“WILFULLY SET ON FIRE.”

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXV, Issue 13059, 29 April 1910, Page 5

“WILFULLY SET ON FIRE.”

A NASEBY MYSTERY. H’er United Press Association I DUNEDIN. April 28. On Tuesday, at Nasoby, Mr Porritts, S.M., and a jury of six, inquired into the circumstances of the fire which recnetly mysteriously broke out and destroyed a portion of the Victoria Hotel at Naseby. When the lire was extinguished the brigade superintendent and a local constable found a quantity of rags literally soaked with kerosene sticking in the lining boards of The room in which it broke out. Inquiries by detectives since have proved nothing as to the origin of the fire. The licensee, W, B. Allan, proved that he was in a satisfactory financial condition, that the business was paying, that a portion of big personal property was uninsured, and that he had not been near the room in question for two days. The jury found a verdict that the place was wilfully set on fire, but there was insufficient evidence to show by whom.