“Burn House Down,” Says Father to Son

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1036, 29 July 1930, Page 1

“Burn House Down,” Says Father to Son

INCRIMINATING LETTER MAN SENT TO PRISON Press Association. NELSON, Today James Giles, a carpenter aged 52, was arrested by Detective Sinclai’ yesterday morning, and later appeared before Mr. T. E. Maunsell, S.M., charged with Inciting his son, Arnold James Giles, to commit arson. At first accused pleaded not guilty. Detective Sinclair explained that accused had a house at Auckland insured for £9OO with a mortgage oh it (or £6OO, He handed the magistrate a letter which accused had sent to his son. The letter came into the possession of accused’s wife, who gave it to the police. The Jitter was as follows: “Dear Arnle, this is a private letter. Do not let anyone see it, and burn it as soon as you have read it. Now be very careful with it. I have been «annoyed with you for not doing what I asked you. Now get busy. There is work for you down here, and you will be a good help in the band. You get your job when you get down here. I will look after you when you arrive and get you all you need. "There is no chance of selling the house just now, and we would not get much for it. The Bank of New Zealand will sell it, and that will mean nothing for us, so read th ! s carefully and then burn this letter and squash the ashes. “I want you to burn the house and make a good job of it. Set it going :'n the workroom. Get a couple of sacks of shavings from Uncle Tom’s shop Tell him you want a fire in the dining room. You could lay them round the walls in the workroom and see that it gets a good start. Leave the window open in the back upstairs room and in the workroom. That will help it along. About 12 o’clock or two In the morning is the best time. If mum is home get her out just when you think it’s time. Do not tell her anything about it or she will spoil the show. If she is out late or away all night all the better. You could get the shavings in and keep them a few days and pick a night when mum stays out late. Of course you will say after that you did not know how it started. I will send yon your fare straight after. Now destroy tliL straight away as I told you You will like Nelson. It is a fine place. We don’t get any rain down here. I want you to be down here for Festival Week in August. If you get down in a couple of weeks’ time you- will have time to get some practice in.—Yours ■ for ever, Dad.” When the magistrate had finished reading, he said to the prisoner: Well, what do you say to that? Accused: It sounds a bit guiltdoesn’t it? He then pleaded guilty. The magistrate said accused had taken the wisest course. Giles was convicted and sentenced to two months’ imprisonment.

CASE REOPENED “EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES” Press Association NELSON, Today. In connection with the case in which James Giles was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment for inciting Arnold James Giles, his son, to commit arson at Auckland, the magistrate allowed the case to be reopened. It was stated on behalf of the accused that there were extenuating circumstances. Giles’s motive was not to make money out of the fire, but to get his wife out of the house. He was at present taking divorce proceedings against his wife. Accused was a good workman and would be taken back into his old employment when he had served his sentence. . The magistrate said he had reconsidered the case and had decided to confirm his previous sentence. The offence was a serious one, and if the Instructions of the letter had been carried out it would have put the blame on the son.