THREE MONTHS' GAOL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19247, 12 February 1937, Page 13

THREE MONTHS' GAOL

YOUNG MARRIED MAN HORSE-FLOAT FIRE The young man. William Murray, who wa's arrested in Hastings in connection with the recent fire in MeCor-, mick's, Limited's horse float, appeared before Mr. J. Miller, S.M.. at the Hastings Magistrate's, Court yesterday charged with wilfully setting fire to the float, and damaging it to the extent of £47. thereby committing mischief. Mr. C. Duff appeared for accused, who pleaded guilty. Detective-Sergeant Revell stated that the accused had been employed by MeCormick for a few weeks in driving the float, leaving in January. Interviewed regarding the fire, he said he found the door of the garage open and acting on a sudden impulse, as a result of having taken liquor, he set fire to it. "The accused may have been peeved at the refusal of Mr. McCormick to lend him money, and this may have tTeen the cause of his action, but apart from that I cannot understand the action at all," said the detectivesergeant, who added that the accused was a married man with one child and had been before the court at Gisborne last year for a breach of his probation order. DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND Mr. Duff said it was difficult to understand the action of the young man. His hither had slated that the. young man had felt the stress of driving the float and unfortunately had started to take mink. "He cannot give any reasonable explanation for his action," said Ml'. Duff

G. TV'. I!. McCormick also gave evidence- thai accused had been a good worker and that, there was no ill-feeling over the refusal to lend the money. Ho also could not understand that action. His Worship said that the matter was a very serious one and a short term of imprisonment was the only way to treat the matter.

The accused was sentenced to three months' imprisonment.