THE ARSON CASES.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 665, 28 November 1882, Page 2

THE ARSON CASES.

The Court sat on Friday morning, Nov. 24, to conclude the case against Alexandor Henry and Henry Mclntosh, for the burning of the Little Akaloa Elotel on August 25. It will be remembered that the prosecution was completed on Thursday evening. On tho Bench, consisting of the Resident Magistrate and His Worship the Mayor, taking their seals, Mr Joynt, tho legal adviser of the accused, said that he wished to hear tho other case against the prisoners (that of having burnt down the stables, temporarily used by Me Cooper as an hotel) before proceeding with the de fence. Inspector Pender opposed, saying the one case should be settled first, that being the custom. Mr Joynt argued that such was not the practice, and instanced a recent sheep case in North Canterbury, where the Magistrate had heard several charges against a prisoner before the defence waa delivered. The Bench retired, and on again taking their seats said that they were of opinion the case should be closed. Mr Joynt then addressed the Bench at great length, arguing it would be unfair to his clients to explain the defence before the other case for the prosecution was heard ; and further stating that in the event of a committal for trial, it was improbable ho should call any evidence then, reserving the defence for the Supreme Court. After a further retirement, the Bench announced that they should dismiss the case against both prisoners without hearing any defence, the evidence for the prosecution being in their opinion not sufficient to warrant their sending either of the accused to the Supreme Court for trial. They therefore called upon the the police to proceed with the second accusation, that of having burnt down the stable where Cooper vended grog, on November 6th. Inspector Pender, however, declined to proceed with the case for the present, and the accused were accordingly discharged and the proceedings ended.