FIRE BY ARSON.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1076, 8 December 1882, Page 3

FIRE BY ARSON.

At the Balclulha Resilient Magistrate’s Court last Saturday George Fraser, contractor, wia committed for trial upon a charge of arson. The hearing of the can octuple i from 11 a.m noil lOp.m o F iday, tod iron) 9 a m to 2 p.tn. on Saturday MrJ Stnyh Fleming pre-iding. Tli evi dence adduced at the trial w,-nt :o show thit the -lore of the accused at Puerua was bu nt down on toe L2tii ulr. A mni i before toe lire the accused Sol I out f r £2.1", delivery to be given on the 14 n N vember At 130 on the morning of th tie be was awoke by a dog looking and found the p ace in fl ines. A stored n employed by Fraser named B i j nnin Smith gave some remaik bio to e co. He so c irely locked un the s'oreat 8. 43 p m., and then hung U|i ihe key in ihe usual place in the tent. After sitepinc some tim • wilnes was disturb-.!, and Hading the do-r of ibe tent "pen closet it Toe nxt thing hheard was Fr ser Calling out lie heard a ciaeklin ; aimn i, and he an I Fraser malted out and found the s’ore in fl mes. Faser w-mt to the front door, an I he ran mi n to the rear of the building. He thnugi t the Hre had o ig nate I on the outside, ,is some it'ibu nt straw was lying oumide He told Fr.ser lie ihou lit it Imd been wilful y s-t I on fiic. Fraser aske I him why he th lUgiit so, and he re be i bee m.se he >li I not see any stnw there wnen hj locked u». Fraser tneii sail. “The leist sail the “oonest men led.” Tne following Sa unlay he tol l Fraser he ha I better leave, as he diliTt want to < e mixed up with the fire. He i met Fraser in the train. He got into the Sam- carriage with him, an I sai l, ‘YiU are going to the inques He re died *• Yes. I have been aninmnnel.” Fraser tneu asked him what lie was mng to say. lie replied that hj had made a statement to a de ec itein Ouitaiu Fraser, put tin-ques tion again, and he to d nini ahoitt finding tin- door op ii. Fraser then sai I, ‘"I hope you havi n’t said much, beeause it will go too hard.”