SUSPECTED ARSON IN CHRISTCHURCH.

Timaru Herald, Volume I, Issue 5, 9 July 1864, Page 3

SUSPECTED ARSON IN CHRISTCHURCH.

On Thursday, June 30, John Kenny, and Honorah Oakes were brought up at the Resident Magistrates Court, Ghristohurch, on suspicion of having set fire to the Golden Fleece Hotel early on the pi evious Tuesday morning. Mr. Louis watched the case on behalf of the landlord of the Golden Fleece, and Mr. Garrick for the female prisoner. The first witness examined was constable Lewis, who deposed that on the morning of the 28th June, about three o'clock, his attention was directed to a light burning m a window m the rear of the Golden Fleece. He proceeded round to the back door of the house and could then hear the crackling of timber. He at once forced open the door and ran upstairs. Before going upstairs he discovered a partition to be on fire. He then shouted that the house was on tire, and the prisoner Kenny called out from upstairs to get Mrs. Oakes out if he could. By forcing open the doors of two or three of the rooms ia which parties were sleeping he got inside, and proceeded to awaken them. He then went into the kitchen and perceived a fire m something like a coal-hole* He opened the door and threw some water upon the fire. Inspector Fender was then examined, dnd deposed that on arriving at the fire he took possession of the house, allowing none but members of the Fire Brigade to enter. He saw the places where the fire was alight After the fire had been put out he made an examination of the the premises, with Mr. T. Anderson. He found that the partition between the bar and the back sitting-room, had been torn out at the bottom, and some sticks placed inside m such a manner at to burn easily ; and m a cupboard m the kitchen he found, on one side some firewood thrown carelessly m, and on the other some pieces of tarred rope, sticks, &c, (productd), laid m a convenient position for firing. Mr. T. Anderson corroborated the evidence of Inspector Fender, and also stated that when he j

first entered the house, prisoner Kenny ran u$ the stairs before him into Mrs. Oakes' bedroom, and shut the door alter him. He (witness) called for a candle, aud Kenny came out and gave him one. Mr. Roach, the next witness, stated that he was sleeping m a room over Simpson and Marks' shop, adjoining the Golden Fleece, when he was awoke by a noise similar to large boxes being moved about, and screaming. He woke before the lire-bell rang, and before the alarm of fire was given. Alice Fletcher, housemaid at the Fleece, was next examined, and stated that on the night previous to the fire she had put the kitchen fire out and examined the house before going to bed. She particularly remembered that the loose firewood m the kitchen cupboard was m the left hand corner, and that there was none m the right Mrs. Oakes remained below a short time after her, and then went to bed. She (wit. ness) didnot remember having seen the pieces of wood produced m Court before. Upon the application of Inspector Pender, the further hearing of the case was adjourned for a week, to enable him to obtain further evidence.