The Express.
London, England, 1861-09-11 00:00:00

LAMBETH.

Mr. Fre.hr;. k Chit, a quill merchant, late in the occupa-
tion of the house and premises, No. 2, Lansdowne-villas,
Harder's-road, Peckham, and Mr. Cliff, his brother,
were placed at the bar before Mr. Elliott, on a charge of
feloniously' wilfully, nod maliciously setting fire to the
house in the occupation of the former prisoner, with iutent
thereby to defraud the Globe Insurance Company.
Mr. Kenip, barrister, instructed by Messrs. Freahhelds
and Newman, appeared for the prosecution ; and Mr. Gor-
don Allen, instructed by Mr. Bartley, fur the prisoners.
Mr. John Pullin, the owner of considerable house pro.
perty at Peckham, said that on the 14th of July last the
prisoner Frederick Chit called on him in reference to a
house No. 2, Lanadown Villas, Hauler's-road, Peckham,
and proposed to take it, giving as a reason for leaving his
then residence that he bed not suilicieut convenience in it
for his berme and trap. He agreed to lot him the hause at
.IW. per annum, ma showed him the form of agreement
which hr should request him to sigu before taking posses-
sion. This the prisoner consented to, paid half a tinarter's
rent, so that his rent was to commence on the 29th Sep-
tember, and on the following day the key was delivered up
to his brother, the other prisoner. Tim bowie was a semi-
detnclied cottage, three storeys high, with two parlours
separated by folding doom, two kitchens, • pantry, and
stable, and at the time of his letting the house there was no
communication between the pantry on one side end the
stable, which was close to it, nor should he have sanctioned
any communication, as it would affect his insurance on the
premises. The stable, when he let the premises, could only
be entered from a >aril in front, and had no communication
with the house. The witness hero went into a description of
the premises and the property adjoining, and said that on
the Ist of August he saw the house safe, but on that night
it was burned down. On the morning after the tire he went
to the house and did not then uutice anything !Articular,
but on the following day (the 3rd) he saw that a doorway
had been cut from the stable to the pantry, making a coin- '
munication from one to the other, and observed that it was
done in so coarse a manner that it could not have been done
by a tradesman who knew anything about his business. On
the morning after the fire he (witness) saw both the pri-
soners at the homer of George, and he remarked to them that
ho 11/2s quite surprised that the house should bay, been
burnt in so short a time, and that he should like to know
something about it. Frederick said (both being present)
they were out on business at Waltham Abbey at the time,
that the servant had left them about a week before,
that Mrs. CIA was washing in the kitchen, that the child
had tumbled into a pan or tub, that she had taken it to the
house of Dr Donnie, in Southampton-street, Camberwell ;
and that the fire occurred during her absence. Witness re-
marked at the time that it wee somewhat strange that she
should go such a distance when she could have got a num-
ber of doctors on Peckam Rye.
Mr. Elliott—Do you reoodect what reply he made to that
rem•rk ? _
_ _

Witneos-1 really cannot recollect. I said the matter
was much talked of, and that it was not considered in the
neighbourhood the fire was accidental. Ido not remember
what they said to this, but Frederick said they should get
into a great deal of trouble about their contract with
government for quills ; that they should have to go to
Russia and all over the country iu search of quills, and, per-
haps, could nut get enough before Christmas. On the 13th
of August I again saw the prisoners, and spoke about the
door cut between the stable and pantry, and Frederick
acknowledged he had cut it two or three days after taking
Llaseion of the house, being afraid of thieves, and I tel
nttit by making the dour he gave the greeter facility for
thieves entering. The prisoner Frederick also said there were
sixty sovereigns in the house, with which he had intended
to meet a bill ; and I remarked that that *was strange, as
the ashes had been carefully sifted, and no gold, not even
belt a sovereign, was found there. One of the keys pro-
duced is that belonging to the stable, and the other to the
pantry.
Mr. Allen declined crass-examining this wituess in the
present stage of the inquiry.
Mr. Frederick Matthew Goodwin, a grocer, residing with
his father at Nuuliead, Peckham, said that on the night
of the fire, about '2O minutes to 10 o'clock, he was standing
at his father's door, and saw the prisoner fleorge conic
running round the corner and pass him, and in a few
minutes after be heard the cry of " Fire," bat thought it •
false alarm. Ile heard the ery repeated, and on going
round the corner saw that the shed or stable belonging to
the prisoners was on Are. Ho knocked repeatedly at the
door, but no one answered. He then forced the back door
and made his way to the back parlour, which appeared to be
on fire in one place, a sort of heap, and he pulled from it a
piece of something which appeared to ho matting or tw-
eeting. The room seemed plainly furnished. In conclu-
sion, the witness said that ea the 29th July be was re-
turning to town, and met both the prisoners with a van
laden with sacks filled and feathers sticking out at top.
Polioe.oonstable Edward Cox, 213 P, said that a few
minutes before the fire on the night in question, he saw a
person, who be had very little doubt was the prisoner
George, come through • gap in the hedge close to the house
consumed.

A witnem named Collis also swore that at about the time
in question be MAW the prisoner George at the Nunhood
• publk.houso, but on seeing bun (witness) he left imme-
diately.
Mr. Faboo, a clerk in the Globe Insurance Office, said
that on the 20th of July the prisoners called at the office,
sod said they wished to effect an insurance on quills of the
value of 2,500 i., placed in a shed adjoining their dwelling;
and Frederick also said it wss his wish to effect a woad
insurance on furniture of his of the value of 300 f., placed at
the house of his brother. The premises were surveyed, and
the policies of insurance granted on the 24th July, when 8L
premium was paid.
John Baster, a fireman belonging to the Waterlo.mroad
Station, deposed that on the 3rd of Angii‘t he was sent to
take charge of the premises. Soon after the prisoners came
there, and he (witness) asked them if they bad been the
creepier, of the premises. Frederick replied that they were,
and, turning to George, mid, "Thu is my brother." Thee
walked into the stable where the quills were kept. Both
said it would be their ruin ; that they had been to Waltham
Abbe yon business, and came away from there by the 10
o'dock train. They said they were under heavy engage-
meets to the government, sod should lose at least 3001.
They said nothing shout 60 sovereigns being in the house
when the fire took place.
Mr. Kemp hoped that was sufficient to grant a remand,
and

Mr. Elliott concurring, the prisoners were remanded to a
future day.
Yr. Allen made an application for the prisoners' release
on hail, but it wee refuwAl.

WANDSWORTH.

John Mayin, a man of colour, who stated that he had no
home, no occupation, and was a native of Bengal, was
placed in the dock before Mr. Dayman, charged under the
following circumstances :
The Rev. John W. tenders, a baptist miuister, residing
at No. 4, Esust.hill.villas, Wandsworth, stated that about
ball-past 11 o'clock on the previous night he was in bed
and heard a strange noise outside the Louse. He opened
the window, and saw a man lying under the porch. He
called to him to go away, hut be appeared to take
ao notice. Witners's wife then took a small ju; of
water and threw the contents out of window upon the man,
and they afterwards took a sponge, dipped it in water, and
sprinkled
door wihltrini, a but instead
utinstr dlmoufgoing away ho came against
broke the panel. At that
I time witness was greatly alarmed, fur he did not know but
there were men attempting to break into the house, and
he commenced calling for help. The neighbours were also
&Untied, and they opened their windows and eh 'LAM for the
pollee. The prisimer then went into the street, pulled up
stones, and commenced throwing them. A constable came
up and he gave the prisoner into custody.
Poßee-coostable Parker, who took the prisoner into cue.
Jody, said he was drunk.
Mr. Dayman fined him lie., or 14 days' imprisonment for
his disorderly cooduct.

A MAX KILLED BY nis Slugs.—On Monday
evenintl, the 9th inst., the little village of Bidwell (distant
about four miles from Nottingham) was thrown into a state
of great excitement, a rumour being prevalent that • young
man named Christopher Williamson, aged 21, had been
killed by his sister. From what can at present be adduced
it appears that the deceased wee at week in his father's shop
friunomoric.knitter, when a dispute took place between
hint and his sister Sarah, a young women aged shoat 19
years. Very high words were used, and ultimately the
deceased in the heat of maim struck her, when she imme-
diately mixed a large bobbin and threw it at him with con-
siderable form. ofortunately the bobbin struck him just
behiud the ear on the jugular vain, and after struggling •
few minutes he fell into • chair sad expired before any as-
sistance could be rendered. The woman then became much
excited and went into violent hysterics, so much so, that a
surgeon bad to be called in, and it was not until several
hours afterwards that she could be removed into the cus-
tody of the police. Prisoner was taken before the magis-
trates yesterday, and remanded until this day.
CILTITAL PALACZ. ONE SHILLING DAY.—
TIMIIIIAT, SEPT. 10. —Admimions en payment, 9,071 ;• ditto
v,y iesimi ticket :,fig' ; total daton, 11,766.