NEWMARKET FIRES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 11249, 13 April 1908, Page 2

NEWMARKET FIRES.

In his evidence m the charge against Thomas Fitzgerald, Detective Miller] stated that he saw accused soon after his arrest, when he made a voluntary statement, admitting having removed two cases and certain other articles, from the boxroom to the toolhouse, and atso a kerosene tin full of oil from, the same place to the coalhouse. He- then went on to say: "I got up about three a.m. on March 15, and went out to the coalshed. I opened the kerosene tin, brought m some kerosene m. the half of another kerosene tin, and also- a whitewash brush. I sprinkled the passage with kerosene outside my bedroom and then put a lighted taper to ifc. It began to light, and when it had. got a strong hold I saw I had made a great mistake. I rushed for my bedding and threw it at the flames, but they were too strong, and I could not put them out. They drove nte back into my bedroom. I then began to realise what a mistake I had made. The flames were rushing into my bedroom, and I could see there was nothing for it but to get out of the road, so I lifted up my bedroom window and threw my box out, and rushed for my clothes, which were partly burning, threw, them out; and then jumped out myself. I went out on to the green and sang out, 'Fire !' to rouse the people m the house. I saw the servant putter head out of the window, and then I knew that the house would be alarmed. Referring to the second outbreak, the accused's statement corroborated portions of Young's evidence, and then went on to say: "I - got up, lit the candle, and dressed myself and went m under the house, gathered a bag of case packing ani some wood; and put them under my arm. I then went through the front door of the house, through the dining room, put an old ladder up to the passage ceiling, and went through the manhole. I laid the packing and wood down, lit a candle, and then set fire to the heap. After doing so I came down, and left the house by the front door, and stood at the greenhouse, where I saw a, constable, and he jumped across and grabbed me by the arm \, . I cannot assign any reason for having committed these acts, other than I think I must have been mad. I have always been well treated by my 'bosses' ever since I have been employed at the same house for the past 23 years. I have no grudge or ill-feeling against any person. The reason I asked Young to* call me at three o'clock on the morning of the 22nd was for the purpose of again attempting to burn down the house."