The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-08-24 00:00:00

SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 1878.

CHARGE OF SETTING FIRE TO A RICK

AT KIDDERMINSTER.

At the Police Court on Thursday, before Hr. 3,
Kiteley (magistrate), William Weaver, grocer's assi stint,
was charged with setting fire tl a rick of pea haulin,
belonging to his grandmother, Mrs. E. Weaver, of Low
Habberley.
Messrs. M. Corbet and H. Saunders, Sun., were for
the defence.

Francis Thomason, landlord of the Fount-tin Inn,
near Habberley, said that about nine o'clock on the
night of the 16th inst, prisoner called at his house and
was supplied with a glass of beer. He remained in the
house two or three minutes. At about a quarter to
eleven o'clock on the same night the prisoner came to
witness's door, end shouted "Fire, fire." Witness
asked where it was, and prisoner said, " Just at the
back " Witness said to prisoner, " Will you please to
come along ?" and he said Yes, I will." As soon as
witness got outside he saw thq rick on fire. He askel
prisoner to call Mr. Weaver, and he said he would do so.
Meanwhile witness called the Messrs. Crane, who re-
sided near, Witness returned to his house to lock tha
door, and he saw the prisoner close to Mrs. Weaver's
house, and he said" Yes I have." He afterwards saw
Mr. Fred. Weaver, and he told witness that the prisoner
had called him. The fire had got complete possession
of the rick when witness first saw it.

Cross-examined by Mr. M. : There were two
footpaths in the field, one of which went within ten
yards of the rick. He had seen many persona about the
place that evening.
Re-examihed by Superintendent Wheeler: He did.
not see prisoner running away from the fire, but saw him
going from the direction of Mr. Bache's towards it.
Mr. Thomas Crane having given evidence as to the
rick being on fire.
Police-sergeant Potts stated that on the night of the
above date he received information of the fire and pro-
c eded to the place. At about half-past elevem o'clock
o the following night he went to Mrs. Weaver's house,
and saw the prisoner there. He Old prisoner there was
a very serious charge against him, and he replied," I
know it is." He then told prisoner to be careful of what
he said, as it would be used as evidence against him,
and then charged him with setting fire to the rick. He
replied, "I ham it is very black against me tor running
away" Witness than locked him up, took the shoes
from his feet, and on the Sunday morning went to the
field in company with Superindendent Wheeler and
Police-coustable Hollingworth. They found tracks
snider a hedge leading ap to the rick correspondin,g
exactly to the shoes worn by prisoner. On the other
aide of the field going train the pick he found similes:
marks. Further on the marks were wider apart, as ii!
made by a peison in the act of running. They were in the
direction leaclng to Thomas.on's house.

Mr. Corbel cross-oxamined this witness at consider-
able length tp show that the soil was of such a light
sandy nature that II; would not retain a clear impression
of a footprint
Superintendent Theeler corroborated Sergeant Potts.
Mr. M. Corbel tbien addressed the magistrates on be-
half of the prisoner, contending that the whole of the
circumstances were consonant with innocence on the
part of the prisoner, whtist they all were in apposition
to guot. There had not been the slightest reason indi-
cated by the prosecution why the prisoner should helve
set fire to his grandmother's rick, whilst it was highly
improbable that if Ins had done such a thing he would
have gone and taken up his residence at his grand-,
mother's on the following day. In reference to hi.s
being aware of the nature of the charge before Police-
sergeant Potts commavicated it to him, he had been
told by his friends previously that he would be chargod
with the offence. As far as the impressions of the boots
were concerned, the prisoner had been near the rick
when he went to call Mr. Bache. He felt sure a judge
would never convict the prisoner on such slight evidence
as that which had been adduced.
Mr. Kiteley said the case was of such a serious nature
that he thought it was one for a jury, and committed the
prisoner to take his trial at the next Assizes. Bail
would be allowed, the prisoner in his own recognisanees
of £lOO and two Liret.e3 of £5O e:-2-t.