ATTEMPTED INCENDIARISM.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1566, 9 April 1887, Page 3

ATTEMPTED INCENDIARISM.

An inquiry was held at Dunedin on Thursd«y afternoon, before Mr E. H. Carew, city coroner, and a jury of six, into the cause of a fire on the 26th ult. in a three-roomed house at Anderstoo, owned by Mr James Jackson and occupied by Mrs Wallace,

Several witnesses were called, from whose evidence it appeared that the wiodow blind of an unoccupied room was discovered to be on fire on the evening in question, and was extinguished by some neighbors. Mrs Jackson, in her evidence, said she was on the verandah of her house when she heard her daughter «ing out that Mrs Wallace’s place was on fire. She did not know whether her husband was in the house or not. She went round to the aide of Mra Wallace’s house and saw a pane of glass broken. She was annoyed at this, and said to a man named Reynold’s, who was attempting to extinguish the fire, “Do not get destroying things,” He said that he wanted to save the woman’s things, and witness asked if there was any danger why he did not go and ring the fire-bell. When she returned home 10 minutes later she found her husband at home, and told him the blind of Mrs Wallace’s house was on fire. Ho said if if was only the blind he would not trouble to put on his boots for it. Jn reply to the Coroner the witness said her husband had bad property burnt before, but she had sever been accused of setting it on fire.

James Jackson, storeman, said he was agent for the North British and National Insurance Companies. Ho owned the cottage in which Mrs Wallace resided, and other property, all of which was insured. There was a risk of £l2O on Jsrs Wallace’s house ; £2BO on |hp house adr joining j and £tjo qp a stable. The insurances were’jn the North British and Mercantile Company. He did not know that apyone but himself exapppqd and valued the property hefqre the insurancewas effected. The property was mortgaged to the Dupedin Sayings Bank for £525. It was worth about £6OO. He onlp got 3s a week rent for Mrs Wallace’s cottage. When bla daughter came in apd tqld hipl Mrs Wallace’s blind was on fire, he said Dick Reynolds was always there, and he could put it out. There had been 14 fires within a hundred yards of him, and he had only been to two, His opinion was that nine fires out of every ten were caused forentionally. {Laughter.} on leaving the po?, replaced that he felt sure the fire was paused intentionally. Mr Carew said no doubt the jury were of the same opinion. There seemed to be no suspicion of qn accidental origin, but there tvaa no evidence as to who actually set the binnl on fire, although there was a strong presumption that Mr or Mrs Jackson must have hud something to do with it. There w. a evidence that she showed annoyance at what 1 was being done to save the place, and he

behaved in an • x'raordinary manner when told of 'he fin. Having an interest as owri' r of the place and agent for the insiir inee company, he did not oven take the trouble to put on his shoes aud go and see "bout the matter. He (the coroner) doubted, however, whether the jury would find sufficient evidence to fix the act on auv paitinulur pefsoo. The jury returned a verdict that the place was wilfully set on fire by some person unknown, and added a rider to the effect that it was extremely injudicious o insurance companies to take risks, especially for their own agents, without first sending to inspect the property. - Otago Daily Times.