The Sun.
London, England, 1858-03-27 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.--March 26.

GUILDHALL-0 _IIARGE OF ARSON.—Wm. Henry Parker,
a wholesale warehouseman and mantle manufacturer, of ::6,
Moaktvell-street, City, was placed at the bar before Alder-
man Hale for further examination relative to the charge of
setting fire to his house, on the night of the 10th of March
last, with intent to defraud the Westminster Insurance Com-
pany of 5601,
Mr. Humphreys said he attended to watch the case in be-
half of the Westminster Fire-office, fir the purfoso merely of
watching the case, not with the view of withdrawing front it,
bet in order that they might be able to conduct the prosecu-
tion at the Old Bailey, in the event of the magistrate sending
the prisoner for trial. No undue severity would be exercised
by the Insurance Company towards the prisoner by that
course; and he therefore only proposed to call the necessary
witnesses to bo examined by the Court in reference to the
value of the property claimed for. Ho presumed there would
be no difficulty with regard to the production of the policy.
Mr. Sleigh (for the psi encr), said every assistance should
be rendered to forward this investigation that was consistent
with the nature of this charge and the prisoner's position.
No notice had been given for the production of the policy, or
it should have been here, but if it were required it should bo
sent for.

A model of the premises alleged to have been set on fire
had been very ingeuiously constructed by Inspector Foulger,
and was now produced.

The depositions taken on the former occasion having
been read over, _

Inspector Foulger was recalled, and said—l have been to
the premises since the last examination, and have made the
corth rect
ehti oewie a)ti.
h•tdehes
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mtwo
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o.crel
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Alderman Hale—l quite understand it. The model makes
it very clear.
Inspector Foulgor—lt is a very dark cellar. I produce the
gas branch, from which the ordinary burner or nipple has
been removed, and upon lighting it, I found that it gave out
a flame about 18 inches long, and when found by the firemen
it was tumid up to within three or four inches of the flooring.
I may mention that the outside private door, which is the
usual way out, was secured by two locks when the firemen
brake it open, so that it would require two keys to open it.
Mr. John Toner said—l live in Cloud esley-square, Islington,
and am one of the agents for the Westminster Fire-office. 0.
the 15th of September, the prisoner made a proposal for in-
suring his premises at 30, Monkwell-street, for 1 ,0001 . , 900/.
of which was for stock in trade and fixtures, and 100/. for
household goods.
Cross.examined—lt was through my instrumentality that
this insurance was effected. I called upon him to solicit him.
Mr. Sleigh explained that the value of the stock consumed
had been assessed by a third party, and not by the prisoner,
Mr. Humphreys—That is not my belief.
*Mr. Wm. Arnold said—l am in the employ of MefFrs. Stagg
and Mantle, of Leicester-square. I buy and superintend the
mantle department. I went to the prisoner's premises on
Tuesday last, and examined the stock there. I have also seen
the claim sent into the insurance office. There is a charge of
151. for trimmings, which I estimate to be only worth 5/. The
charge of 31. for silk is, I believe, correct ; but the two of 61.
19s. 2d. each for cloth and plaid, are only worth 5/. each. The
charge of 92/. for mantles should be about 40!. All these
goods are what I call uninjured stock, but they formed part
of the claim. The charge of 260/ is for patterns, which is like
some I saw on the premises, wo. uld bo of the value of about
brown 101. Tuese were paper patterns, and some were writ-
ten upon, and
were evidently made for wrappers. Paris
atterns are made of pink paper. The value
factured stOck, which is claimed at 105/ isaobfouthtesutvranu
Mr. Sleigh —Aro you valuing these 2,400 patterns as de-
Signs or waste paper I
Witness—As waste paper, sir. There is no desializ about