The Sun.
London, England, 1837-03-25 00:00:00

John Skeet--Remembers the fire. I was going very
early (about three o'clock) to fetch my master's waggon,
when the fire was not out, and I saw a man sitting on a
bank in the field, near the Cambridge road, against a plan-
tation. He had on a dark dress, but I did not see his face,
although I went close by him. The place was all in alarm,
and people going about.
After-this several witnesses were called, who took up the
chain of evidence between ten and eleven next day, and
conducted the proof against this man till he was traced to
a place beyond a wood called Lawn's Wood, and thence
beyond to Little Thurlow, when a witness, named Smith,
swore to having seen a man so dressed, and whom he knew
to be the prisoner, going along a wall near the village, to-
wards Mr. Mortlock's residence. This witness also deposed
to having seen him go away so dressed on the 27th of Oc-
tober preceding, and take leave of his mother, he being at
that time at work in her garden. On the Wednesday fol-
lowing his return home, he was taken up, on the charge
of being implicated in the fire on his uncle's premises, and
conducted to Cambridge gaol.
The Rev. E. Mortlock proved the handwriting of the
prisoner -to a letter, dated the 13th of April, 1835, in
which were several very strongly worded passages, such
as the following.:—" Do you think I have forgotten my
prison, my abasement, my degradation, and my asso-
ciates ? By God; you will find I have not. Do you
think I will suffer you -to outrage me ? Do you and my
other uncles think yourselves Gods, and more ? Curse
your self-complacency."
The recognizances were also put in, bearing date the 23d
of August, 1834, for two years ; as also the articles of the
peace exhibited against the prisoner, in April, 1836, by Mr.
Thomas Mortlock, the prosecutor, in consequence of an-
other letter, addressed to his maternal uncle, Mr. Finch, of
Cambridge. In this he alludes to his treatment at the
hands of his uncle and all his family, whom he designates
as " cold-blooded scoundrels." He then went on to deny
that he had sent any threatening letter to the prosecutor,
and daring him to the production of it if it existed, adding,
" I can't forget my injury ;it consumes my brain. lam
not malicious, but, by God, no one shall ill-treat me with
impunity. I must not regard the laws, if they do cot pro-
tect me." And, in conclusion, he demands the advance of
funds to pay some bills on or before the 26th of the next
month, and a sum for private.use, threatening some revenge
unless his terms are complied with.
Evidence was also adduced of conversations in which he
bad intimated his hatred of his uncle Thomas, and his in-
tention to be a " Thurtell to him."

The case for the prosecution having closed,
-Mr. Kiitt.v rose at half-past eight o'clock to address
the Jury on behalf of the prisoner, whom he described as
being in the most reduced circumstances, while the prose-
cutor was a man of unbounded wealth. After having
commented upon the evidence of the first three or four
witnesses, who spoke to the identity of the prisoner, the
Learned Gentleman was interrupted, at half-past ten, by
the jury, who intimated to his Lordship that they did not
think there was evidence to convict the prisoner, and that
their opinion was that he was—Not Guilty.
The decision of the Jury was hailed by the shouts of
the crowd in the Court, and echoed by those in the pas-
sages leading to the building ; and the prisoner, who is an
extremely genteel and intelligent youth, of twenty-seven,
with an air of strong determinatio❑ pourtrayed in his fea-
tures, and cast of countenance, was liberated -from his con-
finement, and received with tumultuous plaudits by sonic
assembled friends, who all seemed to take a more than
common interest in his behalf.

During the day Mr. Justice PARK sat in the Nisi Fritts
Court, and despatched some of the lighter eases, and it is
to be hoped that, with the assistance of his Lordship, the
ealenflar may be easily finished on Saturday.

MIDLAND CIRCUIT.—WARWICK, IVIRCIf 23.
The Judges arrived in this town this morning, having dis-
posed of the business at Coventry in good time yesterday.
The calendar for this place is heavy, considering upwards
of one hundred and fifty prisoners have been tried in the
course of the last week, at an adjourned Sessions. The
cause list is also expected to be heavy. Their Lordships
proceeded to try prisoners in both Courts shortly after their
arrival.

Thomas Mllon, aged twenty-eight, was charged with
having assaulted and robbed James Farney on the King's
highway. Gulty. Sentenced to one year's imprisonment
and hard labour.

Mislopher Owen was charged with having embezzled
various sums of money which he had received on account of
Joseph Fulford, his master. The prisoner was acquitted.

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—LANOJSTRR, llLuton 22

The Judges arrived here from York late yesterday even-
ing, and opened the commission. To-day at twelve o'clock
they sat for the despatch of business. Twenty-six causes,
are entered for trial. The calendar is, upon the whole, light.
There are nineteen prisoners, one charged with manslaugh-
ter, two with arson, and one with an attempt to murder his
wife by..poison. The other charges are not of a very serious
nature.
Oh the Civil side, Ur. Justice Pattison was engaged dur-
ing the day in trying several causes of no possible interest.
Two of them were actions of mesne process against John
Postlethwaite and Woodburn PoAtlethwaite, who at the
last Summer Assizes were defendants in an action of eject-
ment, brought by the heir-at-law of an old man of the name
of Jewell, at Ulverstone, in which the will made in their
favour was set aside on account of the testator's imbecility.
In each case there was a verdict for the plaintiff for the
amount of rent received by the defendant since the death
of the testator, in 1833.
Christopher Varley was indicted for burglariously break-
ing and entering the dwelling-house of Lawrence Wilson,
at Cliviger.
The Jury returned a verdict of Not Guilty.
Michael Riley was indicted for the manslaughter of Geo.
Desantes, at Preston, on the 7th of November last.
Verdict—Guilty. Sentence was deferred.

. ,
WESTERN CIRCUIT—ErErEn, MARCH 19.
ANSDELL V. COMFERTZ.
This case occupied the Court the last three days, and,
from the sum in dispute, as well as from the nature of the
case, it has excited great interest. The sum dependant on
the result of the trial is 58,000/. It was an issue directed
from the Court of Chancery, to try whether Henry Gul-
ling Isaac was the legitimate son of his parents, Joseph and
Leah Isaac. The real question was, whether he was born
before Henry
or idler marriage. In 1773, by the will of
Isaac, the property was left to the testator's son for his
life, remainder to the eldest male heir of his grandson ; and
in default of such issue, to his cousin Gompertz, throug,h
whom the defendant claimed. The plaintiff's grandson was
the above-named Joseph Isaac,who married Lcah Oaten,
and by her had four children, two sons and two dau;,h-
ters. Time first son was unquestionably born before mar-
riage ; the second was the subject of the issue. If he
were.born after the marriage, the plaintiff's were his next
of kin, and entitled to the property. If before marriage,
there was no male heir, and it passed to the defendant un-
der the will.
The Jury found a verdict for the defendant.
Mr. Erie, Mr. Crowder, and Mr. Butt, were for time
Plaintiff ; Mr. Sergeant &was- and Mr, Barstow for the
I defendant.