ECHO OF ARSON CHARGE.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13176, 7 February 1936, Page 4

ECHO OF ARSON CHARGE.

BREWER GAOLED FOR SEVEN YEARS. “NO REDEEMING FEATURES.’’ Electric Telegraph—Press Association PALMERSTON N . Last Night. In connection wit.i the burning clown of the Makotuku Hotel on May 8 1933. Douglas Henry Colin Baker brewer of Palmerston North, aged 50. has been sentenced to . years gaol with hard labour. “I can’t see a single redeeming feature in this case It is a most lamentable one. There might have been guests ill the hotel at the time and you were prepared for purely selfish purposes, to endanger human lire.” There were the comments of the Hon. Nil- Justice Blair in passing sentence The charges against Baker were: (1) That ot or about May 8 1933, and on divers dates prior thereto at Makotuku and Palmerston North, he did conspire with Edwin Walter Barringer to commit arson.

(2) That Barringer did commit arson by wilfully setting fire to the Makotuku Hotel, the property of Baker, and that Baker did counsel and procure Barringer to commit the said offence and thereby become party to and guilty of it.