Wednesday, January 11th. ATTEMPTED ARSON.

Otago Witness, Issue 685, 14 January 1865, Page 11

Wednesday, January 11th. ATTEMPTED ARSON.

Margaret Bean was charged on the information of Charles Grey, hotel-keper, Dunedin, with unlawfully, maliciously, and feloniously attempting to set fire to the Old Club Hotel, Maclaggan street, at half-past three o'clock on the morning of the 11th instant. The following evidence was taken: —

Richard Barnett : lam a Sergeant of Police, stationed at Dunedin. ThU morning about halfpast three o'clock I was on duty in Maclasgan .street, and observed the prisoner coming out of the side d jor of the Old Club Hotel. She turned round the corner by the Shakespere Hotel, and went up Rat tray street. About a minute afterwards I observed a light in the bir of the Old Club Ho'el, and as I watched it, I saw the reflection like fire gettincr stronger. I looked in at the window and saw flames in the bar. I went inside by the side door, which was unlocked, accompanied by constables M'Oorraifk and Baxter, who came up at the time. I there found a number of tablecloths torn uo, and a candle alight lying on the top of them. They were filed up against the wali of the bar aud all a-blaze. The boards of the bar were burniDg. The rags were wet when we first saw them, nnd smelt stroDgly as it they had been saturated w'nh spirits. We succeeded in extingishing tlie fHmes, and I then alarmed the house and Mr Grey came down stairs. I then ran out, and found the prisoner in the custody of Constable Baxter. Having cautioned the prisoner in the usual way, I asked her why she set fire to the botel, and she denied having: done so. She said she h«d slept in Mrs Al penny's house, pd subsequently said she bad been with a sick friend. I took the prisoner rounH to Mi Grey, who identified her as a discharged servant, and she then said she had been in the hotel on the evening previous and had then received her wages. I then took tlie pr"soner to the station and charged her with this offence.

Constable M'Cormick : A^out half-past three o'c'ock this morning I was on duty in the Arcade, and observed a blaze in the bar of the Old Club Hotel, and I aceimpatiied Sergeant Barret into the bar by the side door. I saw the cloths produced hing on the floor in the bar in front of the grate, they were blazing, and the mantle-piece was also on fire. The rLtbes were wet, and smelt strongly of sprits. A lighted candle was lying rolled among the clothes; We extinguished the fire and called Jlr Grey, and the prisoner was shortly afterwards brought into the hotel by Sergeant Barrett. Constable Baxter : About half-past three o'clock this morning: I was on duty in the Arcade in company with the last witness, and saw a flickering light like a blaz? in the bar or the Old Club Hotel. I entered the house by the side door, which was unlocked, in company with Sargeant Barrett, and saw the cloths produced lying on the floor on fire. The boards at the back of the bar were on fire also, and so wrre the carpet and hearth-rug. The rags had a strong smell of spirits. I ran out and up Rattray street and saw the prisoner about half way up. I called to her to 6top, which she oid, I asked her what house she came from last, but she gave me no answer. I thpn told her I would arrest her on suspicion of setting fire to the Old Club Hotel, and I brought her back to the Hotel. I afterwards took her to the station in company with Sergeant Barrett. Charle, Grey: I am proprietor of the Old Club Hot'l in Maclaggan street. The prisoner was my servant for one week, and was discharged last Monday afternoon. This morning, abont half- past three o'clock, I was aroused by a knocking at my back-dorr, and when I looked out of the, window one of the police said, " Come down ; there's a fire in the bar.*' I went down and found the fire was extinguished. The cloths produced were lying inside the bar clo<e to a wooden partition, which was charred about 18 inches square, and the place was full of smoke, The cloths smelt as if they had been saturated with spirits. The brandy decanter in the bar was empty, and it was filled up the last thing last night. I was the last person in the bar that night. At twelve o'clock I locked all the doors except the one leading from the bar into the interior of the house. Ido not use candles in the bar, as I have ga3 laid on. The table cloths were lying in the cafe adjoining the bar when I locked up the bar. This was the cisc for the prosecution, and the prisoner was then committed to take her trial before the next criminal sessions of the Supreme Court.

Obtaining Monet under False Pretences.—William Henry Jackson wps brought up, on remand, from Oamaru, charged with obtaining money from Andrew Buchanan by false pretences, with intent to defraud him of the same. The depositions taken at Oamaru were banded to the Magistrate, and Kenneth M'Lennan was called, who said he was ledger keeper in the Bank of New Zealand. He was shown a cheque bearing tlie signatuie of " W. H. Jackson," and he said there was no account in the Bank in tbe name of the drawer of the cheque, nor had there been during the time he had been ledger keeper. The Magistrate said the depositions in the case had just been handed to him, and he had as yet had no opportunity of looking into them, so that he was not aware of the nature of the case against the prisoner. He would remand the prisoner till Friday morning.