DID HE INVOKE FIRE FIEND?

NZ Truth, Issue 1229, 20 June 1929, Page 4

DID HE INVOKE FIRE FIEND?

Petheram Allegedly Tried To Burn Down House As A Joke AUNTS' SUSPICIONS. LED TO ARREST • (From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Christchurch "'Representative). r. ' > .. .'" " . ' :„'.'.' ./".. fr ■ i Harold Petheram's alleged idea' of a practical joke ; to intimidate his maiden aunts was to pretend to set on fire the house m which they lived. "','; If what the police said about him is true, then his joke did not turn out as he expected. It ended on him, for he was brought before the Christchurch Magistrate's Court to answer a charge of arson. '•

PETHERAM, a laborer, a.ged 27, and his wife, had been living with his aunts m a house at Woolston, but as tlie aunts thought that things were not as they should have been they had a -lawyer's letter sent to him, asking 'him to. leave. . 7 ' '"' ' On two evenings at the end. of March last the two aunts lyere'uway from their home. .'■■■••'. *:';■ ■•'.■' -,v' Oh the following: day one of them noticed that the wall m the front of the, house was charred underneath one window. -. . She told her sister about it, and they informed the police. Margaret Currie, a S|ngle,WO« > man, gave evidence to the'- effect that she • found an attempt had . been made to burn down the house._ She said that there was a smell of kerosene about the place and that .there were kerosene stains on the wall and on the window-sill. Under the house were a. few sticks oh Which kerosene, stains were noticeable. Susan Currie said it was she who had the lawyer's -letter sent to her nephew. * When he left the house, she alleged, he took a tin of kerosene, with - him. Frederick William Anderson, of tlie . firm of Andersons,. Ltd., said his firm were; the owners- of the. house. It was an bid '"wooden building, built on piles. He had inspected the damage and thought the sum of £7 would repair it. 7 ' ' : ..-.'. "'.'.' ■ He considered' the house had been within an ace of being burned down, i •

John James Holcrow, , actingdetective, arrested Petheram who made a statement to the effect that he wanted "to put the wind up" his • aunts and«for a. joke had set the house on fire. Petheram said that -when he went to live m the house it was m a filthy condition, and as he expected lo remain [ there for some time, hewent to. a great : deal of expense to renovate it. He now realised that he was guilty of a serious trick>but he 'had done", it only for a joke. Detective Thomas, who visited the house, found sticks and cotton waste in_the ashes of the fire. There was no evidence of an attempt having been made to put out thj fire. ■■■-..- Mr. M. J. Burns, who appeai-ed for Petheram, reserved his. defence. A plea of ..not guilty was entered, and Petheram was committed, to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was allowed. , • '■ - -\ .-.- ■ 7 .' ; - ' • • ■ - ■ — — * "** —^ —^ — . : 7 SCARRY THOSE PULMONAS." In the street." m crowds, at footba.ll, i damp underfoot, '-carry'-. those Pulmonas i a,nd iise , them. ? ''WitlV . ebiighs arid i sneezes sprea-ding. germs", around-, you have the protection. Pulmonas- afford. f Suck Pulmonas slowly and soothing ■ relief comes to - throat and chest ■'"sufferers. Especially valuable for 'flu, coughs, colds, „ bronchitis. 'In 7* tins. Pulmonas, 1/G .or ' 2/6.*