ALLEGED WILFUL FIRE-RAISINGAND ROBBERY.

Southland Times, Issue 1347, 13 December 1870, Page 2

ALLEGED WILFUL FIRE-RAISING-AND ROBBERY.

- On the .evening of Tuesday, the 6th inst., the house of a bushman named "William Lindsay, situated . at Woodend, Clifton, was burned to the ground under circumstances which appeared somewhat suspicious.. Lindsay, it seems, had not resided in the house for the last fifteen or sixteen months, although it contained a quantity of household effects and other property belonging to'him. He was in the habit of making periodical visits to see that the house was all right. The last of these visits was made one Sunday, about three weeks ago, and on that occasion he closed' it up securely. After .the fire, the debris was carefully examined and certain non-combustible articles' could not be accounted for. This still further increased the suspicion, and on Saturday last the police proceeded to the house of a man named George Richardson, at Clifton, where the missing articles were found. Bicbardson was conveyed to the lock-up, and was brought before the Besident Magistrate at yesterday's sitting of the Court. Two charges were, preferred against him, viz., a charge of theft and one of arson, Lindsay T proved in evidence that the articles produced, being those found in prisoner's .'possession, were, his .property, and were in the house on • the laßt occasion on which he visited it. A lad named Geo. Millar, a step-son of, and residing with, ~ the 'prisoner, .gave evidence that the articles

were brought to the house by the prisoner, who stated to his mother that they belonged to a man who expected a visit from the bailiff, and who wished to place the things out of reach. He (prisoner) afterwards stated that the owner of the property had been drowned. On both charges the accused was com-, mitted to take his trial at the next sitting of the district Supreme Court.