THE CASE OF ATTEMPTED INCENDIARISM AT NAPIER.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1926, 27 April 1880, Page 2

THE CASE OF ATTEMPTED INCENDIARISM AT NAPIER.

[By Telegbaph.] NAPIER, April 26. The discovery of an attempt to burn down the Corporation offices was mentioned in our issue of yesterday. Further intelligence informs us that the police set to work to make enquiries, and found that it was the annual audit day. The fact that a number of rate-book counterfoils had been palled down from the shelf, and after oil had been poured over them, ranged round the books of a clerk named Shaw in open order, so that they would readily bum, directed suspicion to him. He was in the office, and was most active in suggesting theories to account for the fire, pointing out footmarks on a table below a window, which nobody else could see. At last he seemed to become conscious that suspicion pointed to him, and at once went to the Mayor and confessed that he had embezzled money belonging to the Corporation, and had falsified his books to hide his defalcations. He denied having set the piece on fire. The police have since discovered that Shaw purchased kerosene in the bottles which were found in the room, from Messrs Maney and Co.’s on Saturday. Shaw is well connected, and has hitherto borne a good name. He was at one time a run holder in the country, but for several years past has been in the employ of the Corporation. About six months ago he was appointed ra‘e collector, and it is supposed that the defalcations have occurred since then. He states that he has no idea bow much he has embezzled, and it will taka several days for the auditor to find it out, though several specific embezzlements have already been discovered. Shaw has a wife and large family, and much sympathy is expressed for them. He has never lived in a fast manner, and nothing occurred to rouse suspicion before the fire. The general belief is that he got gradually into debt, and on being pressed by tradesmen took the money from the rates, and then altered the books to correspond with the amounts he had paid in. His salary was over £2OO a year. April 27. William Henry Shaw, late rate receiver, was charged at the R.M. Court with setting fire to the Government Buildings yesterday, and remanded for eight days.