The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-31 00:00:00

INTELLIGENCE.

HOME CIACUIT.—CRovporr, Aug. 29.
(Before Baron Bramwell and a Special Jury.)
'WOOLLEY V. POLE.
THE CAMPDEN HOUSE FIRE.-FIFTH DAY.
The Court sat at h alf-past nine o'clock on Saturday
morning, when the peoceedings in this remarkable case
were resumed and brow s,,ht to a conclusion.
The inquiry appeared to create considerable interest, and
every seat in the court wAs occupied immediately after the
proceedings were opened.
Mr. Bovill, Q.C., Serje ant Ballantine, Mr. Mereweather,
Mr. Henry James (specially retained), and Mr. Rosher,
appeared for the plaintiff.
Mr. Lush, Q.C., Mr. Denman, Q.C., and Mr. Garth
were for the defendant.
It will be recollected that at the rising of the court on
Friday evening the evidence of both plaintiff and defend.
ant was concluded. and Mr. Lush asked to be allowed to
postpone his summing up of the defendant's case until the
following morning.
Mr. Bovill addressed his lordship, and stated that on the
previous day a letter had been received by the solicitors for
the plaintiff, stating what he considered to be an important
fact. The witness, who could prove that fact, was in at-
tendance, and, with his lordship's sanction, he proposed to
examine him.

Baron Bramwell said that if Mr. Lush consented on the
part of the defendant he had no objection.
Mr. Lush said ho certainly should object to any further
evidence being adduced after the case had been formally
closed on both sides. If such a course were [allowed to be
taken the trial would never be brought to an end.
Baron Bramwell said that as this objection was taken the
additional evidence could not be received.

Mr. Lush then summed up the defendant's case. He said
that since the Court had adjourned he had attentively con-
sidered all the facts of the case, and had endeavoured to
winnow out from the mass of evidence that had been given
those portions which he considered material to be urged upon
the jury. It appeared to him that whatever result might
ultimately be arrived at by them, every circumstance
connected with the case was of the most extraordinary cha-
racter, and all, as it appeared to him, seemed to tend only to
one conclusion, which was that this house had been wilfully
set fire to. If the fire was accidentally caused it certainly
was a most wonderful coincidence that every circumstance
should have concurred to carry it out effectually. The house
was covered with fresh varnish in almost every part. cloth
and light paper were hung from the ceilings of the rooms to
the floor, a large quantity of open books were placed about
in all directions, and the hour was an early one on the Sun-
day morning, when there was less chance of fire being
quickly discovered than any other period of the week, The
hand of the incendiary was rarely seen to apply the torch,
but all the circumstances, as he should contend, showed
clearly that the fire was a wilful one, and that Mr. Woolley
was in just the position to render it likely that he should
commit the crime. He had spent all his wife's fortune,
part of her sister's; he was embarrassed, and if he could
have obtained this large sum of money, secured by these
policies, his retreat from the fashionable world was secured
without any indignity. What more could be done than
was done, if he wanted to destroy the house ? Every wain.
scot was varnished, cloth and paper were hung all over the
place, all the books were opened, and nothing was wanting
but to apply fire to three or four rooms, and the mischief
that had occurred was at once, and most surely, effected.
If they wanted to conceal the fire before it obtained suffi-
cient hold, what better course could be taken than to close
up all the windows, as these were proved to have been, by
cloth and tapestry ? With regard to the books, it was a
fact well known that closed books could not be destroyed by
a fire, but being opened, and the air admitted between the.
leaves, the effect would be that these would be totally de-
stroyed. These were the admitted facts. They were ad-
mitted by Mr. Woolley and by Crozfer,and no one disputed
that every one cf the suspicious circumstances he alluded to
had actually occurred. If the tapestry wanted repairing,
what necessity could there be to repair the whole of it at
once; and would not the reasonable course have been to re-
pair a portion of it at a time ? Then as to the hour chosen.
Why it was the very moment that would be selected to
carry out such a wicked object—the early hours of the Sun-
day morning, when almost every one was at rest in this
great metropolis. There would be no chance of the fire being
discovered by any labouring men going to their work, or by
any one else. Everybody must rest after the week's labours.
It was admitted there had only been two fires in the whole