HOUSE SET AFIRE

Hokitika Guardian, 29 November 1928, Page 6

HOUSE SET AFIRE

MATERIAL SOAKED IN KEROS EXE. SENS AT lON A L AL i. EG AT 10 X S (By Tck^raph—Press Association). NEW PLYMOUTH, Nov. 28. “I line! that tho house was sol aliro hv some person or persons'’ was the verdict of the Coroner, Mr R. \\ . Tate, 5.. M., following an inquiry into the cause of a (ire on October 12. The evidence showed that when the fire was extinguished three dumps of inflammable material were found in the clipboards, and a sitting room, each with a piece of candle', which bad been lighted, .standing in it. The material had .been soaked with kerosene. Mrs Mary Mather, owner of the house, which was insured for £7u(), and to which the damage was about £2OO. bad been seen to enter the house previously with a bottle of kerosene, but this she said was to clean the windows of t!i.* house*, which had been vacated' by a tenant two days earlier. Rags had been tacked over the windows, but Airs .Mather said that that was to keep the neighbours Irom looking in. Mrs Mather, aged (18. and her grandson, aged 18, were closely, examined. !sensational allegations were made by witnesses concerning the methods •adopted !>v Detective .Meiklejolm, in course of his inquiries and regarding these, the Coroner added to his verdict; “I do not believe tin* statements in the depositions reflecting on the methods of the detectives.”