RUTLAND HOTEL FIRE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 820, 18 May 1910, Page 2

RUTLAND HOTEL FIRE.

BOTH ACCUSER FOUND GUILTY. AFTER TWO TRIALS. The rc-lrial of Joseph Paul Davis and Martin Hnines, on an arson charge, in connection with the fire in the Rutland Hotel buildings, Waiißanui, on .January 22 last, was continued in the Supreme Court yesterday, before his Honour the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout). . ' Jlr. Jlycrs appeared for the Crown, and 3lr. Wilford for the accused. The following witnesses were called:— Wm. R. Beauchamp-Platts, insurance adjuster; Robt. Wm. Shallcrass, auctioneer; James Colin Campbell, manaser o£ the Bank of New South Wales, Wanganui; Ruby Fleming, previously an assistant in Davis's shop; Richard SI. H&ggitt, manager of the New Zealand Express Co. at Wanganui; Jas. Robinson, carrier, Wanganui; Detective Siddells, Sergt. Bonrke, Constable Thompson, Thos. Pargder, gas fitter; Mrs. F.Merlino, restau-rant-keeper, Nelson; Malcolm Stewart, auctioneer's clerk, Nelson. The evidence tendered was practicallyidentical with that put forward at tho former trial. The only fresh witness was Mr. Shallcrass, who gave details of a sale of watches and other articles which he had conducted in Wellington on behalf of Hafnes. The gross proceeds of the sale were .£290, which was a poor return considering the value of the goods. The hearing of evidence was completed soon after resnming after lunch, and the balance of the afternoon was taken up by counsel's addresses, and his Honour's summing-up. His Honour emphasised the fact that the evidence tendered by the experts, if accepted, disposed of the theory that the explosion could have been caused by gas. If it had not been so caused the onlyother possibility was that it was caused by a light oil sprayed over the shop, and subsequently vapourising. The question arose: Who put the oil there? His Honour went on to refer to the financial position of the two accused at the time, of the fire. The suggestion of the Crown was that the h're had its origin in the difficulty into which the accused had got in regard to money. The misstatcmenta made by the.accused after the fire must also be carefully considered. The jury retired at 5.18 p.m.. and returned at 8.5 with a verdict of guilty. The prisoners were remanded until Monday next for sentence.