The Sun.
London, England, 1851-07-11 00:00:00

Tightwaist

The Stanhy Stakes.

... walked over

Evadne
Sir Charles Nvier 2
Truth ... 3
St. Lcger Stakes.

Ariosto ... ... ... ... ...
Hippolytus ... ... ... ... •• •
Mountain Deer ... ... ... ...
Brother to Chanticleer ... ... ...

Won by a length.
Match—lris received forfeit from Lord Glasgow's
filly.

ROLLS' COURT.--(THIS D4Y )
The Master of the Rolls was occupied this morning
with unimportant csus-s.

VICE-CHANCERY.-(THIS DAY.)
(E3etore Vice-Chancellor KNIGHT BRUCE.)
His HONOUR this morning beard and disposed of a
number of exceptions and further directions.
(BO'. To Lord CRANWORTH.)
MENLOVE V. CARTER.
This part-beard case was restsrmd this morning.

CRIMINAL COURT.-(THIS DAY.

OLD COURT.
(Before Mr. Justice WIGHTMAN.)
. .

ARSON.—James 1 uggins, aged 37, described as an attorney,
was indicted for feloniously setting fire to the dwelling-house
of William Strong, be and another person then being therein.
The prisoner pleaded not guilty.
Mr. Clarkson and Mr. Ballantine appeared for the prose-
cution, and Mr. Bodkin, with whom was Mr. Huddleston,
defended the prisoner.
Mr. CLARKSON opened the case to the jury, and stated
that the witnesses which be should call would show that the
prisoner had wilfully and maliciously set fire to the premises
in question, either for the purpose of injuring the parties re-
siding in them, or of defrauding the various insurance com-
panies who had insured the property. The premises, which
were in a very dilapidated condition, were situated in
Lime street-, and they came into the possession of the pri-
soner about a short time ago. He hen effected insurances in
the Phcenix, the Atlas. and the Guardian offices for a very
large amount, the premises being also insured in another
office by the freeholder; and it was alleged the prisoner
attempted to fire the premises, part of which was used as a
c.lffee• shop, for the purpose of defrauding ( hese companies.
The fire broke out on the 31st of May, but an alarm was
speedily given, and be,ore it had time to make any progress
the fire brigade arrived and got it under. A minute ex-
amination of the premises then took place, and it was
found that a quantity of cotton saturated with camphine
had been designedly placed in one of the cellars, and con-
nected with a wax-candle which was fixed in art iron tube
immediately communicating with the wood-work of the
flooring over the cellar. This discovery gave rise to
a suspicion of foul play, and a searching inquiry was insti-
tuted into the whole matter. It then transpired that on
the previous 21st of March the prisoner came to the pre-
mises, and saw Mrs. Strong, one of the tenants, from whom
he borrowed a candle, and descended into the cellar where
the fire originated. There he remained for upwards of an
hour, and on his return to Mrs. Strong's apartment he was
covered all over with dust, as though he had been working
like a bricklayer, and Mrs. Strong brought him a basin of
water to wash himself. This circumstance induced a belief
that the prisoner bad been concerned in the fire, and this
suspicion was strengthened by a further discovery that the
iron piping found in the cellar was made by a
neighbouring tradesman to the prisoner's order. On the day
previous to the fire breaking out the prisoner was upon the
premises. lie brought with him a parcel and obtained access
into the cellar, not astbefore through Mrs. Strong's room, but
by an office adjoining, in the occupation of an architect.
This latter fact was thought conclusive, and it was at once
determined to arrest the prisoner on this charge of arson.
The Learned Gentleman then related the circumstances at-
tending the apprehension of the prisoner, and afterwards
proceeded to call the following witnesses.
Mr. John Daniels, clerk to a solicitor, produced the agree-
ment under which the prisoner held a lease of the premises
and a policy of insurance effected in the Atlas for 1,000/.
Mr. Wyatt, a clerk in the Atlas-ollce, proved that the
policy had been effected.
Mr. Edward James Russell, agent for the Phcenix-office,
proved that the prisoner effected his insurance in that office
tor 3001.

Mr. Isaac Kildal, clerk in the Guardian-office, gave
similar evidence in reference to an insurance effected in that
office for 1,500/.

Mr. Heniker, surveyor, had had his attention called to the
premises in question ; and he should say their value for old
building materials would be about 501. The model of the
premises produced had been prepared under his direction, on
a scale of an inch to a foot_
James Bradley, one of the fire-brigade stated, that about
ten minutes past eleven o'clock, on the night of the 31st of
May, he was called to the premises in Lime-street, which he
found full of smoke. He entered by the coffee-shop, and saw
tire escaping through a trap-door. He and others got some
water and put the fire out. He then went down into the
cellar. There was a strong smell of turpentine or camphine,
but it did not deter him from pursuing his search, and ulti-
mately he found the block and iron piping produced. It was
directly under the steps cominunica ing with the cellar, and
was within a few inches of the rafters or wood work f the
upper doe ing. He also found two iron trays, containing a
quantity of burnt cotton. They were placed under the steps
between the floor and the joisting, and directly over the iron
piping. The trays smelt strongly of camphine. He also
found a piece of wax canele and a glees bottle, in a hole
which had been cut through the wall. The woodwork of the
cellar was very much burnt. The hole in the wall appeared
to have been made so as to communicate with the next cel-
lar, and let in a draught. Had his attention not been called
to the fire at the moment it was, the house would have been
all down in ten minutes.
Mr. A. S. Jones, ate ironmonger, stated that he knew the
prisoner. On the '23d of April the prisoner called upon
him and gave an order for a piece of pipe. He brought a
rough sketch of the piping he required, and it was made for
him. The prisoner called for it himself and took it away with
him. A few days following he called again and purchased a
gimlet, similar to the one produced as having been found in
the cellar. Witness had no conversation with the prisoner
about ttie piping, but he asked him what he wanted it for,
and he replied .` "bat it did not matter at all." Witness had
known him fur two or three years, and Lever observed any
want of intelligence in him.
William Kemp, a carpenter and turner, stated that he
knew the prisoner and had worked for him. About the Ist
of May last the prisoner called upon him and said he wanted
a wooden block made hollow in the centre so as to fit a
piece of iron piping, which he brought with him. A itness
made the block and left it for the prisoner at his residence
in Loughborough-park. The block produced and found in
the cellar was the same. The police came to witness after
the fire and questioned him about the block. He went to
the prisoner and told him of their visit, and the p isoner said
" For God sake, Kemp, don't say a word about it; it will be
my ruin."
James Daker, plumber and painter, stated that about
twelve months ago be painted the prisoner's cottage in
Loughborough. park, when he saw two iron trays similar to
those produced and found in the cellar.
George Wood, another plumber, stated that he knew the
premises in Lime-street, and in October last, by direction of
the prisoner, he dug a hole in the cellar to test the foundation.
Elisabeth Strong depos d as follows :—I reside at the
house in Lime-street, and was there on the night of the fire.
Some short time before I went there a company carried on
its business called the Colonization Insurance Company, of
which the prisoner was a director, but in November last the
company removed to King William-street. One of the
rooms was hen taken by a Mr. Taylor, and all the furniture
on the premises was placed in it. On the 21st of March 'die
prisoner came to me and borrowed a candle. About an hour
and a half afterwards I saw him again, and his cOthes were
dirty and covered with white mortar. I gave hi se some
water to wash himself in. I went down in the cellar and
saw a hole had been made in the wall which W4B not there
before. On the day of the fire I saw the prisoner in the
house. It was about half-past two in the afternoon. He
was on the first floor, and he asked for the
key of Mr. Taylor's room. I alnleocked the
door and went into the room with him. I left him there
going down some steps leading towards the cellar, and
about an hour afterwar she brought me the key again. In
the evening 1 went oat with my husband, and on our return
we smelt something burning, but on making search we
found nothing, and we went to supper. I afterwards went
up-stairs, and finding the room full of smoke I gave the
alarm, and the fire was dicovered in the, cellar. Ou the
Monday following I saw the prisoner at his office in Copthall-
court. He said "It was a sad affair, and he had no idea
how it happened." I asked him if he had any notion of who
did it, and he said he heel not. I said . some one must have
done it, and it would have been better to have murdered us
in bed than to set fire to us. Some people then came in, and
I went away.
bag and an iron tray
Mary Ann Adams, the niece of Mrs. Strong, stated that she
was staying with her aunt at the time the ire occurred. She
erermeeimeehi%er,eeedkeleetgtien.g
He
eeeight
r
with him. prisonereegbt better the house abour,
Mr. Thomas Taylor, an architect and surveyor, stated that
he occupied offices on the premises in question. The pri-
soner told him that the premises were to be pulled down, and
plans for a new building,
directed hint to make Witness re-
membered the fire. .He was at the office the day before, and
the prisoner came in about hal -past five o'clock with a carpet
bag and a large brown paper parcel. The prisoner left his room
by a staircase leading to the cellar, taking with him the bag
and parcel: Witness offer.-.d. to assist hint down, but be
courteously d the offer, and •
decline said he was going to put
the bag and parcel with some things down-stairs. Wit-
ness_
asked bins if he had a picture in the parcel,
but he made no reply. He left about half an
hour afterwards. There were some plans on the premises
belonging to the prisoner werth between 801. and 901. The
prisoner rolled those plans up liefore the fire and had them
taken away. The only other property the prisoner had on
the premixes were some chairs and a table.
::Cross.examined—A Mr. Falkard occupied a room on the
premises, but he got notice to quit, and it was arranged that
he should leave the day before the fire. He did nut, how-
ever, leave until the Monday after.
Re-examinee—The last time witness saw Falkard was on
the Friday.

%% itliani Edmond;., a C;ty police• con-table, stated that he
examined the premises after the fire, but touud nothing upon
them. Ou the 9kh of hue witnea went to the primees