ALLEGED FIRE RAISING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1790, 15 March 1888, Page 2

ALLEGED FIRE RAISING.

At the R.M. Ooart this moralDg Philip Maguire was charged on remand with having on Maroh 7 wilfully, unlawfully and maliciously burned down four stacks of wheat, the property of James Goohrane and of about the value of £150.

Sergeant Feltoa applied for a farther remand for a week m order that the attendance of a material witneia might ba secured. He did not mind saying that without the evidenoe of this witness his caae would suffer maoh.

Mr Purnell objeoted to the remand. There was no case against the accused. There was no proof of arson. Doubtless certain stacks had been burned down but there was no evidence that arson had been commltteed. The only evidence against aconaed was Mr Coohrane's unsupported statement, and this evidence Magulre wbb prepared to flatly deny. Unless there fras material evidence agalnifc him it was unfair that Maguire should ba locked up without the option of ball. Before he oould thus ba dealt with he must be connected with the case. Ai regarded the threat Magalre was alleged to have made, even if lh were eubstan. tiated then Magulre might be bound over to keep the peace but he oertalnly should not be locked op. The Magistrate said that If he allowed bail he would require considerable surety. He oould not forget Coohrane's evidence, and m the* face of that evidence the Court would have to b 9 careful m letting the accosed go at Urge.

Mr Wilding aaid that Mr Cochrana had asked him to repreaeat him. He (Mr Wilding) would ask the Court if aooueed were released on ball whether it would not be well to bind him over, under the J.P. Act, to abstain from doing what he hid threatened. Mr Oochrane wished some sort of protection aa ha was m fear of his property, if not of bis person. Mr Parnell did not know what Mr WUding'fj status m the case was, Either he was a prosecutor or he wss not.

Mr Wilding aaid he was watching the oaae for Mr C chrace.

Mr Parnell said there oould not be two proaacator?. He Bild it would be monstrous for the acaused to be boand over tivloa aa Mr Wilding wished. Sergeant Felton said that he had no objection to the acaused being let oat on bail. His Impression was that he would be able to establish a prima facie case, but atill he did not wiaa to hamper the aocneed In getting tip hia defenoe, and he wonld not object to bail. The Magistrate said that the Court had power to order the acouaed to find sureties, both to appear at Court and to keep the peaoa.

Mv Purnell asked that the acoused'a evidenoe might ba heard if the Magistrate Intended to bind him over doubly. The Magistrate was not going to do that. He would remand the case for a fortnight, acensed belog allowed bail, himself m £200 and two sureties of £100 each, the sureties to be to the satisfaction of the police.

Mr Purnell asked if the sureties might not be made £50 each, Hia client wm only a email farmer.

The Magistrate could not reduoe the bonds, considering the gravity of the ewe, Mr Purnell asked if the accused could not get two sureties would the Magistrate accept one surety of £200. The Magistrate said that he would.