CHARGE OF ARSON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16908, 6 December 1922, Page 7

CHARGE OF ARSON.

A SYDENHAM CASE. Joseph Hogan Byrne (Mr J. B. Batchelor) was charged at the Magistrate’s Court to-day that on November 20, at Sydenham, he wilfully set fir? to a building, thereby committing Alice Williams, Colombo Street, said that she was a storekeeper in Sydenham. and knew the accused, who lived next door. About 7.45 p.m. on November 25, a girl ran into the shop and called to the witness to go into a right-of-way. She went out- and saw Byrne struggling with his wife, and she told him to leave his wife alone. She took Mrs Byrne into the shop, and sent Byrne away, and advised him to lie. down until he got calmer. Byrne became excited and said. “ I’ve got two tins of petrol in the shed, and I’m going to burn the show down.” He went inside in a furious temper, and all the lights n the house went out. Byrne later left the house. In a few moments she saw Byrne breaking in the windows with a spade. All was quiet for a down the yard. Tho police were sent for. but before they arrived the frame of the window that had been smashed became a mass of flame. Constable J. Connal said that l.e arrived at Byrne’s place after the fire had been extinguished bv the FirBrigade. He searched the premises for the accused and Found him in a box at the hack. Hn asked the a -- what he was doing there, an 1 be replied. “' T’rn just having a ’it of a spell.” The accused was then arrested on a charge of arson. Thomas Walter West, a land and estate agent, said that the propertv. 446. Colombo Street. Sydenham. was owned by Bertram Coleman .Jacobs, and Mrs Byrne was the tenant. He estimated the damage done bv the fire at £lO. The accused pleaded not guiltv and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial, and bail was refused.