Friday, November 29.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXII, Issue 2604, 30 November 1867, Page 5

Friday, November 29.

ARSON.

William Buckridgo, Edward Buckridgo, and Georgo Edwards, surrendered to their bail to answer the charge of wilfully setting fire to a stable adjoining tho Albion Hotel, at the Taita, the property of Mr Death. Mr Borlaso defended the prisoners.

Police-Sergeant Monaghan doposcd that, acting under the instruction of tho Inspector of Police, ho took the prisoner Edward Buckridgo into custody. Upon searching him in tho Wellington policc-ctation, witnesa found a piece of candle and soino matches in his outside coat pocket. Witness afterwards went with constable Brady to tho Taifca, and about ten yards from the scene of the fire, Brady showed him a boot-track, which witness examined and found there wore twenty-six nailmarks in each impression, corresponding exactly to a boot which tho prisoner Edward Buckridge was wearing. Witness made a parallel impression with tho heel of tho boot, and found it to bo similar. The track led towards an orchard. Cross-examined by prisoners' counsel : Witnesa arrested the prisonor, Edward Buckridgo, at about ten minutes past two o'clock in the afternoon ; tho prisoner was not in custody when he came to the polico office at two o'clock. Loose matches were very commonly found upon persons when searched in the police station ; but not often piocos of candle. Tho track led away from the fire. -Witness was unable to traco tho track he saw any further than ten yards from tho house. Samuel Death, landlord of the Albion Hotel, was then put into tho witness box, and stated thnt, about throe o'clock on Monday morning last, he was informed that bis stable was on firo ; and, on looking out, found tho south-east end of it to be in flames. Going to tho stable, he broke open tho door, and let out Mr Eoss's horses. Mr Rosb ocoupied tho greater part of tho stable. Tho stable was about twenty yards from the hotel. Witness saw no one about that morning. Cross-examined : The prisoner Edward Buckridge, is a butcher, living near to witnoßß. The

latter dealt with him. Tho neighbors assisted to put out the fire. Tho water used to extinguish the fire was got from a pump about fifteen or twenty feet from the house. Witness had to bi-eak'open the door of the stable, which was locked. There was loose litter lying about some parts of tho stable. Ho could not say whether the fire originated in tho loose box in the stable or in the loft. Mr Ross was the ln<?t person to attend to the horses the previous night. He shut them up about dark. Mr Ross kept the key of the stable. When witness first saw the fire, the rack over tho horses' heads was in flames.

Robert Ross, coach proprietor, stated that he occupied part of a stable at tho Albion Hotel, consisting of three stalls and a loose bos. Witness slept at the Albion. Early on Monday morning last, ho was awoke by an alarm of fire ; and, on going out, discovered the south-east end of the stable to be on fire. The fire was in the loft. Witness was the last person in tho stable the previous evening. He locked it up about half- past seren o'clock. Witness was accustomed to leave tho key of tho stable in the house. Over £20 worth of property, chiefly consisting of harness, was destroyed. Tho loose box afc the south-east end of the stable was open to tho outside. It contained some straw.

Mr Inspector Atchcson asked for a remand in order that ho might produce further evidence. His Worship thought no evidence ■whatever had been produced to show the boy Edwards had any complicity in the transaction, and thoroforo ordei'ed his discharge,' remanding the other prisoners till Thursday next, admitting them to bail in the same recognizances as before CIVII,. H. Edmeadcs v R. Warburton— £1 12s 6d. Judgment for plaintiff for amount claimed and costs. Same v E. Jenkins — 15s. Judgment for plaintiff for amount claimed and costs. E. W. Mills vJ. Oakley— £3 10s 6d. Judgment for plaintiff for amount claimed and costs, Same vO. Fawns— £2 7s Id. Defendant paid the amount claimed, with the costs of the action, into Court. Same vE. Grell— £l 15s 6d. Judgment for plnintifffor the amount claimed and costs. W. H. Johnson v R. Borthwick— los 3d. Judgment for plaintiff for 10s 3d and costs.