UNKNOWN

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 195, 16 August 1907, Page 5

UNKNOWN

GROCER COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. . (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) ■ » \ DUNEDIN, Thursday. ' At the Police Court to-day Thomas Miller, grocer, was charged with having wilfully set fire to his house in Northeast Valley. After lengthy evidence had been tendered, Miller was committed for trial. ;

The evidence was to the effect that the house belonged to Miller, having been purchased in 1904 for £250. Of that amount £175 was still on mortgage, while he borrowed another £100 on security of the properly. He held an insurance policy for £225, covering the premises. The accused went to a chemist's shbp and. purchased a pound tin of phosphorus. The same day he was seen to go to the house, which was unoccupied at the time, accompanied by his father, and left in 20-' minutes. Shortly afterwards a girl had occasion to. go to the house for some clothes of a recent tenant, and noticed the first signs Of fire and a strong smell of phosphorus. She gave the alarm, and the neighbours put the fire, out before much damage -was done. On the police visiting the house it was found that the phosphorus had apparently' been, poured between the bricks of the, chimney and the lining boards from the roof, and ? a little distance from the manhole in the ceiling the empty canister was found, which the chemist identified as having contained phosphorus, which he sold to the accused. The former occupier's furniture and effects, which were uninsured, were lying in the house at the time.