ATTEMPTED ARSON

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 955, 24 April 1930, Page 12

ATTEMPTED ARSON

LIGHTED CANDLE IN HOUSE COUNSEL’S STATEMENT “Accused admits the offence,” announced Mr. J. J. Sullivan, for Edward Harold Alexander, aged 27, who appeared again in the Police Court this afternoon, charged with wilfully attempting to set fire, on April 17, to a house belonging to the State Advances Department. Alexander, who was arrested by Detectives Snedden and McWhirter, was remanded on bail after appearing in court last week. The police evidence was to the effect that a neighbour discovered a candle left binning in a five-roamed house at 14 Nikau Strct, Onehunga, on Thursday evening last. Accused was arrested at Cornwallis. Applying for bail when the case was first brought forward, Mr. Sullivan said there were certain mitigating circumstances. Accused had left a candle alight, and there was certainly an attempt, but no damage was done. Accused had' been worried and ill. He had no object of obtaining insurance money. Detective-Sergeant. Kelly said accused would not have gained anything by a fire. The house was under a mortgage to the State Advances Department. “It is simply a question of taking the evidence, and committing accused for sentence,” Mr. Sullivan said this afternoon.

(Proceeding.)