STRANGE ARSON CASE.
EPISODE IN HOTEL. The lipping of a burning mattress from an hotel window into a timber •.>ard last night, led to the appearance of Benjamin Erridge (44), and James Matthew Smith (27) in the Magistrate’s Court this morning, on u charge of arson. In applying for a remand till Friday, the police stated that the ultimate charge might not be so serious, but the case would have to l>e investigated. •The men came down from .Hainner recently, and got on a drinking bout yesterday,” said Mr ('. S. Ihomas, who appeared for accused. " They finished up in the Wellington Hotel, and apparently while they were smoking the mattress of the bed caught alight. They noticed this by the room becoming smoky and hot. Iho door was locked. ‘ They bundled the mattress through the window, but unfortunately they bundled it into a timber yard." Mr Thomas said he thought it could he proved that accused had no criminal intent. The remand was granted, and accused were allowed bail in. sureties ol ! £25 each.
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Star (Christchurch), Issue 16902, 29 November 1922, Page 7
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174STRANGE ARSON CASE. Star (Christchurch), Issue 16902, 29 November 1922, Page 7
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