Mantle of Mystery Cloaks Fire Fiends' Identity

NZ Truth, Issue 1237, 15 August 1929, Page 1

Mantle of Mystery Cloaks Fire Fiends' Identity

DURING the last four weeks, the moaning of the sirens warning traffic of the approach of the fire engines has become almost as familiar as the chiming of the Town Clock. Such a state has arisen that fires have been anticipated nightly; the only point of speculation is the .probable locality of the latest attempt to wilfully destroy property. Though official circles were inclined to discount "Truth's" warning four weeks ago that the dual attempt on Dobson's garage and petrol station indicated the presence of wilful incendiarists, subsequent outbreaks among the fifteen or so fires which have since eventuated have clearly illustrated that this paper's contention was correct. Before adequate measures had I^en-*SkeW''to : "deaT with' the r situ^- ■ ' tion, upwards of" £30,000 worth of , damage had been done. , To-da-y the city is patrolled with a reinforced corps of detectives and policemen — picked men from other metropolitan stations — m • an attempt to run the culprits to earth. What motive could be behind the wilful destruction of, property by fire? It is inconceivable to believe that Illllllllllllllllllllllllllllilllllllllllllllllllilllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllillllllllllllllllllllll