Incendiarism.

New Zealand Police Gazette, Volume XIII, Issue 6, 13 March 1889, Page 47

Incendiarism.

Herbert Maxwell Bradbury is charged, on warrant issued by the Auckland Bench, with having, on the 3rd ultimo, at Karangahape Road, Newton, Auckland, maliciously set his premises on fire, with intent to defraud the South British Insurance Company. Description: A native of the colony, a draper, twenty-six years of age, sft. 6in. or 7in. high, slight build, small dark peculiar eyes, aquiline nose, dark hair and small dark moustache only, very reserved and silent manner ; dressed in a greyisli-tweed sacsuit and hard-felt hat. He lived for several years in the Port Albert District, and is well known there. Ho was in business as a draper at Karangahape Road, and about the 12th January last insured his stock of drapery in the South British Office for £6OO, and a few days after sent a large portion of the drapery to Tauranga to be sold there. About 7 p.m. on the 3rd ultimo he left the premises, and in about five minutes after his bedroom, which was on the ground-floor, was discovered on fire, and the kitchen, which is upstairs, was also found on fire. He failed to attend at an inquest held on the 25th ultimo to inquire as to the origin of the fire.

On the morning of the 15th January last an unoccupied shop and dwelling at Marton, the property of Peter McAlinden, value about £l5O, was destroyed by fire. At an inquest held on the 4th ultimo, at the Marton Hotel, Marton, to

inquire as to the origin of the fire the following verdict was returned: “ That there is no evidence to show the origin of the fire, but we consider it to have been the act of an incendiary.” The building was insured in the Victoria Office for £l5O. About the time the fire was discovered two men, names unknown, were seen running from the direction of the fire. Description: First, about twenty-two years of age, between sft. Gin. and Bin. high, medium build ; wore dark clothes. Second, between thirty-five and forty years of age, stout build; wore dark clothes.