ALLEGED INCENDIARISM.

Otago Witness, Issue 3183, 17 March 1915, Page 9

ALLEGED INCENDIARISM.

THREE MEN IMPLICATED. STARTLING DEVELOPMENT. WELLINGTON, March 5. There has been an interesting development concerning the charge of’'incendiarism against three men—Charles Edmunds, Walter Balch, and Arthur George Youngin connection with the destruction by fire of the old White Horse Hotel, Ngahau- [ ranga, now a no-license district, on July 19 last. _ I Detective-sergeant Rawle produced in court a written statement by the accused ; Edmunds, in which he alleged that the ' accused Young said to him in Wellington ' on the night of the fire : “ She is going up to-night,” meaning the White Horse Hotel, in which he (Young) was interested. The three men walked out to Ngahauranga, and entered the hotel, which was empty. Young got through a window and opened the side door for his companions to enter. They jointly placed some sacks in the cupboard under the stairs, where there were already some old lamps and vessels that had contained oil. Young set a light to the collection, and afterwards did the same thing to an old couch in another room, after ripping it open and pouring kerosene upon the sufling. Edmunds was present in that room, while Balch watched outside on the road. Edmunds, continuing his statements, says : He had no interest in the hotel, but received £lO from Young on the following Sunday. As the matter worried him, he decided to confess. When * Balch was arrested he said he was inno- 1 cent ! The further hearing of the case w.*»« adjourned till Wednesday next.