anchor: He is endeavouring to make out that there is quite as much evidence against Lawrence as against John ”and I am not at all sure that he will not succeed." Detective-inspector Japp was the first witness called when the trial was reopened, and gave his evidence succinctly and briefly. 
positive: He was trying to persuade the jury that there is an equal amount of evidence against Lawrence as against John.
negative: There was no evidence against either John or Lawrence.