Murdoch Alexander HEWITT [8760]

  General Notes:

Advertiser (Hurstbridge, Vic. : 1922 - 1939) Fri 25 Feb 1927 Page 2 FIRES IN PADDOCKS.
FIRES IN PADDOCKS.
WATSONS CREEK BLAZE
SETTLER FINED £10
A case of importance to people who are an the habit of lighting a fire to boil the billy came before the Eltham Court on Tuesday last, and had reference to the big bush fire at Watson's Creek on February 11.

Murdock Alexander Hewitt was charged by the police that on February 9 he lit a fire and ignited inflammable material at Watson's Creek, thereby causing destruction to property belonging to other people. He pleaded not guilty. Senior-Constable Ripper, who prosecuted, said thousands of acres of grass had been burnt that week and several houses. Accused had told the police he had lit the fire, but did not put it out, because he, thought it was out.

Joseph Jas. Stevenson, fireman, of Kangaroo Ground, said he was joint owner of a paddock in Harrington's old paddock, at Watson's Creek. On February 9 he and his brother saw the fire, and he saw two of the Hewitt's, but could not swear that the defendant was the man he saw. He went to the fire, and he and others checked it, a patch of about 50 yards being burnt. The fire was in their paddock that day, and about 60 or 70 acres of grass and timber were burnt. It broke out the next day at 10 a.m. Hewitt had permission to get firewood from the paddock. There are three Hewitt's, and he did not know their Christian names. Other men get wood from the paddock. The fire got to the crown on the rise on the 11th.

Henry Qualtrough, carter, of Wattle Glen, stated that he was in Stevenson's paddock on February 9, and saw three men going down the range. He saw defendant and his father about 3.30, who were taking wood cut. When he got home he saw smoke. He was not in the paddock where it was. He did not know the three men, who had black coats on. They were not any of the Hewitt's.

Constable Hope, of Diamond Creek, said he saw defendant in Diamond Creek. He told him he had lit a fire to boil the billy, but did not put it out, as he thought it was out. Witness examined the place where the fire was, and saw manure and chaff about. Hundreds of men were out that week fighting fires.

Counsel for defendant said there was nothing to connect him with the fire that was raging afterwards, as he tramped the fire out that he had made. Murdock A. Hewitt, wood carter, of Diamond Creek, stated that on February 9 he was with his father io[at] Stevenson's paddock carting wood. At 12.30 they lit a fire and boiled the billy in a cleared spot ; the day was warm with a south breeze. They had lunch, worked an hour or two, and left. He tramped the fire out, but did not put water on it. They left at 3 p.m., and there was no sign of fire when they left. He noticed fire about 4.30 when going home ; they were then 2 ½ miles away. He never went back to the fire. It was put out, and did not break out again till the 11th ; there was no sign of fire on the 10th. They made their fire in the gully, the usual camping place. There was no water about. There was some horse manure there. The fire was made a mostly of bark. He thought he was entitled to boil the billy if he was not burning off. He would not swear that the fire he saw 2 ½ miles afterwards was in Stevenson's. He was at the fire on the 11th at Panton Hill. When Constable Hope delivered the summons to him he said he was a fool to make the fire, but did not say he was the cause of the bush fire.

Jonathan Hewitt, father of accused, said they had camped at the spot five or six times. His son told him the fire was out. Witness had a look himself, and there was no fire when they left at 3 p.m. He saw smoke about 4.30 or 5. The spot where they boiled the billy was burnt three months ago. He would not say it was possible to put a fire out without water. What fire can be left from twigs? There was no manure about.it. They were about four miles away when they saw the fire.

The P.M. said the fire was left carelessly, and imposed a fine of £10 or two months' imprisonment. The Bench consisted of Mr. T. B. Wade. P.M., and Messrs E. C. Leach, C C. Wraight, and A. H. Price, J's.P.