ALLEGED ARSON.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2275, 18 July 1881, Page 3

ALLEGED ARSON.

In the Police Court, Ashburton, on Saturday (before Mr J. Nugent Wood, R.M.), the hearing was resumed of charges of arson against R. G. Buxton, tailor, and Mrs Buxton, whose wooden premises aud stock were burned on 24th June. Inspector Pender conducted the prosecution. Mr Braneon made a statement on behalf of the defendants. Mr P. P. O'Reilly was also counsel for the defence. May Emmeline Buxton, daughter of the acouaed, deposed that on the evening of the fii'e she had been at church choir praotico until a quarter to nine o'clock. After speaking for three or four minutes to the choir-mistress, Mrs Quinn, witness took a ten minutes' walk to the shop in Peter street. Witness's mother was there, and witness stopped but two or three minutes, going thenoe to the Aitken street house, in which she resided with her aunt, Miss Buckman. About three minutos later witness saw her mother at tho Aitken street house. Her mother's delay was caused by her remaining to look-up the houso in Peter street. Witness, her mother, and Miss Buckman reirained in the Aitken street house until the firebell rang. Witness and her mother went to see the firo, and Miss Buckman stayed to lock up the house. The night before the fire Mrs Buxton slept in Aitken street; tho previous night in Peter street. Had the fire not occurred either Miss Buckman or witness wonld have slept with Mrs Buxton in Peter street. W. H. Zouch, journalist, deposed that he passed Buxton's shop about seven minutes before the fire occurred. Witneßß noticed there was no light in the shop that evening. Usually there was a light in the shop when witness was on bis way home from his office. He noticed no indication of fire. Hugh Byrne, clerk in the railway goods department, deposed that on the night of the firo he was opposite Ruxton's shop, in the house of Mr Journeaux, blacksmith. At about ten minutes before 10 o'clock witness heard a report, accompanied by a sound of breaking glass. Immediately afterwards witness heard cries of fire, and noticed the Btreet full of smoke. On reaohing Buxton's shop door witness saw no one. The door was closed. Constable Trevelyan and Mr Journeaux were the next to arrive. The constable forced the door open with his foot, and took a step forward intending to go in, but was compelled by the smoke to retire. From the commencement of the fire witness thought it would have been impossible for any person to enter and take stook. The first fire witness saw oame through a window broken by Constable Noill. By the Inspeotor—The breaking of the back-door would send the flames to the front. Neill probed a stick t hrough a window, and touohed a bed. On it weio a bolster, nearly consumed, and other bedding. By Mr O'Beilly—ln that room, by the window, witness could see nothing except the bed and bedding ; but a chest of drawers and a washstand, &c., might have been there, concealed by smoke. By the Magistrate—The noise of glass was like that of light glass falling on the ground. Philip Journeaux, blacksmith, deposed that He tried to enter the house, but was prevented by smoke. As soon as the window was broken fire burst out. By the Magistrate—" The poking about with a stiok on the bed " was to see if there were any ohildren in it. Mary Buckman, dressmaker, sister of Mrs Buxton, deposed that, on the evening of the fire, she (witness) slept in Aitken street, in the same house as her niece, Miss Buxton. Witness, having corroborated Miss Buxton's evidence in regard to the choir practice and to hours, said she (witness) had been in the Peter street premises for the last time the night before the fire. Mrs Buxton did not leave the room in which she

(witneas) end Miss Buxton wore until the fire alarm was giren. Coming to New Zealand last November, witness and Mrs Buxton each provided themselves with life-belts (produced) for the voyage. Witness brought her goads with her. Mrs Buxton's, in nine cases, came by another vessel, and consisted of beds, bedding, pictures, oarpets, and fancy goods, but no trade goods. When witness first went to Peter street she was working for Mr Buxton, having her stock-in-trade in the front, or show room. Witness never carried on business on her own account in Peter street. Witness thought her stock worth £3OO or £4OO, and had insured. Mr Buxton slbo had goods in the show room. Witness moved from Peter street to Aitken street in April, taking her goods with her. Shortly afterwards witness purchased goods from Mr Buxton, receiving a bill (produced). Witness paid for the goods. (Beceipted account produced.) Witness paid £IOO .: .ah, and gave Mr Buxton goods to the value of £35, consisting of silks and gentlemen's square handkerchiefs. Witness took delivery ot the goods in Aitken street. Thinking of moving thenca, witness went to Timaru about a month ago to see if she could find a shop. She was accompanied by Mrs Buxton.

Witness was going to start in business with her niece, Miss Buxton, to whom Mr Buxton intended giving some goods. Witness found rents in Timaru higher than she expected. She enquired at several places, amongst others at Mr Gabites,' draper. It was arranged that Mr Buxton, whe was going to travel round should call at Timaru, and see what he could do in the way of finding a suitable placo. Witness took the box and portmanteau (referred to at the previous hearing) to Timaru, in order to save expense. Witness identified in Court, as Mr Buxton's property, five pieces of tweed for ulsters, a hatbox, smoking jacket, and trousers, &0., and as her own property, one piece of grey serge, two pieces of blue serge, parcel of grey flannel, roll of Italian cloth, rulers, red cloths for opera cloaks, &c. Mr Buxton used to roll the bills and leave them in Aitken street. Ever sinoe witness remembered the cash box had been kept in Aitken street. When she went to Aitken street she had her insurance policy transferred. After an hour's adjournment for luncheon, Wm. Smith, clerk to Mr Gundry, insurance agent, deposed that the goods Buxton showed witness were worth about £I2OO. A week before the fire witness saw the stock, but noticed no alteration in it. By Inspector Ponder —Witness recollected being at Aitken street one Sunday when Miss Buckman was out. He saw a lot of tweeds in the bedroom. He did not tell Sergeant Felton or the

inspector that there were really no goods kept there. Ho did not mention about Miss Buokman's intending to remove to Timaru. | The inspector asked the witness if he had courted Miss Buckman. (Laughter.) Mr Branson interposed by telling the witness " he need not tell his tale of love."J J. McLean Dunn, journalist, deposed that on the Wednesday afternoon before the fire he was in the Peter street shop for two or three minutes. The shelves of the shop seemed pretty well stocked with tweeds. Braces, &c, were in the window, and there was a show case. From the number of the remains at the debris of the fire witness was satisfiod there was no incendiarism, and took it for granted that all the stock the Bnxtons had was burned. By the Inspector—Witness had a distinct recollection of three separate charred remains of rolls. Being on the upper shelves, a number of rolls might have fallen and met the fiercest heat from the fire. Henry Burford, in the employ of Mr Chapman, painter, deposed to seeing at Mr Chapman's the picture (produced) on Thursday morning before the fire. The piotnre was being glazed. On Thursday morning witness went to Buxton's shop. No one was there, so witness left the pioture outside against a door. Witness then left . word at Mies Buokman's. J. B. Chapman,

painter and glazier, deposed that he had the • picture in his shop on Thursday before the i fire to have a glass put in. It was sent back, and on Friday witneßS sent for it again to have ' the glass again replaced. Mrs Buxton told ; witness that the boy had left the picture r against the door, and the glass was broken i through the opening of the door. William 1 Leggett deposed that, at his own suggestion, 3 he borrowed harness (produced) from Mr 3 Buxton a fortnight before the fire, and 3 returned it after the fire. Joseph Leggett I also gave evidence. Both prisoners were r committed to take their trial at the next i sitting of the Supreme Court at Ohriatehurch. j The Court rose at a quarter to five.