INCENDIARISM AT HAMILTON.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3213, 28 June 1892, Page 2

INCENDIARISM AT HAMILTON.

It will be remembered by our readers that in our issue of Thursday last it was stated that the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board decided to grant the old man William Lalor outdoor relief to the extent of four shillings per week. As the Board, however, would not pay the money direct to Lalor he refused to accept it, and said ha would do something that would astonish Hamilton ; and. indued, he was very nearly doing so, as will be seen from the following:—On Mr Turner, secretary to the Hospital Board, returning to his office, which is situated in the Borough Council Chambers, about 2 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, he discovered a large quantity of burning paper on the floor of the Council room, and a hole, about six inches by four, bn:-",t in the floor. He at once put the tire out, but had he been a few minutes later it would have been beyond control. Lalor, who was standing on the opposite side of the road, followed him in, but did not assist in any way to put the fire out, and almost immediately went away again. Mr Turner at ouce communicated with the police, and they arrested Lalor on .suspicion. On being taken to the station, Lalor confessed to having set the place on fire, and said he was «orry that the attempt had not been successful. This piece of rascality will cause Mr Turner no end of trouble, as Lalor cleared his office table of all the papers on it, all of which were destroyed, but the extent of the inconveni- | ence in this respect has not yet been ascertained.

William Lalor was brought up at the Police Court, yestorday, before Mr John Knox, J.P., charged with feloniously setting fire to the Hamilton Borough Council Chambers on Saturday afternoon, llie prisoner was remanded for three days.