ARSON AT CAMBRIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2434, 16 February 1888, Page 2

ARSON AT CAMBRIDGE.

Ox Tuesday morning Ann Morrisey was brought up at Cambridge before Messrs James Hally and Thos. Wells, J. I's., charged with having set fire to a house in which her son resided. Constable Jjrennau conducted the case, and in his opening statement said that accused had been living with her son, but she was so intemperate that he had been compelled to turn her out. The evidence would show that on Friday about 10.30 p.m. a quantity of lighted rags was found under the house in which the son and his family lived, and he should bo able to prove that the rag formed a portion of the dress that had been gi\on to accused on 1' riday evening by a Mrs Murphy. John Morrisey deposed that ho was the accused's sou ; that she was intemperate and on Friday he had a fow words with her. About 10.30 p.m. on Friday, he, his wife, and her sister heard a noise similar to that made by a fire in a stove ; he went outside and found a number of lighted rags burning under the house; he pulled thein out, and sent his wife for the police. He also found a number of matches near the scene of the fire Ho did not know who had placed the rags there. Very similar evidence was given by Susan Morrisey, the former witness's wife, and Mary Jane Willoughby, her sister. Mary Theresa Murphy deposed that accused came to her house about 5 o clock on Fridry, and left again at S p.m. She gave accused a dress about 7.30 p.m., which she had on when she left. The rags produced were part of the dress. was not drunk, but had been "drop drinking." Constable Brcnnan deposed that he went to Mrs Wiley's house in Duke-street where Morrisey resides, on I'riday, at .LI p.m. The rags were then burning, and the blocks of the house had been scorched. He took charge of the rags. He found accused in a zinc house about a chain away and charged her with having caused the fire, she denied the charge, and said she would do for Johnny aud his wife. When arrested, she knelt down and cursed the whole family. He found some matches near the fire that corresponded with some in possession of accused. She had been well known to the police for many years. The case occupied the whole morning and was very voluminous. The magistrates thought it a very grave case, and committed accused for trial.