THREE MAGONS IN COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 August 1920, Page 8

THREE MAGONS IN COURT.

ARSON AND OTHER CHARGES. HEARING PROCEEDING. Three Magon brothers, two of whom are now serving sentence in prison, were the central figures in a case heard at the Supreme Court at New Plymouth yesterday afternoon. They were Albert Edward Magon, Charles Magor, and Frederick Magon, and while Albert was new to the dock, the appearance of Charles and Fred revived memories of their notorious operations "down the coast, which recently led to their conviction in the Supreme Court and their sentence to terms of detention.

The charges heard by Mr. Justice Hosking yesterday concerned the loss by fire, on November 17, 1010, of a house Haiiotu oceumed by Albert Magon, which, it way alleged, had been set on fire bv the Magons. They were therefore charged with arson, and with conspiring to obtain money from the Standard Insurance Company by fraud. Albert Magon was further charged with making a false declaration in regard to certain articles of furniture alleged to have been lost in the fire.

The accused n re three young and freshlooking men, and they briskly pleaded "not guilty" to all counts. Mr. C. IT. We?ton (Crown Prosecutor) prosecuted, ami Mr. A. Blair, of Wellington, with him Mr. R. H. Quilliam, appeared for the accused.

The following jury was empanelled: E. D. Lepine, H. Autridge, N. T. Rundle, 'IT. Kendall. E. W. Edgecombe, G. H. Martin, O. P. George, A. C. Evans, W. E. Clark, ,T. Bring, W. J. Batten, W. Mountford, G. T. Rampton. Mr. George was chosen foreman.

Mr. Weston qutlined the case for the Crown, which, lie said, suggested that the three accused burned down the house in order that Albert Edward Magon could get, the insurance, and if tfiis was so it followed that they conspired to defraud the insurance company. Then Albert Edwsrd Magon was charged by himself with trying to get the values of certain articles byTalselv declaring that they were burned, and he was also charged with making false declarations. SHIFTING ALLEGED.

Through an interpreted Rua Bishop, of Opunake. said he was the owner of the house, which Magon rented for 5s a wepk. The house was insured for £9O, but it was worth more than that, and witness was a loser through the fire. The interpreter was also called to translate Momona Tamihana's story, in which he said he remembered Albert Magon coming into his billiard saloon at Uahotu on October 17. Fred Magon came intfl his saloon later, and then the two ; 'Magons left together. Alter witness 'went outi-iide, when he noticed a cart standing outside Magon's house. There appeared to be something in the' cart covered by a tarpaulin. Ereti, the wife of the previous witness, gave evidence regarding the removal of goods from the house by carts, which goods she saw carried out by the Magons. Albert Schnickel, of P>ahotu, said he saw two carts outside Magon's house; one cart had something in it, and though it. was covered by a tarpaulin he thought there was a piano in the cart.

Vnuricp Ooffev, who lived next to Albert Magon's house, said the Magons -nvav the da* preceding the fire. Witness remembered seeing four baths, a tub. and some basins in the yard behind Magon's. Witness and his wife were the'firrt narsons to roach the scene of *'ip fire. Or, Uie morning after the fire witness saw only tw« batlis and the copper in the yard. IMPROVED MEMORY.

To Mr. Blair: When lie gave evidence in the lower Court witness was not sure there were four baths. Mr. Blair: So that your memory lias improved since the lower Court? Witnes: I am sure now. To his Honor: I am pretty well sure that before the fire there were four baths. His Honor: You are pretty well sure: is that it? Witness: Yes. Mr*, rolt'(>v gave corroborative evidence. Then Detective Fitzgibbon robbed the witness-box of its eustomavv barcncHii l)v decorating its sides with a varied array of household goods, such as cruet stands, a set of carvers, etc., while a duchess chest was also brought along to add to the homely aspect, and one of the mufy talked of tubs appeared. Amid these surroundings Mrs. Coft'ey declared that she recognised them as similar to articles which had been in Magon's house. Then a tempting array of redand green mats brought a touch of color i-t» t.ho scheme. and Mrs. Coffey said they were similar to mate she had seen in Magon's house. To Mr. Blair, Mrs. Coffey admitted that the mats and the duchess were of a common type, and would be found in many homes. Coming to a question of dates, Mr. Blair asked: Yon are positively certain that you were married on October 13? Mrs. Coffey: I am certain al/out it. Mr. Blair: Of course I wouldn't expect you to altogether forget the event. POLTCE EVIDENCE. Constable O'Neill, of Rahotu, described his visit to the scene of the fire, and mentioned the remains of numerous articles which lie identified among the debris. There were two tin baths. On December 3 witness interviewed Fred Magon, and asked if he had any property of Albert Magon's />» the premises they were then living in. Magon said he had not. Witness took a statement from Magon, but Magon refused to sign it. Witness asked Fred Magon if he had been in the vicinity of his brother's house at Rahotu at any time, and the reply was no. Fred Magon also denied that lie had assisted to load furniture on a dray from Albert Magon's house at Rahotu. On March 1, 1920, he searched the premises of Charles and Fred Magon, at Newall Road, Warea, where witness was searching for stolen property. During the search he found three niats (produced) under Fred Magon's bed. Frederick Magon claimed the mats as his property, an'} he said lie bought them in New Plymouth, but he could not identify the shop. Continuing, witness said that in the same bedroom the duchess (produced) was found. FreH Magon claimed it as his property, and said he purchased it from Christiansen, a second-hand dealer in New Plymouth, aßout two years ago. Asked how it was the stuff was not destroyed in the fire which the Magon:?had in Newall Road, Fred Magon said: "They were down at the old man's place at that time." In the same room a tin hath (produced) was found. This bath contained a quantity of crockery and various articles of clothing. The constable went on to detail other articles found, on the premises. At. this stage the Court adioursed till AO «4n. to-dfc*'