ALLEGED ARSON AT ASHBURTON.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2269, 11 July 1881, Page 3

ALLEGED ARSON AT ASHBURTON.

On Saturday, at] Ashburton, before J. Nugent Wood, Esq., 8.M., the hearing was continued of the charge of arson against Buxton, the tailor, Mrs Buxton and Miss Buokman. Alfred Harrison, auctioneer, agent at Ashburton for the Transatlantic Company, deposed that, in pursuance of an insurance proposal of the I2th March, a policy was issued for £2OO on the stock-in-trade and £IOO on the household furniture, jewellery, wearing apparel, and shop fittings. Since the fire a claim (produced) for the full amount had been submitted. At the time the insurance was effected Buxton had full requisites for a tailor’s business, besides fancy goods. Witness valued at £136 the contents of the box and portmanteau forwarded to Timaru. Of theoe an inventory had been taken, Sergeant Bolton writing the list. Witness considered the value of the jewellery ample to cover the £IOO risk. W. H. Q-undry, agent at Ashburton for the Standard Insurance Company, deposed that a policy had been issued m favour of Buxton for £l5O on the 1 stock, shop fittings, furniture and harness. Amongst the debris from the fire witness saw on the following day remains of small pieces of tweed and of coat lining, but neither remains of harness nor of rolls of cloth. Buxton said he estimated his loss at £ISOO. Witness considered that at the time of the fire Buxton’s stock must have been worth at least £6OO, it being usual for the insurance office to issue policies covering two-thirds of the value of the property to bo insured. John Nixon, (ailor, of Christchurch, deposed that nine days before the fire he received from Buxton, with whom he had no previous transaction, a parcel of men’s clothing cut for making up. Witness received a second parcel of similar goods on 16th June, and a third parcel on the 20th. At Christchurch on the 23rd witness saw Buxton, who wanted the goods back, sayipg that he had at the railway station five suits of clothes, eighteen pairs of gaiters, and some pieces of tweeds, which he required to be made up. Buxton added that ho wished to fit on his own coat next day at noon. He did not keep the engagement,

having, as he afterwards said, gone to Rangiora. On Friday night at ten o’clock, Hoiton, accompanied by a man whom be represented to be a Mr Lancaster, called at witness’s house {and asked for the goods. Witness refused to let Ruxton hare the goods without paying for them. Buxton said if witness would not give them up, he (Buxton) would try other means to make him do so. Witness then heard Lancaster say, "—me, I’ve had my six-guinea coat ‘disappointed,’ and I won’t have it now.” On the following Thursday Buxton went to witness’s place and asked for the goods. Witness refused, saying, " I don't know you’re a right to got them. I believe I should give them into the hands of the police or insurance companies.” Buxton replied, “You won’t give up the goods ?’’ Witness answered, “No; I cortainly will not until you pay my bill.” Buxton left and brought back Sergeant Hughes to force witness to give up the goods. Ruxton, in the sergeant’s presence, received the goods, having settled his bill. [[lnspector Ponder had Mr Eichard Lancaster, butcher, called to the door of the Court, and witness was asked,“ls that the man ?” Witness replied, “No ; the man Buxton brought to my place was taller.”] Cross-examined by Mr Branson— Witness said he gave information to the police that Buxton, whose premises had just been burned down at Ashburton, had goods at his (witness’s) place in Christchurch. Witness said that Mr Hobbs took away goods from him, because ho (witness) was working for Buxton. Witness admitted having been in prison for drunkenness, and for " chasing Mr Woolloombe, the Magistrate, out of my own house.” “Mr Woolloombe sentenced me himself.” [Laughter.”] Witness confessed to having danced a Highland Fling before Buxton and his friend in Christchurch, saying “ You’ve got a Scotchman to deal with, and not a fool.” [Laughter.] This the witness said because ho knew he “ had the beet of it.” Richard Lancaster, butcher, deposed that ho did not know of any other family of the same name in New Zealand. Before the fire Buxton made him three

its, which were paid for. Witness ordered a great coat previous to the fire. Aft«r the fire witness asked Buxton, “ What about the great coat ?” Buxton replied, “ Oh, it’s all right. It was not destroyed. ” After an hour’s adjournment for luncheon, S. 8. MaoLaren, clerk in the employ of Mr T. B. Hodder, agent for the Norwich Union Company, deposed that an nsurance for £l5O had been effected on table linen, household furniture, to. Henry Hopkins, draper’s assistant, deposed that, two days before the fire, he observed there was very little stock in the shop. Mr Qundry (re-called) deposed that Miss Buokman was insured for £25 on jewellery; £35, wearing apparel and linen ; £BO, stock-in trade as a milliner; and £lO, two sewing machines and trade utensils.. This closed the case for the prosecution. Mr Branson addressed the Bench on behalf of Mr and Mrs Buxton, submitting that the police, in spite of lengthened evidence, had given no proof whatever of guilt, and had adduced no reason for connecting any one of the three defendants with the fire. Counsel urged that the open manner in which goods had been transferred from Miss Buckman’s to Timaru was clearly indicative of innocence. Mr F. P. O’Bellly, who was retained on behalf of Miss Buokman, was about ts address the Bench, when the Magistrate interposed, saying there would be no necessity—that there was nothing whatever to connect Mies Buokman with the circumstance of the fire, and that she was accordingly discharged. [Applause.] In regard to the other accused, his Worship thought it well that a defence should be submitted, though there was little doubt that, judging from the line of defence which counsel had intimated, the evidence, if forthcoming, might satisfactorily explain circumstances. So far as Mr and Mrs Buxton were concerned, the case was, therefore, adjourned until next Saturday. Bail was allowed, and was at once forthcoming, as before. The Court rose at half-past five.