INCITEMENT TO ARSON ADMITTED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19134, 29 July 1930, Page 5

INCITEMENT TO ARSON ADMITTED.

MAN ADVISED SON TO BURN HIS HOUSE DOWN.

Per Press Association. NELSON, July 28. “ I want you to burn the house and make a good job of it. Set it going in the workroom. *’ This advice formed part of a letter written to his son by James Giles, a carpenter, aged 52, who appeared before Mr T. Maunsell, S.M., to-day charged with inciting his son, Arnold James Giles, to commit arson. At first accused pleaded not guilty. Detective Sinclair explained that ac cused had a house at Auckland insured for £9OO, with a mortgage on it for £6OO. lie handed the Magistrate a letter which accused had sent to his son. The letter came into possession of accused’s wife, who gave it to the police. The letter was as follows: — “Dear Arnie.—This is a private let ter. Do not let anyone see it, and burn it as soon as you have read it. Now be very careful with it. “I have been annoyed at you not doing what I asked you. Now get busy. There is work for you down here and you will be a good help in the band. You get j'our job when you get down here. I will look after you when you arrive and get you all you‘need “There is no chance of selling the bouse just now, and we would, not get much for it. The Bank of New Zea land will sell it and that will mean nothing for us. So read this carefully and then burn this letter and squash the ashes.

“I want you to burn the house and make a good job of it. Set it going in the workroom. Get a couple of sacks of shavings from Uncle Tom’s shop Tell him you want a fire in the dining room. You could lay them round the walls in the workroom and see that it gets a good start. Leave a window open in the back upstairs room and in the workroom. That will help it along. About 12 o’clock or 2 in the morning is the best time. “If Mum is home, get her out just when you think it’s time. Do not te|*, her anything about it, or she will spoil the show. If she is out late or away all night all the better. You could get the shavings in and keep them a few days and pick a night when Mum stays out late. Of course, you will say after that you did not know how it started I will send you your fare up straight after. Now destroy this straight away as I told you. “You will like Nelson. It is a fine place. We don’t get any rain down here. I want you to be down here fci Festival Week in August. If you get down in a couple of weeks’ time you will have time to get some practice in “Yours for ever. “Dad.” When the Magistrate had finished reading the letter, he said to prisoner- “ Well, what do you say to that?” Accused: It sounds a bit guilty, doesn’t it? He then pleaded guilty. The Magistrate said accused had taken the wisest course. Giles was convicted and sentenced to two months’ imprisonment.