HAMILTON R.M. COURT.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 733, 27 February 1877, Page 2

HAMILTON R.M. COURT.

February 24. (Before W. N. hearancke, Esq., R.M.) Arson. Thomas Boyle was charged on the information o! Alexander Crawford, of Piako, with having on the 19th inst. set fire to an outhouse in th»» possession and occupation of Mr Jas Harp, of Piako, Constable Haddock conduoted the prosecution.

Alexander Crawford, sworn, stated, that prisoner wag in hi 3 hotel on the 19th inst, and became troublesome, because lie refused to supply him wifch more liquor. Witness ord*ivd him away, but he refused t > go. - When put out, prisoner returned oncl assaulted witness : tearing hia sbirt. Wir.h the assistance of Mr Ticklepenny and Mr Woolqv, he was tied up and placed outside. Wuilo witness was at his tea, prisoner tried to crawl under the house which was some feet above the ground on blocks, lie was then made secure with a rope to en*; of the house blocks,

-"- broke iO yd i an J l o i torecl the and refused to leave. Jamoj o0 - p.and rhos Hiutou then assisted to ure bitn, and pl.ced him in a small building close by looking.him icn;r'»AbmV half -an hour aftcrwurds thd;' :i ' :, liaKd"in'> iwas on Ore. Prisoner lial /mato'ivU »5his.popkata, and th,-ro thjl Hjji' of We. building'burhud. ''■'-;■"'j / to Pi i loner—l ,jut you in' becau «VW were mad wuh;tetn,jer and W Jutd not behave yourself. I teii youjbu we.-b not search you. / ""'•" . ■■'"'■;. -

# io tho Court-When first I saw the ouilding onfi.e I aid lia t see prismer : 1s iw him ufcerwurcU ne.ir my luuae Ha could not gut -in-, » n d he then came towards the burning building. • I the.i ioaniedihim to ibe arrested and biou-ht into Hamilton on the following d*y. The buiiJing is fib jut 100 yards from mhouse and 30 yards iroui the achoji house Prisoner wa.a not druni atthe time b - cause 1 would not supply him with liquor James H»rp, contractor, now employed iu erecting tbe vvaitoa sohoihouse, said the building burnt belonged to him: was Bfs by 4tt. He : locked tde.door oj prisoner and jut We Hey in his pocket and returned to th* uotel; Inabout lulf an tinu'ror tniW quarters of an hmr 1 ran out to see ihe building on are, the door tra< half ope.. ,aad .1 saw prisoner ojining roa i d tbe the building, .; I s** G.or'. flAaCjkinore piok up two boxes of mtteh«s Within tbree or four yards of cue burned ouilding. ' ''■■■'■■ To tbe Court—The flames; were covering the budding wneu I came out of to, aotel. I saw prisoner th.re. He did uot try to put tbe tire oat. Ijhere, wuß. aothiug in the building but a few sbav-

James Killet deposed to being at the are j when prison'ar cam* up to wiouesa ae said to him ' tuia ia a nice thiug you have done.' He replied.-. •• I win pay tor tha damage*. Wuen asked

witness for a inach some few hnu<'

previous had hanued Mm a box io ta^c

one out of. (iae box pro iiiced ia the one he handed to mo). Wh\m came back tj the ho el a aeeou l tim , uad noticed that hia-hair was all siugei. To prisoner—l did uot hear you uia«e uhe remark that you tried t<> put. the Ht-_ out witn your feet. I You vye o not druuk Lht-r ia the ufternoju, or ac tue time oi the fire.

To the Court—l was the first at the burning building. There was no one else 1 out prisoner near it.aud be waaßo y«ris away. The flames' were ureaki<'g turougn 6UO boards. Samuel Ticklepennyj sworn, . said—-I am a farmer residing at Piako, ami remember seeing the prisoner at the Piafco. iiotel ou the evening of tue 19ch in*. L saw him try.ng to force hmiseif into •he house, and tearing the shirt off jir Crawford's baok when prevented from duiug so. Owing to bia outrageous conduct, I assisted Air Crawiord to tie the prisoner up. I oondder the p isouer'* conduct on that occasion most outrageous. I consider it was imp ,siib e to have eoniro led Uim without the means adopted 0; eying mm up.. " To prisoner—You appeared to be ma ■ by your conduct, and more like a demon i.hau anything else by the yells you were making when you tried to break open tue door..

Alexander Crawford, re-cdled, stated that wh<n he brought prisoner iu, he handed him over to the police, on tue on which ha now appeared. Tn nearest police station to where he lived was Hamilton, a distance of tweuty-fi*e miles. Prisoner was committed for trial'at he next session of the iSuprame Cju.c , Auckland.