Alleged Arson in Official Bay.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1680, 7 July 1875, Page 2

Alleged Arson in Official Bay.

JameS Conley, sen., waterman, Susan Oonley, James Conley, fun., and Harriett Kolton, were charged at the Police Court this morning with arson in Official Bay. The circumstances of the case are these : Last night about nine o'clock, Mr Fernandez, of the Terminus hotel, observed Conley'shouse to be on fire, and summoning the men in the hotel at the time, they raised the alarm and ran down to the place, which is situated in Jermyn-street, near its junction with Shortstreet. By considerable exertion they succeeded in extinguishing the flames and saving the building. Meanwhile the alarm had been given, and Inspector Broham arrived at the i scene. Only a little girl named Harriet Eolton was found in the house, and her replies were of of » moat unsatisfactory and contradictory character. She said that a bmsliHian-had come in and set fire to it. Mr Broham made a careful examination, and found that the fire had commenced in a box full of old raga, paper, and clothing, saturated with turpentine and set against the wall. Another fire had been made on the top of the drawers, and a third lot of combustibles was prepared in another room ready for putting a match to. Conley, Mrs Conley, and their son, were absent, but the two latter soon returned. The house was insured in the New Zealand office by the mortgagee ior £200. Under these circumstances Mr Broham had Mrs Conley, her son, and the girl Harriett Eolton taken into custody on a charge of arson. This morning Conley came to the police station to see Mrs Conley, and he also was arrested, pending investigation by the police, which will be (

TBSaeaurTngtne time attorned. r>y tne remand, which was granted to-day. Conley states that he was absent at the JNortn Shore at the time.