Candle Found Alight in Onehunga House

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 951, 19 April 1930, Page 1

Candle Found Alight in Onehunga House

ATTEMPTED ARSON CHARGE CONFECTIONER REMANDED A neighbour's discovery on Thursday evening of a candle left burning in a five-roomed house, 14 Nikau Street, Onehunga, the occupants of which were absent, led to the arrest at Cornwallis last evening of Edward Harold Alexander. Accused, who is 27 years of age, and a confectioner, appeared before Mr. K. C. Cutten, S.M.. in the Police Could today, charged with wilfully attempting to set fire on April 17 to a house belonging to the State Advances Department. He was remanded on bail until April 24. The arrest was made by Detectives Suedden and McWhirter. Applying for bail, Mr. Sullivan said there were certain mitigating circumstances in the case. Accused had left a candle alight and there was certainly an attempt, but no damage was done. Counsel asserted accused had been very worried and sick. He had no object of obtaining money from the insurance, but conceived the scheme to get rid of everything. Detective-Sergeant Kelly asserted there had been an attempt to fire the building. Nevertheless, accused would not have gained anything by the fire, as the house was Government property, being under a mortgage to the State Advances Department. Accused would really have lost by destroying the house, although his furniture*was insured. He was not in a good state of mind, the detective stated. There was no doubt, however, accused had set out to fire the house. Bail was granted in the sum of £IOO. the magistrate accepting accused’s wife’s surety.