ALLEGED ARSON IN PETER STREET.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 2, Issue 392, 11 July 1881, Page 2

ALLEGED ARSON IN PETER STREET.

[ « 1 At the conclusion of the evidence for : the prosecution in this case on Saturday ■ afternoon, Mr Branson addressed the Bench on behalf of Mr and Mrs Ruxton, contending that there was not the slightest evidence connecting either of his clients with the crime with which they were 5 charged, or even with attempt to defraud. ? There had been no evidence produced * by the prosecution to show that the goods which had been removed were not the property of Miss Buckman. All along the j actions of the accused Buxton had been those of an honest man. The learned . counsel reviewed the evidence for the 1 prosecution at length, and commented on the fact that the police had not produced all the evidence in their possession bearing on the charge. He concluded by submitting that there was no case for the accused to answer.

On Mr O’Reilly rising on behalf of Mias Buckman, the Bench intimated that they thought no case had been made out against her, but they would not take upon themselves the responsibility of saying that’there was no case for Mr and Mrs Ruxton to answer.

• The charge against the latter prisoners was then adjourned till Saturday next, when evidence for the defence will bo taken. Bail was allowed in the same amounts as before.