ARSON IN GARAGE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1081, 19 September 1930, Page 13

ARSON IN GARAGE

PERPETRATOR UNKNOWN EVIDENCE AT INQUIRY From Our Own Correspondent OPOTIKI, Thursday. A case which aroused great public interest was heard before the coroner, Mr. S. L. Paterson, S.M., in the Poll e Court today, when a coronial inquiry into the fire which took place at McIntosh and Mackay’s garage on the night of August 32 was opened. Detective McLeod, of Gisborne, reprt - sented the police. C. ITambly, who sold the garage U) the proprietors, gave details of the deal. A man named Glover, who had been employed by him when he soi l out, was re-employed by the presen owner?. Glover never mentioned the reasons why he left the firm. Witness at no time expressed a wish to get Mclntosh and Mackay out of business. L. Mclntosh said that when he left the garage everything was secure. The back door was not locked, but there was no outside handle and anyone entering the garage would either require a knowledge of how to open the back door or possess a key of the other door. At a quarter past eleven he was informed at his hone about the fire in the garage. When he arrived two cars were burning on the road. Examination showed the cars had been =et on fire. He dispensed with Glover's services in May. Glover was aware that the side door could be opened. When witness took over the premises from Mr. Hambly he also obtained an agency which was now under the coi - trol of Horne. Glover was now empluyed by Horne. At the time of the fire the value of stock and tools was £9OO. which were not insured. T. Hitchens described his discovery of the fire. He said he found fwo cars and five separate parts of the garage on fire. When Charles Glover, motor mechanic, w T as called, the coroner informed him that he was not bound to answer any questions that might incriminate him. Glover said he was dismissed by McIntosh and Mackay three months ago. Since then he had been employed by Horne. After his dismissal the question of the ownership of tools had been raised by Mclntosh, who had taken certain tools from him. He had never seen the back door of the garage opened with a piece of iron or stick. Witness then described at length his movements on the night of the fire. He was in bed when the siren sounded. He put his clothes on over his pyjamas and attended the fire. He had not said or done anything since his dismissal with a view to injuring Mclntosh and Mackay’s business. Constable Breed gave evidence showing the cars* had been wilfully set on fire. The coroner said the evidence showed the fire had been wilfully caused by some person or persons, but there was not sufficient evidence to show by whom.