a shed on the premises of George Jones, Koputaroa, in February, 1920, and on July 4th last it caught fire. The car, which was damaged to the extent of £75, was insured for £350. When accused was interrogated by the police he said that he had not gone near Jones’s premises on July 4th, but later, he made a second statement, an which he admitted being on the premises, and that he set. fire to the car by accidentally dropping a match on some cotton waste while cleaning the car. He had gone away later, under tho impression that he had smothered the fire. Accused, who pleaded not guilty, was committed for trial at the next ■sittings of the Supreme Court, 'bail being allowed.