ARSON CHARGE FAILS
ACCUSED’S “TANGLED” TALE “TELL POLICE ANYTHING” Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, Today. A case of alleged arson with some unusual features came before tlie Supreme Court today when Hubert Harding was charged with having on April 20 last wilfully set fir© to a dwellinghouse at 83 Eastern Terrace, belonging to William Macrae. I-Ie pleaded not guilty. Giving evidence on his own behalf, Harding said he had a "bach” of his own in Eastern Terrace. lie could remember getting home that night, but could not say anything about the fire except that lie spoke to some people outside. He did not remember having been inside.
To Mr. A. T. Donnelly Crown Prosecutor, he said that he had been drinking after hours. He was tangled up when he made his statement to the police. Mr. Donnelly: Why did you tell the police an untruth?—l would tell them anything.
Why tell them something untrue?— Just to get rid of them. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty. ,
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Bibliographic details
Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 965, 7 May 1930, Page 10
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166ARSON CHARGE FAILS Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 965, 7 May 1930, Page 10
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