The Express.
London, England, 1861-08-12 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

OXFORD CIRCUIT.—GLuvurxrEK, AuovsT 10.
(Before Mr. Justice Keating.)
EXTRAORDINART CANIE OP ANSON. _ _

William Willey, beerhouse keeper, was indicted for
setting fire to the house in which be resided, at Clifton, hie
wife and others being therein. There were also indictments
charging him with setting fire to the premises with intent
to defraud the Sun Bantam. Company and his landlord.
Mr. Cooke prosecuted; and Mr. Cupp and Mr. Sawyer
defended the prisoner.
This was one of the most determined and clear cases of
attempting to defraud an insurance company that perhaps
was ever brought before • court of justice.
The prisoner occupied the Hope and Anchor beerhouse in
the Hotwells.road, Clifton, and also rented two other ad-
joining houses, which he sublet. In the month of November
kg he insured his furniture for 1001., and his stock for
another 100/., with the Sun Fire Insurance Company. He
also endeavoured to effect an insurance for 3001. with the
Royal Insurance Company; but the agent, on going to
inspect the premises, declined the insurance, on the ground
that he had not 5/. worth of furniture in the house. In
the spring of the present year the prisoner got into difllcul-
ties and was incarcerated for debt for • month. He was
liberated in April, and on the 15th of that month
a policeman named Goulding, who wason duty
near the premises, saw the back part of the prisoner s
house on fire. He gave an alarm and other policemen
arrived, but the prisoner refused to admit them, observ-
ing to one that " It's not half • fire yet." The police had
to use force to get the prisoner (who stood at the front door)
away from the door before they could gain admission. They
then found the house on fire in fourteen different places.
Combustibles had been placed io every room, from
the ground-door to the roof. Bundles of sticks and
shavings smeared with tar were placed about, and some
portion of the floor had been taken up and sticks and
shavings placed underneath.
Police Superintendent Hancock found in the cellar •
quantity of straw, wood, and shavings, which bad been
lighted and burnt a hole in the floor above. The room above
the cellar was also full of wood, shavings, and straw. In-
dependently of the pieces that bad been partially burnt, he
found 2,700 sticks of various lengths in different parts of
the house.

One of the prisonet's daughters deposed that her father
mine home on the Wednesday before the fire. There were
five children in the house when the fire broke out. The
were awoke by her father, and got out of the house and
Counsel for the defence did not attempt to deny that the
prisoner had fired the house, but urged that there was no
intent to destroy the inmates. That portion of the indict-
ment was abandoned, and the prisoner, being found
guilty of the intent to defraud, was sentenced to 20 yearn'
petal servitude.
On the sentence being passed, the prisoner's daughter
swooned away, and a terrible sceLe of distress with the other
smothers of the family ensued.

WESTERN CIRCUIT.—BRIncoL, Alwyn 9.
The commission under which is held the annual sum-
mer assize of nisi prius in this city was opened to-day.
Mr. Justice Bytes, who is to he the presiding judge, having
been detained at Wells, the proceedings were conducted by
the Right Worshipful the Mayor, O. C. Lane, Feu., who to
joined in the commission. The trials will commence on
Monday.
Up to to-night only 10 atom had been entered, but the
returns to the sheriff give premise of 20 common and 6
special jury castle.

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—LivsapooL, Auo. 10.
Mr. Baron Martin arrived in Liverpool this morning. He
was met at the railway station by Sir Humphrey de Trafford
and the deputy mayor, Samuel Holme, Esq. His lordship
ed to Si. George's-hall, where the commission having
proceeded
in the Crown and Niel Priam Courts, the former
was adjourned to 12 o'clock, and the latter until 11 o'clock
on Monday.