Young Fire-Raisers.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue VI, 7 February 1903, Page 399

Young Fire-Raisers.

The two Auckland lads, Sargent and Ruddle, who are at present serving a sentence of seven years* imprisonment for arson, have confessed to having set fire to Roberts’ biscuit factory in Stanley-street some months ago. At the time the fire occurred the police authorities felt pretty certain that it was the act of an incendiary, and the detectives have been carefully following the matter up in the hope of elucidating the mystery. When Sargent and Ruddle were arrested and sentenced for 19 charges of arson, the detectives thought it quite possible that they were also concerned in the Stanley-street fire. Subsequent inquiries revealed the fact that the lads were early in attendance at that fire, and finally Detectives Kennedy and McMahon visited them at the gaol and questioned them separately as to their movements on the night of the fire at Roberts biscuit factory. •

Ruddle admitted having been at the fire along' with Sargent, but Sargent, on being questioned, denied having been at the fire at all. The detectives pointed out to the lads that one of them at least was evidently not telling the truth. The lads were again interviewed on a second occasion at the request of Ruddle, and they also saw Sargent.

The lads asked the detectives whether, in the event of their telling the truth, they would be prosecuted. The detectives replied that as they were already undergoing a long sentence they' would not be prosecuted. The lads, however, showed an amount of cunning, for they next inquired if the detectives would wait till they were discharged and “go” for them then. The officers again assured the. prisoners that no proceedings would be taken against them. The lads were, however, still very cautious. and Sargent said Ruddle and himself would have a talk for five minutes, and let the defectives know the result of their conference. The detectives accordingly left them together. Tn a short time the detectives were called in again, and Sargent announced that they had decided to tell, the truth. He then made the following statement in the presence of Ruddle:

T, James Henry Sargent, make the following statement voluntarily and of my own free will. On the‘night of the fire at Roberts’ Biscuit Factory in Stanley-street. Ruddle and T got a boat at the back of the Auckland Morgue. We pulled over to the North Shore, stayed there about half an hour, and returned to the Railway Wharf, where we tied the boat up. We then went un Queen street, and had a pie at “Black Bob’s” coffee stall. We then went up Queen street into Rutland street, and by St, Paul’s Church into Stanley street, to Roberts’ Biscuit Factory. I got a clasp knife from Ruddle. We jumped over the fence and got into the yard. With the clasp knife T opened the window catch of the front window on the right. I pushed it up and went inside, Ruddle staying at the window watching. I went over to the corner where there were some rolls of paper. T put them in some lig-ht wooden boxes in the corner. T gathered up all the paper and rubbish I could find around the floor, and lit the whole lot with a match. When the paper was alight I left and came out of the window, and I put the window down again. Both of us went along Stanley street end up Parnell as far as the school, when we heard a young fellow shouting out ,“Roberts’ is on fire!” We both then ran back to Roberts’. There were some people there. I lifted the same window which I opened before, and some men went into the building through it. The fire had a good hold of the building then. We watched the fire for about an hour and a half, and we went along Stanley "street as far as the Swan Hotel, where I left Ruddle and went home. It would be about

three o’clock in the morning when I left him. The fire I refer to was the last fire at Roberts’, when all the inside was burnt out. I did not know anything about the other Roberts’ fire, but only on the last occasion, when the building was gutted." THE STATEMENT CONFIRMED. This statement was confirmed by the other lad, who stated: “I, Arthur Ruddle, have heard the statement James Sargent made in my presence, and I certify that it is true and correct in all details, and I was present with him on all the occasions he refers to in connection with Roberts’ fire in Stanley street. Auckland.”