First Edition RUTLAND HOTEL FIRE.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 May 1910, Page 3

First Edition

RUTLAND HOTEL FIRE.

The following appeared in th« fttoend Edition of. wr last issue.

[PKlt PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Tina Day. Joseph Paul Davis and Martin Haines, who liatl been found guilty at' arson in connection with the fire a,t the Rutland Hotel, Wanganui, we>ro to-day sentenced to seven years' imprisonment with hard 'labour. The Chief Justice said it was not an ordinary case of arson. If it had been, ho would have de-alt with it more leniently. The fact was, if the firo had not itaken place at the time it did, and, as he believ'ed, contrary to the expectation of Haines, and if it had been dolayed an hour, there would have been iroo chance of saving the lives of any of tho people in tho hotel. The prisoners, therefore, risked human life, and any action which had any effect on human lifo ho (his Honour) always looked upon with horror. He could not deal with ttho case otherwise than from that point of view.