A SERIOUS CHARGE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 62, 18 July 1913, Page 5

A SERIOUS CHARGE.

"SHE SET FIRE TO MEI"

JEALOUS WOMEN'S QUARREL

[Pee Press Association.]

Auckland, July 18

The depositions of Ellen Ahlgren were taken by a magistrate at the hospital. She stated that she resided with her husband, John Ahlgren, at Henderson. Sarah Williamson, who resided near, came to her house early on Thursday, tidied up the house, and left at 2 p.m., after witness had given her some groceries. At this stage, >lrs Ahlgren remarked loudly: "I swear she set (ire to mo. She asked me down to her place and threw a bucket at me." She added that her husband and Mrs Williamson had been carrying on.

In answer to a question she said: "She deliberately' sot alight to my dress with a match. It is not the first time she had tried to do away with me."

| Mrs Ahlgren added that after Mrs I Williamson set fire to her dress, she i rolled on the grass and screamed for I help, but no one came. She managed to get home, but there was no one there. The fire smouldered until she smothered it. Witness, who apIpeared to be unable to proceed, was I asked by the Magistrate if she knew what had been said, and she replied: !."] know nothing about it." Then she j appeared to rally and said Mrs "Wiljliamson called her "Black Nell," but ! it was not a quarrel. They were both j sober. She asserted that her husi band had been found in accused's |house. Mrs Williamson also'went ui dor the name of Mrs Lamb, but

j sha never lived with her husband. When accused by the police, Mrs I Williamson denied all knowledge of I the fire. She said she knew nothing !of Mrs Ahlgren's injuries. She was I placed under arrest and charged with causing grievous bodily harm. Mrs | A.ilgren is in a very low state.