CHRISTCHURCH FIRES

Hokitika Guardian, 14 January 1930, Page 5

CHRISTCHURCH FIRES

ACCUSED’S STATEMENTS

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 14

In the Magistrate’s Court, Charles Robert Gray, 17, and James Wilfred Gray, 19, appeared to answer thirteen charges, including s u ine of arson and attempted arson. These concerned a long series of fires in Christchurch last winter. Among I 'the places damaged being Bing Harris’ warehouse, lloywood’s building and store, the Mayor’s private house, J>. H. Brown’s oil store and Montreal Street boatsheds. The lieairing is expected to take considerable time. Accusqcl in a statement to ,the police admitted setting fire to Hevwood’s (‘store at whicfi the damage was between five and six thousand sterling. They took some iron off the roof of the building and poured in petrol. A handkerchief was saturated in '.petrol and then dropped in. Evidence was given that at Doleson’s garage the motor cars were sprinkled with petrol. In a statement to the police accused said:—“After breaking in and setting fire to the building; we walked around the outside and watched two cln.'ps give the alarm.” Charles Fraser, accountant, evidenced that the damage caused by the fire at Bing Harris ■: and Co.’s warehouse was £25,000.

A statement in which accused admitted breaking into this place was also produced. A doll was taken from.a box and set alight and thrown among some papers under a counter. Accused then went home. In another statement accused said they set fire to Ambler and Co.’s building by using a coat saturated with petrol.