ALLEGED ARSON.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2268, 9 July 1881, Page 3

ALLEGED ARSON.

At the Ashburton Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before J. N. Wood, Esq., R.M., R. G. Buxton, tailor, whose premises and stock in Ashburton were burned on June 24th, Mrs Ruxton and her sister, Miss Buckman, were charged with having set fire to the house, Mr Q. D. Branson appeared for Mr and Mrs Buxton, and Mr F. P. O’Reilly for the same prisoners and for Miss Buckman. Inspector Pender watched tbe case on behalf of the police. The proceedings occupied the Court throughout the day, and promise to be lengthy, as there are twenty-three witnesses to be examined. Tbe first witness was Inspector Pender, who deposed to accompanying Sergeant Felton to Miss Buckman’s house on Sunday, the 3rd inst. The sergeant arrested Mr and Mrs Ruxton in a bedroom and Miss Buckman in the parlour on a charge of arson. Witness visited the house next day and found a quantify of cloth and a variety of other articles. He saw a leather trunk and a portmanteau at the railway station, and took possession of them. In the portmanteau was a large quantity of gloves. By Mr O’Reilly—lt was ten o’clock in the morning when Sergeant Felton and himself went to Miss Buckman’s house. No attempt was made to break in, and no roughness was shown to the ladies. They beard Ruxton call out, “ Shut the door.” Sergeant Felton deposed to seeing Mrs Ruxton at Miss Buckman’s at 7.30 on the morning of the fire. She told witness that Ruxton was awsy, either at Rangiora or at the White Hart Hotel, Christchurch. She added that she would like to let him know. She said that the loss had been very heavy, that the goods were worth £2OOO, and everything had been destroyed; that she bad left the house at about nine o’clock in the evening, and half-an-hour after she heard the fire-bell. She stated that the greater part of her jewellery had been saved, as it was at Miss Buokman’s. She said that the articles destroyed consisted of a three-stoned diamond ring worth twenty guineas, a plain gold ring, a diamond solitaire and a lady’s gold albert, all of which were in a chest of drawers. She further stated, that on leaving the house on the previous evening she left a lamp burning on the table, a small fire in the kitchen, and also a small coal and wood fire in the parlor. When her husband left he instructed her to sleep at the house, but she was frightened to bo alone, and went to her sister. She left the lamp burning so that it might be thought some one was inside the house, Mrs Ruxton told witness in reply to questions that she was sure there was £I2OO worth of cloth. Witness searched amongst the debris but found nothing but two or three rolls of lining, some few pieces of cloth, apparently remnants, and some old books and papers, Two days after the fire witness, in company with Mr Gundry met Ruxton and went to the scene of the fire. He said that he estimated bis loss at £I2OO, having a valuable lot of English cloth which he had brought with him, and a valuable quantity of small goods. Witness asked where the rolls of cloth were, and he replied that they must have been burned. Witness remarked that it was very strange, and he replied that he could not account for it. Witness arrested the three accused under warrant on the 3rd inst. Under thejbed he found a quantity of jewellery, and in the parlor, two parcels of jewellery, some receipts, and luggage ticket, which tallied with that on the portmanteau sent to Timaru. By Mr Branson—Mrs Buxton answered straightforwardly. Mr Ruxton said, “Had I been offered £ISOO for the goods I would have declined the offer. I was just getting a nice business together. Now I shall have to start afresh.” He told witness that he was insured for £3OO in the Standard and £l5O in the Trans-Atlantic, adding “ But what’s that to what I’ve lost. Nothing.” Constables Neill and Smart wore left in charge of the ruins. Witness would be astonished to hear that a bystander observed a constable pick up a gold solitaire and put it in his pocket. Constable Neill deposed that on his arrival at the fire, he looked into the shop, and could see only a few rolls of cloth on the shelves. There were no goods in the window. Mrs Ruxton told him that the lamp was a paraffine one, turned down, and that she had locked the door, and had left the bouse by the front. She said she did not know anything of the insurances, but she valued the stock in the shop at about £2OOO. Mr Leggett, who lives close by, was present when he was searching the ruins. If he says he saw witness pick up a stud and put it in his pocket, witness would most emphatically deny it. By Inspector Pender—He did not pick up anything at the scene of the fire and put it in his pocket. Several people were present while he was in charge. After an hour’s adjournment for luncheon, G. F. Scott, carrier, deposed to conveying a portmanteau and a box from Miss Buckman’s to the railway station at half-past six in the morning. Saw the accused on the platform afterwards, and Ruxton told him to label the boxes for Timaru. R. A. Kent, railway porter at Timaru, deposed to seeing the two ladies arrive at Timaru by the 10 30 train from Ashburton on June 14th. They had the box and portmanteau (produced), and asked witness to store them. He issued a ticket and charged Bd. He asked what name he should enter on the book. They hesitated for a short time, and the elder lady said “Put N.E.R., that will do.” They said that they would leave the luggage for a few days. Thomas Quill, proprietor of the Commercial Hotel, deposed that Mr Buxton rented the cottage from him. He psid monthly. He told witness verbally that he would take the premises for a year at 16s a week. On the Monday before the fire he was in the shop to get some clothes made. Bid not particularly notice the stock. He did not think there was so much stock as when Mr Ruxton first opened the premises. He saw a few rolls of cloth on the shelves. There was nothing in the window. A month before the fire Mr Ruxton used to put goods in the window. William Anderson, saddler, deposed that when he first saw the fire it appeared to be coming from the back of the house. Eliza Jane Thompson, of Tinwald, deposed that she had been for two months in Mr Buxton’s employ, up to the 21st Juno, as apprentice to tailoring. She did not sleep in the house, but used to be there during the whole of each day. On the 21st Mr Ruxton told her he was going to Christchurch, and there would be no work until Friday morning. Friday was wet, so she did not go. Ho never gave her such a message before, unless there was to bo a public holiday. When she loft on the 21st the stock was the same as usual. Tbe window was never dressed. [Witness identified a quantity of tweeds, serge, a hat-box, riding breeches, pairs of trousers, an unfinished coat, jackets, &e.] In Buxton’s shop she saw gloves, lining, silk handkerchiefs, &e., like , those produced. By Mr Branson : She identified the roll (produced) by the fact that she cut out a piece of the material for Mi Ruxton. She measured out fifteen pieces oi tweed a week before the fire. Mr Ruxtor told her he was taking stock. In some piece! i there wore twenty yards, in some only three, i Annie Coffey, dressmaker, who was in Mief Buckram's employ at her house until the 2nc inst. ; ii.’.rgsret Mohavry, apprentice ; and J i tr.it, s.iddl'r, also gvs er.de: ca. At ( o’clock the Couit adjjutLcd until thii ; morning.