ALLEGED ARSON. – ♦ ARREST OF THE OWNER'S WIFE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 294, 29 August 1888, Page 5

ALLEGED ARSON. - ♦ ARREST OF THE OWNER'S WIFE.

Auckland, Auguab 25. Between 4 and 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon an incipient lire was discovered in u cottage situated in Clyde-street, Parnell. As the circumstances surrounding the case were very suspicious, Mrs Ann Mahoney, wife of James Mahoney, owner of the cottage, was subsequently arrested by Constable Tlobson at 8 o'clock. It appears that Mahoney and his wifo resided at one time in Parnell. Their cottagewasmortgagedfor£loo, and was insured for the same amount. Sonic- two months ago Mr Mahoneys brother died and left him a farm at \Vaikomiti,and since thab time they have resided out there. The cottage has been untenanled and was submitted tor sale at Cochranes auction mart last Monda}'. The only bid was that of Mrs Mahoney tor Cl2O consequently the building' was not disposed of. During this woek IVJ rs M ahoney has been staying with a triend in town, ifesterday a gentleman who was passing the cottage noticed that there was something wrong, and he accordingly broke in. He then found that on the mantelpiece was a heap of blaming rags, but the prompt action of the discoverer of the tire enabled these to be extinguised, and thus all danger was put at an end. An examination of thebe ragrf shows that they had been saturated with kerosene. A few minutes more and the room would have been a muss of fiamesj and the clue w the origin of the iire would have been destroyed. Noalaim of tiro was made, but Constable Hobs>on,who was early on the faC6ne,feecuredtheremnantsof therags. About 8 o'clock in the evening Constable Hobson took Mrs Mahoney into custody.

THE PRISONER BEFORE THE COURT. Mis Ann Mahoney appeared at the Police Court this morning before Messrs S. Y. Collins and W. Crowther, justices. She was charged that she did on the 23rd of August, at Parnell, unlawfully, maliciously, and feloniously set five to a certain dwelling house, the property of James Mahoney, .situated at Clyde-street, Parnell, with intent to defraud. The prisoner is a woman in middle life, and evidently in a delicate condition. Inspector Broham appeared on behalf of the police and asked for a remand for one week in oider to afford time tor the preparation of the cabo, as the woman had only recently been arrested. He mentioned that there was a strong prima Jaae case against the prisonei at the present time, apart from what might be ' tound in the future by the researches of the police. The prisoner said, "I did not .set fire to it. Will you grant me bail ? I'll be dead in a week if you don't let me out.' Mr Broham said that he had no objection to bail being gran tod provided that it was of a substantial natuie. The Bench granted bail— the accused in ClOO and two .sureties of C5O.