POLICE COURT.— This Day.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1692, 21 July 1875, Page 2

POLICE COURT.— This Day.

(Before Dr. Home and C. N. Marshall, E.q , Justices.) A BRACE OF J'RUNKAP.DS.

Frederick Charles Warmstadt, an old offender, and David Murray, a new chum, were fined 20s each for being drunk and disorderly last night. Neptune's boots.

John Hamilton, a smart young man, was charged with stealing a pair of boots on the high seas on the 17th inst., the property of Frederick William Howard.

Prisoner pleaded not guilty. Mr Broham asked for a remand until tomorrow. Prisoner protested against a remand, he was a respectable man, and the charge was paltry and ill-founded. Mr Broham said there was a long case to come before the Court, and a remand was necessary. Remanded until to-morrow. TO KEEP OUT THE WEATHER. Henry Peterson was charged wuh stealing two blankets, value 15s, the property of Christopher Hutchinson, on the lGth inst. The prisoner pleaded guilty, he wanted something to keep out the weather. Seven days' imprisonment with hard labour. On the application of Mr Joy, bail was accepted for prisoner's appearance, twa sureties of £10 each. THE CLARKE3. William Clarke, senior, waa summoned for neglecting to contribute towards the support of William Clarke, junior, in the I.aval Training School. The father did not appear, but a letter had been received by Mr. Cunningham from the Waikato, stating the condition of defendant, who was in poor circumstances, but was willing to do what he could. An order wa3 made for half -a - crown a-week. ' FAITHLESS. Matthaw Moore was summoned on a charge of absconding from his wife and leaving her in destitute circumstances. Defendant did not appear. Mr Broham said this was a very bad case, and he would ask for a warrant for Moore's apprehension. A warrant was accordingly ordered to be issued forthwith. Charge of InesadiarismSusan Conley, of "Green Cottage," Official Bay, was again brought up oa the charge of setting fire to a dwelling house, the property of her husband, James Conley, on the G:h inst , with intent to defraud the New Zealand Insurance Company. Mr Brookfield for the prosecution and Mr Joy for the accused, who pleaded not guilty. Mr Brookfield stated the case for the prosecution. William Joseph C. wkwell, merchant, knew the premi-es in Jermyn-street, occupied by Conley, and held a mortgage in conjunction with George Fraser over the same for £200, from the 17th August, 1872. The prop&rty was insured for £200 in the New Zealand Insurance Company ; that policy would expire on the 17th of August next. Had the place been destroyed, they would have got the money, and the mortgage would have been cleared off. William Ritchie, baker, of Jerymn-street, knew the prisoner, and deposed that she told him some time ago. that she thought of selling the house when James came out of gaol. He did not take particular notice of what she said. George Walker, foundry-man, employed by Messrs Fraser and Tinne, remembered the evening of the 6fch July. He was passing House. It was about nine o'clock when he saw the reflection of a fire, either at Bitchie's or Conley's. He ran down the hill, and found that it was in Conley's house. He tried to get in ; the front door was closed ; he pushed it open, and got inside. Other men were with him. He went into the back-room, and in a corner discovered a box on fire. He believed the box, now in Court, was that box. The fire had caught the wall and the roof. He helped to extinguish the fire. He examined the box, and found a quantity of rags and old clothing smouldering in the box, when a strong smell of kerosene was noticed by one of the persons. A chest of drawers and some books were also on fire. Thomas Broham, Inspector of the Armed Constabulary, deposed that the fire had evidently originated in the box, and in its upward progress had reached the roof ; the wall and ceiling of the house were deeply charred. He examined the box, and found some rags, an old Bible, and some paint brushes. The whole place smelt strongly of turpentine, and the things were saturated with it. Another fire had been started on an old cheat of drawers, quite distinct from the fire in the box, which stood in the south-west corner of the room. That aIRO smelt of the same spirit. Constable Mulville subsequently found in the kitchen a quantity of rags, papers chips, and tow, all laid ready for kindling apparently, and saturated with turpentine, [things produced]. Other rags were found over the ceiling. There must have been, at least, a quart of turpentine used. He wouid say that it was the narrowest escape from fire that he had ever witnessed. He made a search of the house, but found no clothing. He made a list of what was found at the time, which consisted of three small tables two old mattrasses, one chair, an old chest of drawers, one sheet, a pair ot bankets, two plates, and a few other things— not worth £5 The place looked as if completely deserted! He saw Mrs Conley, and asked if she could account for the fire and the turpentine, She said she could not in any way : they never used either turpentine or kerosene. She said her husband had gone to the North Sho-e • her son was hunting for the cows. Her Polly was at Parnell at the time, and that she went to Mrs HadrilPs, where she was when the alarm of fire was raised. To Mr Joy : He caused four persons to be arrested on the charge; three have been discharged; there was an old clock in the house, but it was not going. Detective George Jeffrey gave corroborative evidence. He noticed that nearly all the furniture had been moved away; what remained was not worth £3. The next morning, in company with Detective Grace,* he renewed the search and found thrown

together in the garden, under the hedge, a number of coats, vests, and trousers, chiefly of blue naval serge, such as Conley used to wear; they were about fifteen yards from the house, and out of the reach of the fire. He next searched the two room of the house at Parnell, where prisoner's two daughters lived, and he carefully took an iuventory of all the things therein. (The list was hero put in and read). He conld identify many of the artcles as having previously been in prisoner's house, especially a chest of drawers, a pair of horns, and Conley's Savings' book. Mrs Conley : That's mine, Mr Jeffrey, and not Conley's. - To Mr Joy: Mrs Hassell (Conley s daughter) said her mother had given her the TO'kds and caused them to be removed to Parnell ■he did nob trouble who paid the rent. The little girl, Folly, said that she saw a st ange man come to the house on the night of the lire, who wanted to see Conley. She should know him again. Mrs F. Hadrill, wife of Mr E. Hadnll, re-sidedinJtrmyn-street, remembered the night of the fire. Mrs Conley called at witness's house on that evening, and remained about h lf-an-hour. She went out of the house twice during the time* and returned-, but the third time she did not return, She did not hear the cry of fire. • To M r Joy : She said she went out to look after the cows. Lydia Lucas, widow, of Parnell, saw the prisoner on the 14th June last. She came to look at two rooms in her house, and engaged them for her daughter. The furniture came in on the following Monday, and the daughter came in on the Thursday. She did not know that Mrs Hassell was married by the Rjv. Mr Hoy', She only knew her as Mrs Has.ell. The daughter pays the rent. William Mossop, a carman, of Parnell, (rave evidence as to the moving of the goods on the 21st June from Conley's house to Mrs Lucas's by Mrs Conley's instruction, who raid him for their conveyance. Harriet Bolton, called "Polly," deposed that she was fourteen. Ber father was at the Thames ; she lived at Conley's ; remembered the night of the fire ; she was sent to Mr Hassell's between six and seven o'clock that evening ; she took a mattrass by Mrs Hassell's request. It was a sofa mattrass. She was told to take it on the foUowinc day, but she was anxious to see the baby. She also took a kit and a frying-pan ; Charley went with her. When she got back to Mrs. Conley, the front door was pulled to and the bick door was open. The was a man by the gate in the street, and he enquired for a widow-woman with a big daughter. She did not know any one that answered the description. He then went to Mrs. McConichie's opposite. Some time after he asked her tor a match. She could not give him one. She then shut the door, went to the man, and asked him to help to put out the fire, when he said let me go, and rau away. He ran towards Point Br'itomart, and she ran t<> Andrew's (Fernandez) to see if Mrs. Conley was there. She cried out fire, and Mr. Fernandez ordered the fi.ebell to be rung. She sat down in Mrs Fernandez' parlour. She saw Mrs Conley coming down the opposite hill, in Jermyn-street, but the fire was out then. The two cows were at grass in the paddock that night. This was the evidence for the prosecution. Mr Joy addressed the Court, and considered that there was no evidence to connect Mr Conley with the fire. The Bench considered that there was sufficient evidence to send the case to a jury. Mr Joy said that as such was the decision of the Bench he would ask that the prisoner be .dmitted to bail. Mr Brookfieid said he should not objjet, but the bail must be of a substantial nature, The depositions were then read over to the prisoner, ami she was committed for trial at the next criminal sittings of the Supreme Court. The prisoner was admitted to bail, her husband in £400, and two sureties in £20i) each.