CHARGE OF ARSON.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7542, 20 April 1886, Page 4

CHARGE OF ARSON.

(Christchurch Press.)

It will be remembered that the Zealandia Carpet Factory on the Ferry road was destroyed by fire on Saturday morning,. April 3. From information obtained at the time it appeared, that the fire was discovered about half-past 1 o'clock by Mr Bunting, who resides some distance away on the oppositeside of the river. He at once went to the spot and awoke Mrs Mitchell/who lives close to the factory, and he also roused the neighbours. It was, however, found impossible to save anything, as the fire had obtained a firm hold on the buildings, and it was therefore allowed to burn itself out. The building was of one storey, and built of brick, with an iron roof. Among the machinery destroyed were 14 looms, besides all the necessary requisites for carpet making Mrs Mitchell stated that the workmenleft the factory at 5 o'clock the previousevening, and the building was locked up about 6 o'clock by her son, and the key given to her, as Mr Mitchell was from home No one had been in the factory since that' hour smoking was not allowed; and no fixes or gas had been used during the day. The building was insured for £200 in the Union Office' and the plant and stock for £1400 in the South British. Since then nothing has been heard of the matter until the arrest of Mr Mitchell and his being brought up before the Resident Magistrate's Court on Saturday, before Messrs, Westenra, Latter, and Webb, when he was charged with having on the night of April 3 set fire to premises at Heathcote, known as the Carpet Factory, occupied by himself, with intent to defraud the South British Insurance Company. Inspector Pender conducted the prosecutionMr Loughrey appeared for the defence. MrLoughreyasked fora remand,but Mr Pender pressing to have one witness examined, the following evidence was taken :— George Richardson, a carpenter, living near the Ferry road bridge, deposed: I have known accused for three or four years. We met at the Heathcote bridge on March 14. Accused, after some unimportant conversation, spoke about separating from his wife: He said if he could get it he would give"; her a lump sum arid clear her out. He added," "I have been thinking of a very foolish thing lately, and yet I don't know. It is only a matter of business; it is a thing done everyday. My place over there is heavily insured; if it were burnt down I would give her some money and start in a smaller way • but it would not do for me to do it, as she would very likely round on me. It would not do for me to be about the place. I would give anybody £40 to do it—l will give it to you."

j The witness here seemed to get excited, and said lie had lost his memory. He proceeded: Accused said there would be no danger in doing it. If he were absent, suspicion could not rest on him or anyone else. I made no answer. Accused said it was a thing done every day, and was like giving one shilling for another. I told him, I would think it over, and we parted. I went home and told my wife. On the next day, March 15, I saw accused again, and asked him the office he was insured in. He ' said the South British. I went over to the factory to measure for some loom frames I was to make. I took a plan of them. Accused asked me if I had thought about what he had proposed. I said " Yes." Accused then repeated his persuasions, and I appeared to acquiesce. He told me not to tell my wife. On March 161 borrowed accused's cart, drove into town, and went to the South British Office to see the manager, but did not see him I saw Mitchell that night and' he told me his plans. On the following night I was sitting at home with my wife, when we heard somebody whistle. I went outside and met the prisoner. He said he intended to go to Timaru on Friday night, and that would be a good time for it. It would be a good plan to soak the place with kerosene, so that there would be no mistake about it—to make a clean sweep of it and leave nothing to tell tales. He proposed that I should get two cases of kerosene. He would not get it, as he would be suspected. He said there were two tins already in the place, but he could not touch them, as his old woman knew of them. I then proposed that I should get the cases of kerosene in a trap and take them down to the factory, where he would be waiting. I would drop one case out of the cart and drive on. He was to take that into the factory. I would then drive back and drop the other case. He said that would do very well. He said he would put them on a shelf over the west door, and that I should find them there. He said he would give me the key of the back door, and I was to go in and, before setting fire to the place, soak it well with the kerosene. On the morning after this conversation I went to the South British Insurance office and saw Mr Macpherson. I had a conversation with him. Afterwards I met the. prisoner. I told him that I would have nothing to do with it, and advised him not to do it. He said he would not, but would try to borrow the money. He said he would not have thought of it only for the situation he was in at home. Fifteen days afterwards there was a fire in the factory, which was destroyed. In my conversation with, Mr Macpherson I did not mention names. On March 18 I told the prisoner that I would buy his cart and harness for £20, and I took possession of it on the 24th. On the 26th the prisoner came to my place 1 told him that I could not raise the money to pay for the cart. He said that I could keep it and pay some other time. I have it now. On April 14 Detective O'Connor came to my place. I made a statement to him. That night I saw the prisoner near Dale's paddock. He was in company with a man and a woman He spoke to me He said he had heard that 0 Connor had been to me, and asked what did he want. I said he wanted information. He said, "lou did not say anything, did you • not that it would make any difference because it was a pure accident, but it might delay me getting the money." I said ' Oh, I am not going to get myself into a mess over it," and give him to understand that I had said nothing He said that when at Papanui he heard of the fire; he was greatly astonished. He said to himself, "Good God; and here have^ I told Richardson what I have told mm. He said that he had some trouble about getting the insurance money; his books had been examined, and it would be found that he was £300 tothe good. He then said, " "As to the cart, give me £10 and never mind the rest, but keep your mouth shut." We then parted, and I have not seen him since. This was all the evidence'offered, and on the application of Mr Loughrey the prisoner was remanded till Thursdaysne'xt, bail beingallowed the prisoner in £200 and two sureties in £150 each.