BURNING OF HOUSE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22808, 18 February 1936, Page 15

BURNING OF HOUSE

SEQUEL TO ARSON CASE CHARGE AGAINST OWNER (Pee United Peess Association) WANGANUI, February 17. Allegations by the Crown that he conspired and counselled with Edwin Blomficld M'Gill to commit the crime of arson led to the trial in the Supreme Court today of Harold Hales Hutchison, married, of Palmerston North. M'Gill, who was the chief witness for the prosecution, said in evidence that he had agreed to set fire to the accused's house in College street, Palmerston North. He had received f 5 from the accused and had purchased methylated spirits in Feilding for the fire. A further £ls was to be paid over after the job was done. The accused told him : he had the place well insured.- Articles were taken from the accused's home to witness's house. This was commenced about a week or 10 day 8 prior to the fire. .With one exception, the goods were transported at night. Witness said the accused had left him two funnels to pour the methylated spirits into holes which he was to bore in the walls with an auger. Witness accompanied the accused and his wife and child as far as Manakau in the accused's car, the back seat of which was full of articles from the house. At Manakau witness caught a train back to Palmerston North, and accused proceeded on to Wellington. Continuing, witness said that at 11 o'clock that night he left his home and took with him an auger and a quantity of methylated spirits. He met two other men on the way and they accompanied him to the house. He bored about Bix holes in the wall of the passage and through these holes poured the methylated spirits, using a funnel. As he was the wall on fire with a match. As he was leaving the premises he was arrested. His reasons for burning the house were because he needed money as four of his children were in hospital and to help the accused out of his financial trouble. , To Mr Belling, representing the accused, witness said he was caught redhanded. He had made a statement to the police, but this was full of lies. He had, however, made a true statement 10 days later. There was no time prior to the fire when he and the accused were not on friendly terms, nor had he ever borne illwill against the accused. He was surprised to see two detectives and two constables outside the house. He had been informed that the accused had sent them there and still believed this. He had pleaded guilty to a charge of arson at Palmerston North and had been sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with hard labour. ■ :. The defence indicated that the whole matter rested on whether the Jury believed the story of the accused or that of M'Gill. The accused had commenced to give evidence when the case was adjourned till to-morrow.