Alleged. Arson.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 522, 23 October 1890, Page 2

Alleged. Arson.

John Bryant was brought up on remind at the Police Court on Tußfliay morning, chargpd with arson. Captain Ohriap deposed that he was agent for the Public Trustee, who held a mortgage over some property belonging to accused. There was originallv a pnlicv of £5O on the house in the name nf the Public Trustee, but it was subsequently altered, and a policy for £75 was issued. Th° morning after the fire accused came to him and led him to believe that claim would he made on the Company for the amount of insurance. Accused wished him to write to the Public Trustee asking him to leave the mortgage intact, and let him (accused) use the insurance money towards completing the new house, Witness saw Lane af'er he was arrested, when tha accused asked him to refrain from making any claim on the Insurance Company ; that he would rather lose it than that there should he any fur’her trnub’e ; alflo that he would see the mortgage covered. Witness claimed the insurance from -he Company on behalf nf the Public Trustee—Accused was committed to take his trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court.—The accused was then charged on the information of Sergeant P. Carlynn, “ That he unlaw, fully, knowingly, and designedly, did falsely pretend tn one, J. O. Barnard, that all the goods and effects insured hv him with the Phcenix Insurance Company bad been desrroved by fire, by means of which Ruch false pretence ’he said J'-hn Bryant Lane did then unlawfully attempt to obtain from J. O. Barnard, the sum of £25, the amount of the insurance on ths said goods and »fleets. J. O. Barnard deposed (hat he was agent, for the above comnany, and that a poltcv had been issued for £5O on the house, and £25 on the household goods, On reporting the fi-e to him accused said “ Everything was burnt —there wa« no salvage,” and afterwards he said “ All my clothes were burnt; I have only the clothes I stand np in ” The accused then made a verbal claim on him for the total amount of (he insurance. After inf 'taring the h ? ad office of the occurrence he (witness) had since had lhe money placed to his credit. The evidence of Sergeant Oarlyon, Constable Reddell, Captain Chrisp, Mrs A Scott, and Miss A. McKay was then taken, being similar to that given in the previous esse. After hearing the evidence Mr Booth also committed the prisoner on this charge. Lane said, in both cages, “I reserve my defence.”