SETTING FIRE TO A THERSHING MACHINE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2189, 2 March 1881, Page 3

SETTING FIRE TO A THERSHING MACHINE.

At the Eangiora E.M. Court, yesterday, before O. Whitefoord, Esq., R.M., J. C. Boys. A. H. Cunningham, and 8. Hoywood, Esqs, Harry Jackson, a Norwegian, was charged, on the information of Sergeant Barlow, with unlawfully and maliciously setting fire to a threshing machine, the property of William Judsen, Woodend. Accused was not defended. Francis Charles Hill, engine driver, deposed he had full charge of Mr Judsen’s threshing machine, and employed or discharged the men under Mr Judsen. On February 24th the machine was threshing wheat at Mr Buss’, Eangiora. Accused was feeding the machine. He had been employed about the machine since February Ist. Witness discharged accused between 12 and 1 p.m. en the 24th for being intoxicated. Qave him an order to receive his wages from Mr Judsen, and he went away, taking his swag with him. Accused complained that he (witness) had given him the “ sack,” and he would get him the “sack,” and make 1 it a caution to him. We went on threshing, and finished that paddock. We cleaned up the machine by 0 p.m., and put out the engine fire with water in the ash pan. The ash pan is under the fire box of the engine. 1 The fire was quite out, ready for removal on the next morning. The men at the 1 machine went to bed about 10 p.m. We slept about a chain away from the machine. 1 Four of us were in a tent—John Lyle, William Toilet, a man named “Sam” and Edlin. There were two other tents, and five i men were sleeping in them, three of whom ; were Maoris, a man named “ Hughie ” and i E. Eyan. All the men were in their tents. ] We parted at 10 o’clock, they were all sober|and i all went off to bed. We’were awakened after being in bed about an hour and a-half, by I dogs barking and a man calling out fire. We turned out and found the combine part of the machine on fire. On the shaker end we found I it all in a blaze. Water was thrown on it and i quenched it a bit till we could get on top, j when the boards were lifted and wo found a i quantity of straw burning on the shakers, i The fire was stopped here. There was a lot i of burning straw, also, on the caving sieve. There was a tank of water handy, but it was hardly enough, and four of us went for water and kept the tank full, with which the fire j was quite put out. Witness sent for Mr ' Judsen to Woodend, and watched the re- • mainder of the night with the machine. Mr i Judsen came about 2 a.m. on the 26th, when we reported the affair to the police at Ban- i giora about 3 a.m. All the men working at i the machine were present at the alarm of fire I except accused. They all appeared as if they i had been in bed. They were all simply in i their shirts. W. Toilet was the first at the fire and witness next. Toilet was running towards the machine and calling out fire, i Witness had no disagreement with any of the l other men. By Eesident Magistrate—No straw was left on the machine when we i cleaned up. The burning straw we saw must \ have been put there afterwards. Am quite sure of this. While the machine is working the straw does not stop on the shakers, but if it stops a small quantity would collect. There was a much larger quantity of burning I straw on the shakers and caving sieve i than could have collected. We had occasion however, to put through some grain to be i cleaned, and the engine was run empty for i some time in cleaning up, so that all the straw i was completely removed. There was a good i armful of straw on the shakers and sieve i when we found it on fire. By accused—l i had full charge at the machine. I looked after the machine as a man ought to do. Bemember threshing peas at Mr Buss’, Wood- i end Farm, earlier in the month, when the brasses of the combine became heated several < times in one day. Cold water was poured on them. Do not allow smoking about the combine. I saw one of Mr Buss’ men a day or two before smoking at the end of the straw- 1 jack. You did not tell me there was a man smoking at the combine. You did not say when you left you would come back. Never saw you at the machine since your discharge. There was no straw in the shakers or caving sieve. It was bound to have shaken out owing to the time the engine had been run. There was straw left on the shakers at Mr Judsen’s when the machine had not been kept clear. It was left on that night. That was about a week before the fire. By the Court —The brasses heated because a spindle was rough. The spindle was put right by Mr Johnston, of Eangiora, and it did not heat again. Witness examined it carefully after that, and oiled the brasses about every fifteen minutes. The brasses could not have heated without witness knowing it. The brasses were not in the part of the machine which was on fire. Have examined the machine since the fire. The fire could not have been caused by heating from the machinery. The cooking was done out in the ground. We had a fire between nine and ten for our supper. Witness put out that fire before going to bed. Anyone approaching the tents would have the machine between them and the entrance to the paddock. The machine worked smoothly all day. There was no collection of straw at any time on the shakers or caving sieve. William Judsen deposed—He was a farmer and contractor at Woodend. Last witness was in his employment as engine driver for his threshing machine. He hud full charge of the machine, and bad power to engage and discharge the men employed in working the same. Accused was in his employment as the feeder of the machine. On the 25th knew he had been discharged. He brought an order for his money, and witness paid him in the Lion Hotel. Accused said he had been at Woodend on the previous evening for his money, and also that witness would never do any good with the machine so long as Hill was kept on as driver. Witness had never a wry word with any of the men at the machine. It was 1 a m. on the 25th when witness was informed of the fire. Was in bed at Woodend when Edlin, the water cart man, brought word, and in consequence of the information given witness went to the paddock in which the machine had boon partly burnt. W. H. Gingarven, barman, Bed Lion Hotel, Eangiora, stated on 24th saw accused at 11 p.m. He first came to the hotel about 1 or 2 p.m., and left at 11 with E. Robinson and Jerry Gunsen. They were sober. At 10 o’clock next day saw accused in the bar. He said he had been at Woodend. He had his swag with him. Gunsen asked him what gate he turned in at. Accused replied he went in at the wrong gate,_ “and if you speak like that you will get mo into trouble.” Accused remained at the hotel till Judsen came and paid him his wages. By Accused—Am sure you said the words, “ If you speak like that you will get me into trouble.” Accused asked Judsen where Hill was, and Judsen said “ he is taking i the burnt part out of the machine.” Accused said, “ So long as you keep that man he will do the machine no good.” Edmond Kobir,i son deposed that on the 24th accused, Gunsen, and himself left the Bed Lion Hotel

between 10 end 11 o’clock. They walked together to Mr Bue»’ gateway, when accused said he was going to tarn in there. Witness asked him what he was doing. Accused replied, " Threshing.” Ho went into the paddock, and witness and Hansen went on. Witness did not then know where Judsen’s machine was. By Accused—Saw you go through the gate. You said you were threshing for Mr Buss. Did not know where you were going. Did not hear you call after us. None of us were drunk. Jeremiah Hansen gave corroborative evidence. Sergeant Barlow deposed to accused’s arrest on the 25th ; he made no statement. Accused having been cautioned, stated to the Bench he had been “ sacked ” by the engine driver. He asked him why, and Hill replied, “ Because he was drunk.” Hill gave him an order for his wages. Did not remember saying he would make it hot for Hill. He then entered into an explanation about thresning some peas, having no relevancy to the case. The accused was fully committed for trial at the next session of the Supreme Court. The Resident Magistrate commented upon the way in which the case had been got up, and pointed out the want of a plan to guide the Bench.