Alleged Arson.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XIII, Issue 1081, 27 March 1903, Page 3

Alleged Arson.

■. *. CIiAUGE AGAINST A CLERK. ■\ - . ... - ■■ COMMITTED EOR TRIAL[By Electric Telegraph J Auckland, March 26 At the Police Court to-day a clerk named David Somerville was charged with wilfully setting fire to the premises of Mr J. Keid, wine and spirit merchant, Fort street, on February 24th. and also with stealing £30 the money of Mr Reid, his employer. Mr A. Blair, from the Crown prosecutor's office, who prosecuted, gaid the evidence showed that two constables who discovered the fire and effected an entrance^ found the books piled in a heap smouldering in front of the safe, where they had nt> right to be, and but for their prompt action the whole building must have been burnt down. Two bottles of methylated spirits were found close at hand. The services of Detective Hendersbra were obtained, and he made an examination of the premises. Detective Henderson decided to go to accused's house. He was awakened at four o'clock in the morning, and in the presence of the detective and a constable he made a statement, which was taken down. A sum of money which was left in the safe was taken home by the accused, and he handed that to the detective. Next day he made a further statement to the detective, implicating another clerk. The , last charge was a charge of stealing £4 9s 6d from his employer. The , investigations showed that a sum ot money was paid to the accused on the day of the charge, and no entry of that payment was made in the books. Another sig-, nificant fact was that the accused had possession of a key of the front door. He was not authorised to have this, and must have had it made on Ms own account. The accused was committed for trial.