AN EXTRAORDINARY CONFESSION.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9121, 14 April 1908, Page 8

AN EXTRAORDINARY CONFESSION.

SETTING FIRE TO A HOUSE. Press Association. ‘''■"'T:'.'''"'‘ Auckland, Apri l ’ 1. Thomas Fitzgerald, who pleaded not guilty to sotting fire on two occasions to Mr Leo. Myers’ house at Newmarket. and who was committed for trial, is expected to enter a plea of insanity. On arrest ho_ made a —startling confession, admitting haying removed two cases and certain other articles from the boxroom to wo toolhoase. and also a kerosene ■ tin full of oil from the same place to the ooalhouse. He then vent on to say:— , r “I got.up about o a.m. on Marco intli end went out to the coalshed. _ I opened the kerosence tin, brought in some kerosene in tiie half of another kerosene tin, and also a whitewash brush. I sprinkled the passage with kerosene outside my bedroom, and thou put a lighted tamer to it. It began to light and when it had got a strong hold I saw I had made a great mistake. I rushed for my bedding, threw it at the flames, hut they were too strong, and I could not put them out. They drove me back into my bedroom. I then began to realise what a mistake I hud made. The flame;' wove rushing into my bedroom. ami I coum see there w.o, noth hm for it but to get out of too road. so I lifted up my bertrocm window and threw my box oi.t aim rushed for clot-lies, which were’pa-rtly burning, threw them out, and then jumped out- myself. I went out on ■ to the green and sang out ‘dip’ t° reuse the people in t-ue house. 3. saw the servant put her head out ol the window.- and then I knew that the house would be alarmed.” Referring to the second outbreak, the accused’s statement was as follows :

“I got up, lit the caudle, aud dressed myself, and went in under tlie house, gathered a bag of case packing and some wood, and put them under my arm. I then went through the front door of the house, through the diningroom, put an old ladder up to the passage ceiling, and went through the manhole. I laid the packing and wood down, lit a caudle,’'and then set fire to the heap. After doing so I came down and left the house by the frontdoor and stood at tba greenhouse, where I saw a constable, and he jumped across and grabbed me by the arm. I cannot assign any reason for having committed these acts other than I think I must have been mad. I have always been well treated by my bosses ever since I have been employed at the same house, for the past 23 years. I have no grudge or ill-feeling against any person. The reason I asked Young to call me at 3 o’clock on the morning of the 22ud was for the purpose of again attempting to hum down the house.”