SENSATIONAL AFFAIR.

Taihape Daily Times, 9 October 1918, Page 7

SENSATIONAL AFFAIR.

ALLEGED ATTEMPTED MURDER. A sensational affair took place on Sunday night at Alfriston, three miles from Manurewa, Auckland, a married man named John Arnold being apparently seized with an access of mania and after attacking his wife set fire to the house. According to statements by the wife's father (Mr. J. H. Hansch), who lived with the family, he was roused about midnight by hearing his daughter screaming, and, running into her bedroom, he was struck on the head by his son-in-law with a stick. He saw that the room was on fire, and in consequence of the violent attitude of Arnold he deemed it wise to go for assistance. He ran to a neighbour's house, and was accompanied back to Arnold's, where it was found that Mrs Arnold had escaped from the house, so the two men turned their attention to rescuing the six children, ranging in age from four years to thirteen, from the burning building. It was impossible to save the house, which was totally destroyed. The elder children say that their father tied their mother to the bed, and poured kerosene from a lamp in the room over her clothing. He also bound the four-year-old twins together, and then set fire to the house. The other children then ran out of the house in their night attire,- while the mother managed to escape her bonds and to get out of the house with the two small children. This story is corroborated to some extent by the fact that Mrs. Arnold's clothing was found to be drenched with kerosene. Arnold disappeared from the scene immediately after his father-in-law went for help, but was seen in the district about half an hour later, and was then only wearing his shirt and trousers. Information was dispatched to Sergeant Harvey, at Otahnhu, who informed headquarters, and at once proceeded with Constable Moss to Alfriston. There they met Constable Johnston and Dr. Brookfield, of Papakura. The house was completely destroyed. During the evening there had been a social gathering in the house, and everybody was apparently in the best of spirits and on good terms. Arnold himself is 42 years of age, and a cooper by trade, but for some time had not been working at his ordinary occupation. He had the reputation of being a steady, sober, and hard-work-ing man.