The Sun.
London, England, 1836-04-18 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY, APRIL 18, 1836.

BOW-STREET.

James Cook, a notorious character, was brought up.
Keys, the officer, stated that on his return from Marlbo-
rough, where he had been endeavouring to discover the in-
cendiaries—eight wilful and malicious fires having taken
place in that neighbourhood recently—he recognized the
prisoner with a bag, on the outside of a coach, and on his
arrival in town took him in custody, when the bag was
found to contain ten skeleton keys, a phosphorus box, a
crow-bar, some plate, a coachman's blue coat, a gig cover,
and several other articles, and on the prisoner's person
three ducks, recently killed.' Keys further stated, that the
prisoner is a well known dog-stealer, and was committed,
about eighteen months ago, for ten months, on a charge of
dog-stealing. The prisoner said nothing in his defence, and
was committed for further examination.

INCENDIARISM.—Keys subsequently reported to Mr.
MINSHULL his success in apprehending a man named Wil-
liam Alder on a charge of incendiarism. He stated that
during the last two months no fewer than eighteen incen-
diary fires had occurred-in Chiseldon, Wilts, and its neigh-
bourhood. The prisoner was in the employ of Mr. Brown,
of Chiseldon, who had a bean stack destroyed, and the evi-
dence was such as to induce the Magistrates to commit
Alder for trial. Another man, named Coleman, was also in
custody, on a charge of setting fire to some stacks, the pro-
perty of Mr. Baldwin, of Chiseldon. The officer stated he
had been greatly assisted in his endeavours to bring the
parties to justice by T: Cally, Esq., a Magistrate of Wilts.
Mr. MINSHULL said that the officer had done his duty
in a praiseworthy manner, and that his conduct deserved
high commendation.

MARLBORQ UGH-STREET.
An inquiry into the origin of the late most destructive
fire in Bond-street has been for some time prosecuted, in
consequence of certain reports which appeared to favour the
impression that the fire had not occurred through accident.
It is but fair to the party implicated to say that the evi-
dence, as far as it at present goes, is exparte, and amounts
only to suspicion, and that hitherto Mr. Absalon (who is
now in custody) has always Vorne an unimpeachable cha-
racter. Mr. Absalon having been on Saturday morning
taken into custody on a warrant the evidence beneath was
taken.

Eliza Thomas, servant to Mr. Absalon, then residing at
No. 12, Old Bond-street, said—About a quarter before 10
o'clock on Saturday night, the 12th of March, after I had
done my work, I went up stairs to turn down the beds.
As I passed the shop, I saw my master, his son, and one
daughter in it. It is usual for some of the family to remain
reading in the shop after it is shut up. I carried up a to-
bacco-pipe which my master was sometimes in the habit
of smoking. I looked into the drawing room on the first
floor, occupied by Captain Duplat, who was then out, and
I saw only a little fire in the grate. I went up stairs, and
I turned the beds down. In about two or three minutes I
heard a scream, which I think came from my mistress. I
went down to the first floor, and found my master, my mis-
tress, and some of the family, who appeared to be alarmed
as the back bedroom was on fire. I and Miss Sarah went
up stairs to draw some water. Miss Sarah took up one
pa►l, and while I was drawing another, I was drawing an-
other, I was called up stairs by some one, and told to go
to Colonel Blane's house in Lower Grosvenor-street, and
see if Captain Duplat was there. I had previously looked
into the bedroom, and I saw the bed curtain on fire, and
the floor also burning. I went out as directed, and on
learning that neither Captain Duplat nor Colonel Blane
were within, I made haste back. I might have been gone
a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes. My master had
previously told his son to run for the engines. When I
got back I• knocked and was let in, but I do not know by
whom. I found part of the family in the passage, but I
do not recollect who they were. I saw the flames on the
stairs, but the stairs were not on fire. I do not know where
the flames came from, but I heard the flames blazing and
glass breaking. All the family left the house except my
master, and went into Mr. Goatley's.
Mr. M'Clary, bookseller, No. 32, St. James's-street—l
was supping next deor with my relatives on the night of
the fire. A little before ten o'clock I smelt fire strongly,
and, in going to the back of the house, I perceived smoke
and fire issuing from Mr. Absalon's house, apparently out
of the first floor window. I went round to the front of
Mr. Absalon's house, and knocked at the private door,
which was opened by Mr. Absalon, with the chain up. I
said, " Do you know, sir, that the back of your house is
on fire ?" He said, " I'm afraid it is ; we are trying to
put it out." The door was then shut.
Mr. Absalon—Do you not recollect knocking a second
time, and when I opened the door and solicited you to
come in you refused ?

Mr. 14'Clary—Nothing of the sort occurred.
Mr. 11. Leaking, bookseller, 48, Curzon-street—l was
passing down Stafford-street a few minutes before ten
o'clock, when I heard a watchman's rattle in Bond-street.
I ran there, and on seeing a quantity of smoke issuing
from the chimney of Mr. Absalon's house I knocked loudly
at the private door. The door was opened as far as the
chain would admit, and I said to 11Ir. Absalon, can I be of
any service to you ? The door was shut in my face with-
out a reply, or at least none that I heard. Soon after this
two policemen came up, and one of them knocked and
called out open the door immediately, or we'll break it
open. Mr. Absalon opened the door, and finding the po-
lice were there let them in.

Thomas Cole, C 79—1 saw a thick smoke coming from
Mr. Absalon's house, and before I could get to the door I
was called in by some one from Mr. Hawkins's house, the
next door. I went through the passage, and then I saw
that the back of Mr. Absalon's house was entirely on fire.
I went to Mr. Absalon's house and knocked. The door
was not opened, but some one from the inside asked if it was
the police ? I said " Yes," and the door was then opened.
I went in, and saw fire falling down stairs. I saw a pail of
water standing in the passage, which I laid hold of, ran up
stairs, and threw the water as far as I could. I asked Mr.
Absalon to let me begin to remove the property. He ab-
solutely refused. I asked him if his family were all safe.
He said there was no one in the house but me and him. I
inquired if he had given the alarm to the police. He an-
swered he did not think it worth while, as he had sent for
the engines an hour ago. A knock came to the door, and
a medical gentleman told us to come out, as there was dan-
ger in remaining any longer. I went out, and Mr. Absalon
shut the door, and put up the chain. I knocked again, and
when the door was opened, I persuaded Mr. Absalon to
come out.

Mr. CONANT asked all the policemen to describe Mr.
Absalon's appearance. They all declared not the least agi-
tation was perceptible.
James Rooke—l am foreman of the firemen belonging to
the County Fire Office. Mr. Absalon is insured in the
County to the amount of 1,8001. He has sent in a state-
ment of his loss, making it between 2,0001. and 3,000/.
Mr. Absalon has insured in the County for many years,
but not more than twelve months in Bond-street. The
value of the stock saved is about 2001. The whole of the
stock in the shop was saved. Mr. Absalon said he kept
his stock in the shop. The next morning I had some con-
versation with Mr. Absalon on the subject of the fire. I
asked him whether he was under or over insured. He re-
plied he was over insured about 4001. I replied that people
generally under insured, to which he said he had always
over insured, and always should.
Mr. CONANT should direct that Mr. Absalon be re-
manded until Wednesday next, when the remaining evi-
dence would be brought forward.
We need scarcely add, that no conclusion to the preju-
dice of Mr. Absalon should be drawn from this ex park
proceedinn,--Observer.

UiVION .HALL. •
THRpt,
WEEKS AFTER MARRIAGE.—A man, named
Milton, was charged with beating his wife with a broom-
stick, and kicking her out of doors.
Mrs. Milton had been married three weeks. The first
week he kicked her out of bed, the next week she took him
to a police office, and the third week he beat her with a
broomstick and kicked her out of doors.
The defendant said his wife was a cursed incarnate, that
she had burnt his picture, for which he had paid four gui-
neas, and that she robbed him.
The wife—l don't deny burning his portrait ; but, be-
fore I did it, he took mine from the side of his own, and
with his clenched fist gave the face of my likeness such a
thump, that his hand went right through the canvass, and
spoiled the countenance altogether. I was vexed at his
unkindness ; and, when he left the room, I gave him tit
for tat, and thrust his ugly mug .into the fire.---(Much
laughter.)
Magistrate—You are both to blame, and from the speci-
men of connubial bliss you have commenced with, there is,
I am afraid, no prospect of happiness for either.
The defendant would make her an allowance--anything
to get rid of her.
, The Magistrate then suggested that an attorney might
be employed to draw up the deed, and directed that the
warrant might stand open against the defendant until the
affair was arranged. .

A flock of twenty-two ewes, on the form of Mrs.
Mary Appleyard, at Brayton, near Selby, has produced this
spring no less a ',umber than fifty lambs,—viz.—two ewes had
four each, eight had three each, and the remaining twelve had
eighteen.