DAMAGE TO HORSE FLOAT

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 22, 10 February 1937, Page 5

DAMAGE TO HORSE FLOAT

Former Driver Given Gaol SERIOUS VIEW TAKEN ' ' The accused haa had probation before and failed to observe the terms of .the order. This case is really a very fee&ous matter," said the Magistrate, Mr J. Miller, at the Hastings Court this morning in imposing sentence of three months' imprisonment on William Murray, aged 27, who appeared on remand, charged with committing mischief Dy wilfully setting fire to a horse float, the property of McCormick's, Ltd., thereby causing damage to the egtent of £47. "The accused 's action might easily have caused- very extensive damage," eontinued the Magistrate. "He has no chance of paying the damage, and 1 don't feel inclined to extend probation. I 'm af raid it will have to be a term of imprisonment. The offence is not really mischief; . it's arson, and that is an indictable offence." Accused pleaded guilty, Mr C. Duff appeared for the defence. Evidence of the occurrence of the fire was given by Detective-Sergeant L. B. J. Eevell,,who said that he interviewed accused, who had previously been employed by McCormick's Ltd. The accused admitted the charge, and said he acted on lmpulse, but that he was drunk at the time. On the morning of the offence the accused had approached Mr McCormick for a loan and iiad been refused, and this had possibly peeved him, "It is difficult to understand," said Mr Duff. The accused had worked driving the float for McCormick's. The accused 's father said he felt the sfcress of driving the float. After he finished, he started to drink, and on the morning of the offence he was under the influence of liquor. He 'was a good worker. "He can't give any reasonable explanation for the offence." said Mr Duff. "It must either have been drink, or it's mental," commented the Magistrate. "It was sueh a foolish thing to do with witnesses present." Graham McCormick said the accused had been a good worker and had been most trustworthy. He did not drink while he was in witness 's employ. Accused seemed io be sober when he saw him in the morning. "It's a most extraordinary thing to me," he commented. "-He walked out without a'TOW, and then he did this." "He ia a danger," said the Magistrate. "Is this likely to happen again? I think this case should stand down. He might be mental." Mr Duff suggested that the accused take out a prohibition order. "It wants something stricter than that, I think," said Mr Miller, in sentencing the accused to three months' imprisonment.