The Sun.
London, England, 1834-12-24 00:00:00

MARY LEB ONE.

Last night a sturdy beggar, named ./chtt 117i/man, was
placed at the bar before Mr. flosxm, charged by Sir Fre-
derick Roe with the following daring outrage :
Sir Frederick stated that about six o'clock the same
evening, as he was proceeding down Weymouth street,
Porland-place, towards his own residence, he was accoeted
by the prisoner, who in a whining tone asked for relief.
He (Sir Frederick) took no notice of him for some time ;
but finding that he still followed him importuning for
money, he insisted on his going about his business. The
prisoner then produced a knife, which he offered to dispose
of. They had by this time reached the corner of Duchess-
street, and be (Sir Frederick) again ordered the prisoner
to leave him, which, however, he refused to do, and, mut-
tering an oath, aimed a violent blow at his (Sir Frederick's)
breast, which he fortunately warded off, and at the same
time collared the prisoner, who then struck him. He,
however, still retained his hold of him till a policeman came
up, who took him into custody. Sir Frederick here exhi-
bited his coat, which was torn in the scuffle with the pri-
soner, who pulled on of the cuffs completely off.
The prisoner, who with the greatest effrontery denied
the charge, was recognized as an old offender, and com-
! mitted to hard labour in the House of Correction for two
months.

THE LATE INCENDIARY FIRES AT RO.

THERHITHE.

COMMITTAL OF PALMER, THE POLICEMN.
Yesterday William Palmer, the policeman, No. 108, R,
was brought before Mr. BALLANTINE, at the Thames Po-
lice-office, for re-examination, charged " on suspicion of wil-
fully and maliciously setting fire to various houses and
buildings in the parish of St. Mary, Rotherhithe." This
was the fifth examination of the prisoner, and the office was
again crowded to excess. Mr. Curling, a respectable so-
licitor, attended for the second time for the prosecution,
and Mr. Chambers, the barrister, who has been retained on
behalf of the prisoner since the commencement of the pro-
ceedings, again attended on his behalf.

Additional evidence was gone into respecting the fire
which broke out on the premises of Mr. Pitman, the barge-
builder, on the night of the 26th of November, where the
prisoner was placed to watch. On the fire being disco-
vered by a Mrs. Matthews opposite, the prisoner gave no
alarm.

The prisoner's statement was then read. He was placed
on duty on Pitman's premises about twenty minutes before
twelve, and soon after twelve he saw a boat leave the wharf,
and called out, " Halloo, what are you doing there ?" The
man made off. Soon after that he saw Stagg, Matthews,
and others, and showed them over the premises, mentioning
the circumstance to them. Jenkins said it was Mr. Pitman's
barge, and Stagg said it had a cabin and no rudder to it.
Jenkins said there was a terrible smell of fire, on which
some one said they had left the ruins above, and got the
smell in their noses. They went away, and after two
o'clock Mrs. Matthews gave the alarm of fire, and Stagg,
Christall, and others, ,came running down. Stagg said,
" Don't spring your rattle, we can see a light through a
crevice in the floor." They all ran up the ladder and broke
open the trap-door, and succeeded in putting the fire out.
He saw a man there in his drawers, without stockings.
The lighted tub, after it was put out, was thrown out of
window on the ways, and the firemen grumbled very much
about it. Some one fetched it up, and they talked of
washing it. They all ran out then to Speck and Redman's
granary, and burst the gate open, someone observing they
thought they saw a light there. He stopped on Pitman';
premises until six o'clock, when he locked them up and left.
them. The prisoner further stated in the document, that
he was standing opposite the premises when he saw Stagg,
and told him there was a light in the floor, which he had
not seen before. Jenkins said it could not be, but Mrs.
Matthews said, " I think it is on fire." Mr. Hartree was
the first who went up the ladder. He recollected one of
the firemen taking up some of the burnt trenails, and said
they would do for them.

Mr. BALLANTINE, addressing the prisoner, should com-
mit him for trial for the capital offence, and if he had any-
thing to say, he would hear him, but he had no occasion to
say any thing unless he pleased.
Prisoner—l have nothing to say now, Sir ; I will say it
another time.

Mr. CURLING, in justice to the prisoner, must state that
one part of his statement, relating to a man having been
seen in the loft with his drawers on, was correct. A man
was there in that situation.

Mr. Short—Yes, I did enter the loft undressed, when I
heard the alarm ; I had only my drawers on.
At the request of Mr. CHAMBERS, this was added to
Mr. Short's deposition.
Mr. BALLANTINE, in closing this inquiry respecting the
fire on Mr. Pitman's premises, could not help remarking,
that during the whole of the investigation, he had met with
great difficulty in getting at the mass of evidence which had
been gone into. The Magistrate, after some further re-
marks on that point, added, " I have had no assistance in
that quarter where I ought to have received it. There
has been great labour in getting up this mass of evidence,
and but for the assistance of many gentlemen of Rother-
hithe, living around the places which have been burnt down,
and who have given their evidence so fairly, and without
any feeling of prejudice, I could not have done it."
A discussion then took place as to when the investiga-
tions respecting the other charges already partially heard
should be gone into, and Tuesday next was agreed upon.
The prisoner was then removed to Horsemonger-lane
Gaol, for trial at the next sessions at the Central Criminal
Court, but he will be brought up again on Tuesday, when
the other charges will be gone into.