MAGISTERIAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume LX, Issue 2357, 31 March 1897, Page 3

MAGISTERIAL.

+ — -. THE GERALDINE FIRE. j . - ■*"- W. H. Webber was yesterday brought up on remand at Geraldiue before Mr C. A. Wray, S.M., and Mr H. W. Moore, J.P., charged with setting fire to a certain store with intent te defraud. Mr White appeared for the Crown, and Mr Raymond, for the prisoner. The fresh evidence taken, apart from what had previously been given at the Coroner's Inquest, was that given by Wilford Flockton, draper's assistant, who deposed that two weeks after commencing business m Geraldine Webber complained that thp sales were not large enough. After the first two weeks the sales decreased still further, and a fortnight before the fire accused's manner changed. He did not then grumble about the sales though they had decreased considerably. In witness' hearing accused grumbled to the representative of Messrs Cook and Gray that a lot of the stock was damaged, and he seemed to want a discount for the damaged stock. The stock was picked over by local storekeepers. who bought a good deal of it. Witness metaccusedgoing For the brigade on the night of the fire, and saw him smoking a cigarette. After the fire accused said to witness, " I am losing a lot by this fire." Witness said, "1 don't see how you can lose, considering the price you gave for the stock." Accused then said, "You need not tell the general public that ". John James McCaskey, local agent for the Victoria Insurance Company, utated that a few days before the fire he saw accused about a fresh proposal. Accused said his stock was worth £1300, and witness said he would not accept a greater risk than £800 for one month. On the day of the fire accused signed a proposal for £800. Witness understood that accused represented the value of the stock according to the stock sheets. Accused told witneßs he had a letter which covered his stock for £1000 till March 27tb, 1897. If qe (witness) had known that accused had given only £934 for his stock and had sold £300 or more out of that, he would not have given him cover for £800. Accused, who reserved his defence, was committed for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court, at Timaru, on June 22nd. Bail was allowei, himself m £300, and two sureties m £150 each. Bail was forthcoming.