SUSPICIOUS FIRE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 4016, 26 February 1903, Page 2

SUSPICIOUS FIRE.

AUCKLAND, Feb. 25. Early this morning Constable Murray discovered a fire in the office of Messrs John Reid and Co., Fort Street, He smashed a window, and found ifce door ot the safe wide open. Some of the office books were burning on the floor. The fire brigade arrived prompt ly and extinguished the fire in its incipient stage. An examination showed that the safe had been opened with a, key, and though the door was wide open the locks were shot. There was a secret sprinc in the safe, without operating which it would be impossible to open the safe. The books were spread out apparently with the object of allowing the fire to take effect. The cash box was cleared of about twenty pounds, but a number of cheques wore loft untouched. The fire appears to have been the work of an incendiary, who had used a large quantity of straw, and empty bottles in the vicinity indicated that methylated spirits had also been used to induce a conflagration. The straw had been piled on top of the books, but had only been partly burned when the fire was extinguished. David Somerville, head clerk for Messrs John Reid & Co. has been arrested and charged at thePoliceCourt withhaving wilfully set fire to the premises ; also with the theft of £3O, the property of his employers. He was remanded to Wednesday. Bail was allowed accused in one surety of £IOO, and two other sureties of £IOO each.