INCENDIARISM IN AUCKLAND.

West Coast Times, Issue 354, 10 November 1866, Page 2

INCENDIARISM IN AUCKLAND.

A clue to the cause of 'he disastrous fires that have lately taken place in Auckland, appears to have been found at lust, and one at least has been traced to incendiarism. The "Southern Cross" of the 31st ult. contains a report of a trial consequent upon an investigation into the cause of the conflagration on the premises of Mr J. Elcock, in Chancery street, on the 23rd, from which we extract the following confession from James M'Alley, Elcock's accomplice in the crime :—: — " Mr Wynn stated that the case had assumed a new shape since the proceedings at the enquiry in another place, when a jury had thought it their duty to recommend further investigation into the circumstances of the fire, and in consequence of which the present charge had arisen. Since Miat enquiry the man M'Aliey had thought proper to divulge the whole circumstances of the fire, and the information was of such a nature tli&t it had he«n

deemed expedient to put him into the witness box on the prosecution of Elcock upon the present charge. Mr Wynn then proceeded briefly to fatate the facts admitted by M'Aliey which had led to the adoption of this course, and then called him into the witness-box for examination.

James M'Aliey deposed — I am resident at the Wade, and a seaman by occupation. I know Elcock, the prisoner, and recollect the fire at his house on the morning of the 23rd. I was resident in the house with my wife at the time. I have known Elcock about two years, and always stayed at his house when 1 came to town. Onthe 22nd, the day before the fire, I purchased some tar from Williams and Co. It was after four o'clock in the afternoon when I purchased a quart of tar at the request of Elcock. I paid for it myself, and took it to Elcock's house in a kerosene tin. I got the tin from Elcock's house, aud took it down with me. The tin was placed behind the counter in the shop when 1 returned from purchasing it. Elcock told me he wanted the tar to set the house on fire with. He had spoken to me about his position at different time* before. He said hia business was failing, and spoke to me about fire. He told me hiß stock was insured. He also spoke to me once or twice about leaving the colony. He said he thought it best to leave the country, or do something else to get cltar. When I returned from purch sing the tar, there were Mrs Elcock and child, the prisoner, and my wife in the house. On the Saturday preiriuus Eicock astced me to take some goods for sale to Messrs Turrell and Tonks 1 auction mart, which he said were to be sold in another man's name. I cannot read myself, but saw him write out the list produced, which I took with the goods to the auction rooms. The stores were packed in boxes kegs, and taken in a cart to the auction mart. I went | myself to Messrs TurreU's and Touks. The paper produced looks like the list I gave to Turrell and Tonks clerk with the goods. The young man, William Best, is the clerk to whom I delivered the goods. I told him they were to lip sold that day in the name of Jackson or Johnson, I don't recollect which. The prisoner told n»e what name to say. I did not tell the clerk my own name, because he did not ask me. The goods were sold on Saturday, and I got part of the money on Monday. I was paid with a cheque, which 1 paid to prisoner. He stood outside the auction-room at the time I went in for the money. He did not give me any reason for selling the goods under another name. He told me he had some notion of leaving or burning the house. When Ire turned to Elcock's, after purchasing the tar, the two women went out on a visit to a friend's house. On the day previous Elcock's sister-in-law and his little girl went over to Onehunga. The sister-in-law walks with a crutch, from liunencss. We went to bed about 11 o'clock on Monday night. Some time afterwards Elcock carne-to the bed and shook me, telling me to get up. I had my trousers and shirt on ut the time. I don't usually go to bed with my trousers on, but did so ou that occasion because I knew the fire was going to be. I had warned my wife and Mrs Elcock the same night. I came downstairs with Elcock, He had no boots or shoes on. He came downstairs and opened the front door — I mean tho sitting-room door at the corner of Field's lane — not the shop door. He went outside, as if to see whether he could see any person, and on coming back he took a 561 b. sugar bag, apparently filled with some rubbish, and a iighted'match. He placed the bag under Regan's house on the opposite side the I street, and applied the lighted match. The width of the lane is ouly some six or eight yards, and Regan's house was exactly opposite his front door. When he came hack he asked me to set fire in*ide. I struck a match, but it fell out of my hand, with the box. He then came to me growling, and picked up the matches, struck one, and set fire to an old bag which had been placed in a cupboard under the stairs. There were also rags and kauri gum under the stairs. There was tar under the stairs, smeared over the boards. I swear most positivelj that I saw Elcock light the bug with a match. We both went upstairs then, and had scarcely I'eaciied the top when an alarm of fire was given outMdc by the police, which arose from the discovery of the bundle under Regan's I threw open the window and looked out, and immediately the flames burst up the stairs. I got the woman aud child through the window. My wife had some of her clothing on at the time. I don't know how she was dre.-seel when she went to bed. I had no interest at all in burning the place. After soms further evidence was taken, the prisoners were committed for trial.