The Sun.
London, England, 1834-12-04 00:00:00

DESTRUCTIVE FIRES IN LIVERPOOL.

LIVERPOOL, DEC. 2.—This morning between three and
four o'clock, the inhabitants in the neighbourhood of the
Castle Mills were alarmed at a fire which broke out at
an extensive steam flour-mill, situate in Rose place, be-
longing to J. S. Bird, Esq., and occupied by Mr. Owen,
cornfactor.

It appears that about twenty minutes before four o'clock
as the watchman was going his rounds he perceived flames
issuing from the upper windows of the mill. He immedi-
ately gave the alarm, and the fire-police, with Mr. Galle-
more at its head, together with the engines of the Norwich
Union, West of England, and Imperial fire-offices, were
speedily on the spot, but the flames spread with such
alarming rapidity that the firemen, hopeless of saving the
mill, were compelled to direct their attention to the adjoin-
ing property. In less than three quarters of an hour after
th discovery of the fire the roof and the seven floors of the
extensive premises were utterly destroyed, and the whole
fell in with an awful crash, leaving nothing but a portion of
the walls standing.
At this _period the volumes of flame emitted from the
burning pile were awfully grand, and the whole horizon
was illuminated by their radience.

Great fears were entertained that the high wind
which prevailed would be the means of causini, the fire
to spread.; but fortunately the firemen were able in a
great measure to prevent the catastrophe, the destruction
being confined to the mill, which, however, with a large and
valuable steam-engine, was utterly destroyed. The stock
of grain and flour on the premises was but small, but we
understand that neither that nor the building were insured.
The principal part of the stock destroyed beloriged to the
proprietor of the windmill at the top of Scotland-road, who
having more business than he could well transact in his own
mill, had sent a quantity of grain to the Castle Mills to be
ground. The large and valuable steam-engine with its
machinery, which worked in seven departments of the mill,
is entirely destroyed, and lies buried under heaps of bricks
and rubbish.

The utmost consternation prevailed among the poor cot-
tagers in the vicinity of the fire, and the streets and avenues
were crowded with their furniture. Towards six o'clock
the flames were in a great degree got under. At half-past
seven a part of the north wall fell into the street, fortu-
nately without doing any damage ; but shortly afterwards
the west wall unhappily fell outwards in such a direction as
to destroy two cottages with the furniture they contained.
We have not heard of any person having received injury
in consequence of the falling of the walls. His Worship
the Mayor had, however, an imminent escape, having
barely time to rush into a passage, which protected him
from injury. It is not known how the fire originated. The
mill cost 30,0001. building.

Another fire broke out at five o'clock this afternoon in
Covent-garden. It commenced in the top story of a ware-
house occupied by Mr. Wade and others, stored with a
quantity of partially damaged cotton, the property of Mr.
Wade, among which the fire originated, but the immediate
cause of the calamity is not at present known. The lower
part of the warehouse was stored with Irish provisions, the
property of Mr. Campbell. In the earlier part of the after-
noon 500 firkins of butter were saved. The fire occurring
in the dusk of the evening, and after the hours of active bu-
siness, considerable alarm was excited in the neighbourhood,
which is one rather crowded, and in the immediate vicinity of
several of the principal merchants' offices. The adjoinine,
warehouse was occupied by Messrs. W. and J. Brown, the
great American house. They immediately removed the books
and 16 cart loads of fine goods. The fire was subdued by 7
o'clock, and when we left the spot the building remained
standing. The property we understand to have been fully in-
sured. The fire-police engine, No. 2, was the first on the
ground, and speedily commenced operations with the most
decided effect. By the active and well-directed exertions
of Mr. Ballimore, the Superintendent of the fire-police,
aided by the important and efficient co-operation of Mr.
Whitty, of the nightly watch (whose tact and energy have
displayed themselves to the most decided advantage on all
occasions of this nature), the utmost order and regularity
prevailed, and there cannot be a doubt that to the two
officers named, and to the well-disciplined bodies under
their control, the merchants and householders of Liver-
pool are indebted for the preservation of a large amount of
property.

INCENDIARY FIRES AT ROTHERHITHE

THAMES POLICE OFFICE.
Yesterday Palmer, the policeman No. 108, R, who was
remanded on Saturday, after a private examination before
Mr. Ballantine, on a charge of wilfully setting fire to the
premises of Mr. Pittman, a barge builder at Rotherhithe,
on Thursday morning last, was brought up for further exa-
mination before Messrs. Broderip and Ballantine.
The greatest interest appeared to be excited, and the
office was crowded to excess by the parochial authorities,
and other respectable inhabitants of Rotherhithe.
Mr. Chambers, a barrister, and Mr. Warner, a solicitor,
appeared to watch the case for the priioner, by order of the
Commissioners of Police, and we understand that the in-
vestigation took place in the public office by desire of the
prisoner, the Magistrates wishing to conduct the examina-
tion privately.
Evans, the principal surveyor of Thames Police, was the
first witness examined, and stated that there had been four
fires and four attempted- fires during the last month, in
Rotherhithe ; one fire (that in which the Europa tavern
was burnt) alone being supposed to be accidental.
Stephens, the inspector of the R division of police, stated
that in consequence of the fires occurring so frequently at
Rotherhithe, and there being every reason to believe them
to be the work of incendiaries, he ordered a man to watch
the premises of Mr. Pittman. On Wednesday night the
prisoner Palmer was appointed to watch there, as it was in
his beat. He had been a month on the same beat, and the
premises of Mr. Grice, Mr. Pittman, and Mr. Davis, where
attempts had been made, were on the prisoner's beat ; and
Mr. Christall's, where the other incendiary attempt was
discovered, was about fifty yards from it. Of the actual
fires which had occurred Mr. Brooks's, of the Tunnel Com-
pany's premises, was alone on his beat ; but the Blue
Mountain Granary, which was lately burnt, was close to it.
Mr. Hartree asked him (witness) to put a man on the pre-
mises of Mr. Pittman, and he immediately ordered Sergeant
Stapleton to send Palmer, as he knew he was well ac-
quainted with the premises.
In answer to questions by Mr. Ballantine, Stephens said
he had no other reason for putting a man to watch those
Premises than that Mr. Hartree, who was a respectable
inhabitant, advised him so to do, and that he never had any
intimation that a fire would take place on the premises, nor
did any one inform him that such would be the case.
James Hambleton, a sergeant of police, stated that he
ordered the prisoner to go on duty on the premises of Mr.
Pittman, and to keep a good look out, and not to leave the
premises.

The Inspector here remarked that he never intended
Palmer should have confined his attention to the premises
of Mr. Pittman ; the sergeant must have misunderstood his
orders.

Mr. Nottingham, the vestry-clerk of Rotherhithe, pro-
duced a plan of the premises of Mr. Pittman, from which it
appeared that they consist of a large square building of
three floors, with a frontage to the river, and another to the
street. On the west side of the building, and communicat-
ing with it, is the Standard public-house, and on the east
side a passage over a common sewer going down to the
river. On the ground-floor the prisoner was stationed to
watch, and there was only one entrance by a trap-door to
the loft above. This trap-door was locked. There was no
other access to the loft where the fire was kindled from the
inside of the building. If any entrance were effected it was
from the exterior.

Mr. Chambers inquired if there would be any difficulty
in a person landing in the passage eastward of Mr. Pitt-
man's ? Mr. Nottingham—Not at high water.
Evans was recalled, and stated that in the passage
spoken of there were two doors. A water-butt was placed
near one of the doors, and close to that an aperture which
communicated with the lower floor, and by which any man
might pass from the ground-floor to the passage, and by
means of the water-cask and the door gain easy access to the
loft above through an opening where the weather boards
had been torn away. Any person who passed in the passage
might have been seen from the lower floor. There was
much rubbish about the premises.

Mr. Broderip—Must a person landing in the passage
necessarily pass the aperture leading to the ground-floor in
getting to the loft above ? Evans--Yes ; and any person
being on the ground-floor of the building might have passed
through the aperture into the passage, and climbed up by
the water-cask and the door to the loft above. I have
seen it done.

Mr. Chambers was proceeding to cross-examine this
witness when he was stopped by Mr. Broderip, who told
him that the prisoner was not then on his trial.
Evans then stated it to be his opinion that it was not
possible for any person to enter the premises by the only way
it could be supposed they were entered, without being seen
by a person stationed on the ground-floor, nor was it pos-
sible, in his opinion, for a person to walk in the loft above
without being heard by the person below.
John White, foreman to Mr. Pittman, was the next
witness called. He stated that he quitted the premises
at half-past five o'clock on Wednesday night, and left
his master there at that time. There were four half
pitch barrels in the back of the loft next the street
when he left the premises, but he found they had
been removed to the front where the fire had been
kindled on coming to work next morning. The floor was
not a close floor ; in some places the joints were an inch and
a half apart. It was not possible for a person to remove
those barrels and kindle a fire without being heard by
the person below. On the east side the lower part of

the premises were not enclosed at all ; and a person land-
ing at high water in the passage over the sewer would be
immediately on Mr. Pittman's premises. On being more
particularly asked to explain this, the witness said that the
opening was not above three paces from the river's edge at
high water. There was an aperture in the wall above at
the side of the first floor by which any person could gain
admission by climbing up the outside of the building in the
passage. He locked the trap-door and left they key in the
counting-house on Wednesday evening ; thus cutting off all
access to the floor except by the external part of the build-
ing. There was a great deal of timber of every description
on the premises, and no one could walk over it without
stumbling or making a noise. The half tar barrels weighed
each 1001bs.
Mr. Ballantine—Could any one roll the tar barrels over
the loft without making a noise ? Witness--Most cer-
tainly not.
Mr. Ballantine—Could any one roll a cask over the loft
without being heard by a person below ? Witness—No,
Sir. It was removed from the west side of the loft to the
north side next the river.
Mr. Ballantine—lf any person had proceeded into the
loft with a light while the prisoner was watching below is it
possible he could not have seen him ? Witness—l should
think it impossible.
In answer to other questions the witness said the second
floor was filled with reeds used in breaming (heating) the
bottoms of barges, but there was no access to it except
through the first floor. There was no means of access from
the Standard public-house to the upper floor at any time.
The evidence of the witness was pursued for some time,
and he made it plainly appear no one could have entered
the premises while the prisoner was there without being
seen or heard by him. He should think from the appear-
ance of the place that the fire could not have been kindled
more than fifteen minutes before it was discovered.
Mr. W. Hartree, senior, a respectable tradesman, stated
that in consequence of the numerous fires and incendiary
attempts at Rotherhithe be suggested to the Inspector
Stephens the propriety of placing a policeman on Mr. Pitt-
man's premises, which was done. He visited the premises
in company with Mr. Stokes and others about half-past
eleven o'clock. The prisoner was there, and said all was
right.

Mr. George • Vyze, of Clarence-street, Rotherhithe,
stated that he perambulated the parish on Wednesday
night, and a few minutes after twelve o'clock he was pass-
ing Mr. Pittman's premises, when he saw the prisoner
standing within the gateway, and he asked him to take a
turn round the premises with him. He consented, and the
prisoner, who had a lantern, showed him a light. He re-
mained on the building about five minutes. As they were
going down the passage he heard a noise as if some one
was sliding down the premises, and he said to the prisoner,
who was three yards ahead, " Did you hear that." The
prisoner replied, " 0, it must be the rats," but witness
thought it was too much noise for rats to make.
Mr. Ballantine—W hat was the noise like ? Wit-
ness—lt was like some one getting away, Sir.
Mr. Broderip—Who was nearest the noise ? Witness
—I was. Palmer was three yards from we.
Joshua Judge, a Thames police surveyer, stated that he
passed by Mr. Pittman's premises about half-past eleven
o'clock, and saw a man, whom he believed to be the pri-
soner, keeping watch. About thirty minutes afterwards he
passed again in his boat, and the tide was just then leaving
Mr. Pittman's premises. , An old skiff was moored about
ten or twelve yards from the building. Another Thames
police galley passed by shortly afterwards. The tide had
receded more than two hours before the fire was discovered,
and no one could have got near the building in a boat.
Sergeant Hambleton was here recalled, and said that he
gave the prisoner a lantern, which he trimmed the night
before ; but he was not certain that there was a light in the
lantern when he gave it to the prisoner.
Mr. Ballantine—What use was it to him without a light?
Hambleton—l think it was lighted.
Mr. Broderip—Do you come to the conclusion that it
was lighted or not? Hambleton—l think it must have
been, but I don't know. I told him he could not expect it
to burn very well.
Mr. Broderip expressed his surprise that the witness
should give a lantern to a man on watch of which he had so
bad an opinion.
Richard Dalby, a Thames Police surveyor, said he was
on duty in Rotherhithe, and at twenty minutes past twelve
passed Mr. Pittman's premises and saw the prisoner. One
of his men hailed him. After the fire it was given out that
the prisoner bad said that a man had escaped by the back
way, but he never mentioned that to him.
Thomas Walker, a Thames Police constable, whose evi-
dence was received with considerable attention, deposed
that he was on duty with Dalby, and passed Mr. Pittman's
premises on the land side a few minutes after twelve. He
looked through a crevice in the shutters and saw a lantern
on a plank on the lower floor, with the front towards him, and
the prisoner at the back apparently stooping, as though he was
doing something with the plank. He hailed him in the usual
way, " Ahoy, ahoy, there, is it all right ?" The prisoner re-
plied, " All's right, but I can't get the thing to burn," and
he muttered some oath. Witness left him, knowing he
was a policeman on duty. Shortly after two o'clock, and
just before the fire broke out, he passed the premises again,
and saw the prisoner at the door adjoining the Standard.
He started-a little on seeing witness, and, without having
challenged, said" All's right." He passed on with the sur-
veyor to Gillham's-court, where an incendiary fire which
destroyed a cooperage occurred about a month ago. They
returned to King's-stairs, and while standing their heard
that a fire had been detected, and proceeded with Dalby to
the spot. They afterwards heard it reported that the po-
liceman had said that he saw a person escaping by the back
way, but he got no answer on calling to him. In conse-
quence of this he proceeded to the back of the premises,
but could not discover the least trace of footsteps whatever
in the mud, or upon the blocks or steps in front of the
wharf, which must have bean the case had any one been
walking about the shore ; no one, in fact, could walk over
the mud without disturbing it. He also examined a large
barge near the river front, but no traces a man's foot could
be observed.
Mr. Chambers said he wished to have the liberty to
cross-examine the witness. He would ask the Beneh to
allow that latitude.
Mr. Ballantine said that all that Counsel usually did
in such cases was to watch the investigation, and make up
a defence on the evidence they heard for the trial. By
courtesy questions were allowed to be put to witnesses, but
it was not the rule of that office to allow doss-examinations
except in cases where the Magistrates have a summary ju-
risdiction.
Mr. Chambers said the practice was different at other
police offices.
Mr. Broderip said that the Learned Counsel must be
aware his colleague was not trying the case, and that he
would have been justified in again hearing it privately.
Mr. Chambers—Am I not to be allowed to go through
a regular cross-examination ? Mr. Ballantine—No, 1
cannot allow it here. This is only an inquiry on behalf of
the public.
Mr. W. Hartree, jun., said that he perambulated the
streets with others, and passed the prisoner above a dozen
times between twelve and two o'clock, and received from
him an assurance that " all was right." He, however, said
nothing of Mr. Vyse going round the premises with him, or
of a man escaping at the back. About half past two he
was coming down Rotherhithe-street, when Mrs. Mathews,
who resided opposite to Mr. Pittman's, gave an alarm of
fire. He ran immediately to the gate, and the prisoner,
who gave no alarm, followed him. He proceeded to the
wharf, and on looking up at the window of the first-floor,
he saw a blaze. He got up the stairs leading to the trap,
which he found securely locked. Mr. Christall and him-
self forced the trap with a crow-bar, and entered the loft,
when they discovered a fire at the north-east corner, near
the window overlooking the river. A half tar-barrel had
been placed on the floor, and some thin deal boards had
been put over it, and a tarpaulin over all ; part of these
materials were on fire, which appeared to have been first
kindled in the tar-barrel. The flames were fast extending
to the roof, and was only discovered just in time to prevent
the whole of the premises from being consumed. His opi-
nion was that the fire had been kindled ten or fifteen mi-
nutes before be entered the loft.
In answer to questions by Mr. BRODERIP the witness
said that just before the alarm was given by Mrs. Mat-
thews Palmer was seen to come from the premises and cross
the street. He did not call fire, or make any alarm. He
must have seen the reflection of the flames on the houses
opposite when Mrs. Mathews called out. After the fire was
extinguished the prisoner showed him the hole in the side
of the wall, and said that was the place where the incen-
diary must have got into the loft.
Mr. H. Christall, whose father's premises were fired by
an incendiary on the previous night, confirmed Mr. Har-
tree's evidence in every particular. He did not think any
one could have gained access to the premises without the
knowledge of the prisoner. He saw the fire through the
cracks of the floor before he broke open the trap-door. He
subsequently examined the buildings, and there was every
appearance of the incendiary having got up the external
wall of the building from the passage, and got through the
aperture.
Mrs. Matthews, who discovered and raised the alarm of
fire, was next examined, and stated that in consequence of
the numerous fires of late she could not sleep, and about
half-past two she got up, and on pulling up the window
blind discovered a fire in Mr. Pittman's. She opened the
window and saw the prisoner coming from the premises and
asked him if any one was there ? He said " No, not as I
know of." She told him the place must be on fire. The
prisoner ran across the street and looked up, and the parish
Gentlemen ran down the street, and went into the premises
and succeeded in putting the Are out.

Mr. Broderip—You drew his attention to the fir`'
Mrs. Matthews—Yes, Sir. Mrs.
Mr. Broderip—And did he make no reply?
Matthews—Not any that I heard of. nit
Mr. Ballantine—Do you mean to say that he
no alarm ? Mrs. Matthews--Not any at all, Sir. tbt
Mr. John Matthews said he was perambulating fir,j
streets about twelve o'clock on the night in question,l:o
Palmer told him that some one had rowed away ie
be
from the back of Mr. Pittman's warehouse. He sw"o
called out two or three times, and could not get an an"
the
from the man which he thought suspicious. witness' b t
prisoner, and two firemen rowed round the premises, :pe
could see no one. They left Palmer and went doll
town, when some conversation took place about the figu'd
2i marked with chalk on the palings of Messrs. SPeck;
and Redman, whose premises were fired on the Pre" t
Monday. A Mr. Jenkins said it was no doubt ele
°0
half-past two, and it was agreed upon to be particularly
r
the alert at that hour, and to this circumstance the 13
servation of half the parish may be said to be owing.

THE SECOND CHARGE. +ln" g
The above being all the evidence yet gathered resPee' fir
ir
the fire on Mr. Pittman's premises the second obelle'bi
setting fire to the premises of Mr. Joseph Christall, 5
broker, was gone into.
Mr. Maslin, a gentleman residing in Clarence-street' j'ttre
therhithe, stated, that the prisoner called on him en 11,
24th ult. His premises adjoining those of Mr. Christia,a,
The prisoner asked him if any access could be gained t
way to them, as he was apprehensive a fire would bre,
out there that night, and the police were ordered to-be
the look out. Palmer wished him to go round the ,Pr,it
mises, and he told him to call again, which he die It,
eleven o'clock, in company with a police-sergeant, and
ness accompanied the prisoner to the rear of the pretets;
and down a narrow alley called Dodd's-place, near the p
mises of a Mr. Moorcroft, who, on hearing them, loekeel
of a window, and witness told him a fire was suspected c;
Mr. Christall's premises. They then retired. An je'd.
diary fire did break out that night, but was timely
(115;
covered and subdued. The incendiary left a candle 89
neckerchief behind.
Calthar Morris also stated that she heard the polieeelitti
Palmer say that he expected a fire at Mr. Christalljs
mises that night. He examined a cooperage, and said
a padlock could easily be opened with a nail.
Mr. Moorcroft corroborated the evidence of the Precr
ding witness. 1r
Mr. Hartree, sen., said he discovered the fire at ',9
Christall's, and had no doubt of its being the work °'
incendiary. is
M

_r. Dixon, of Clarence-street, said the prisoner
his yard on the night of Christall's fire, and he gave h,,ltY
passage through his house. He told him he bad autirtcled
from Mr. Maslin to be there, or be should not have a° i 13,1
him a passage through his house. He did not say he
authority, but we have. • Ole
Mr. Maslin said the prisoner had no business ruriti
place, which was enclosed, and he gave him no ant/
to go there. He must have climbed:a gate to have
there.
'feci
Stephens, the inspector, said that he had not rece're
any intimation from the prisoner or any one else that 3
was to break out at Mr. Christall's.
Ste
Mr. Broderip—Do you mean to, hold by that ?
phens—Yes, yes, Sir ; that is the case. su
Mr. Ballantine—As you received no intimation cent
intended fire, you of course gave no instructions to Pre
one ? Stephens—Certainly not.
erfei
At this stage of the proceedings the Magistrates 01°00
that the prisoner was quite exhausted 'with standin° sc't jay,
hours, and they would examine no more witnesses'lba'turs,
and retired to a private room ten minutes. On their re 0,
Mr. Ballantine said he believed other facts would be
,e,
blished against the prisoner, and he had gone into t",-013'
vestigation that day with as much caution as he P(.)-"ctior
could ; but he was strongly of opinion that the e'r tbcr
seances of suspicion were not diminished but raaocl
strengthened by the evidence adduced. He should re'9„iriO
the prisoner till Monday, before which day further ill'!"
would be made. tye
Mr. Broderip said they were not pronouncing °L'iltit
innocence or guilt of the party accused ; but he tiwt4
was a case which demanded the fullest:inquiry. He
with his colleagues in tho course he intended to adopt.saypo
At the request of Mr. Chambers, Thursday ne—
apied for the next hearing. •
The office was crowded to the last, and we do not reel
lect any case which has excited so Much interest. 000
outer office and the street were crowded with Pets
anxious to hear the result of the investigation.