CASE OF INCENDIARISM.

Otago Witness, Issue 3890, 2 October 1928, Page 38

CASE OF INCENDIARISM.

AUCKLAND FIRE INQUIRY. THE MAGISTRATE’S VERDICT. AUCKLAND, September 28. An inquiry concerning a fire in an unoccupied six-roomed house in Lower Queen street, Onehunga, last July, when one of the front rooms was damaged, was held to-day. Mr Alexander, who appeared for the Onehunga Fire Board, said an undue number of fires had occurred in Onehunga, especially in Lower Queen street. It was the Fire Board's intention, wherecver the circumstances were suspicious, to ask for a coronial inquiry to ascertain the cause. James Maxwell Robertson, owner of the house, said he was at his home at Avondale when informed of the fire. He paid £875 for the house two years ago. There was a mortgage of £535, and the h.'.use was insured for 2650. After inspecting the building he concluded that it had been set on fire, but he could not say by whom. He did not know who would benefit by the fire. He certainly would not. He denied that his car was at Onehunga at 7.30 on the night of the fire William Robert Wright, a fisherman, who lives next door to Robertson’s house, said he was told by two boy's when he was on the Mangere bridge that the house was on fire. He did not know the hoys, and he had not seen them since. He telephoned to the brigade. He knew nothing about the origin of the fire. He gave the alarm when a previous fire had occurred at Robertson’s house. He had given the alarm on other occasions in Onehunga and also in Auckland, including that at Winstone’s Oil Store. He was afterwards interviewed by Detective Sinclair, but denied having told him it was up to them to catch him and bring along their witnesses. He had given alarms of fire during the past five years. In answer to Mr Alexander, witness said there had been two fires on each side of his home, making four in all, and he gave the alarm for all of them. He did not know anything about a deliberate attempt to burn Robertson’s and Cunningham’s houses. Questioned by the magistrate, Mr F. H. Levien, witness declared he had no opinion in regard to the origin of the fires, although he gave the alarms. He used wax matches. Harold Hedges said he was riding a motor cycle through Onehunga on the night of the fire. He saw a five seater motor car pull away from the fire and proceed up the street at a slow pace. He did not know the driver and could not ’■ave recognised him again.

Charles Gilbert, superintendent ot the Onehunga Fire Brigade, expressed the opinion that the house had been deliberately set on fire. He was satisfied there was kerosene on the floor where the fire occurred It was significant that a person in Wright’s house would have a clear view through the window of anyone moving about in Robertson’s house There had been an abnormal number of fires since July 24. and some of the alarms had been given by the Wright family. Detective Allen, who inspected the fire next morning, said that he had found three burnt wax matches on the floor. He also said it had been wilfully set on fire. The verdict was that the damage was caused by a fire lit by some person or persons unknown. The magistrate expressed the opinion that the inquiry was quite warranted.