The Sun.
London, England, 1832-03-02 00:00:00

VICE-CHANCERY.-(THIS DAY.)

His Honour the VICE-CHANCELLOR was occupied the
whole morning with cause petitions, totally devoid of any inte-
rest except to the parties concerned.

WINCHESTER, MARCH 1.

Henry Hunt, aged 25, Thomas Berriman, aged 27, and
Thomas Whitcher, aged 25, were indicted for having on the
night of the 11th, or the morning of the 12th of December, at
the parish of Barton Stacey, unlawflilly, maliciously, and felo.
niously set fire to a certain stack of wheat, a stack of barley,
and other effects, of the value of 8004 the property of James
Smith ; also to three barns:, stable, and cart-shed, the property
of Sir H. Wright Wilson, Knt.
Mr. MISSING opened the case for the prosecution.

James Smith examined—l am a farmer, occupying Cowcombe
Farm, in the parish of Barton Stacey, and was so in the occupa-
pation up to the 11th of December. lam tenant to Sir H. W.
Wilson. On the evening of the 11th of December I went to
bed a little before nine. There was nothing then amiss. I was
called up between eleven and twelve. I had looked out at
ten, but observed nothing unusual. When called, I looked out
of the window, and saw flames issuing from my barns. I saw
two people standing near. They were Brickwood and Baston.
They are both shoemakers. I called to them to turn the
horses out. The fire seemed to be coming from the wheat-rick
or the straw-rick, but the barn intercepted my view—the ricks
are about eight yards from each other. They stood at the
west end of the farm-yard and to the south of my house. The
fire continued the whole of the next day. A wheat-rick, a
barley-rick, an oat rick, a clover seed-rick, Dutch clover seed-
rick, stack of rye grass. and rape seed, a rick of straw, my
property, were destroyed. Three barns, cart-shed, stable, and a
cow-fence, the property of Sir W. Wilson, were also destroyed.
There was corn inside the barns also destroyed.

Charles Blackman-1 live at Barton Stacey, and am a carpen-
ter. On the 29th of November I was under the school-T.6om
there about six o'clock in the evening. Hunt and Whitcher
were with me. Whitcher asked Hunt to go with him to set
Cowcombe Farm on fire, for that was safer than Mr. Lywood's.
He occupies a farm in Barton Stacey. Whitcher had some
gunpowder and tinder done up in a paper together. Ho said
the gunpowder had got amongst the tinder, and it would light
too soon. Hunt said he should not go, Whitcher then asked
me to go, but I refused. I saw them again on the 11th of De-
cember. I then saw Hunt first, about ten in the morning, at
his mother's. I said I was going home, and asked him to go
with me ;he did so. We first went to Sutton Scotney, to John
Hoare's, who keeps a beer-shop ; we got there between eleven
and twelve ;we drank there one quart of beer, We then went
to my father's. We had a conversation that Cowcombe Farm
was to be burnt that night. Whitcher was with us then. I
do not know which of them said so. We left Whitcher at
Hoare's. We got back to Sutton about four o'clock. We went
to David Higgins's, who keeps the Swan. Whitcher followed
directly after us. We remained there till six o'clock. Charles
Taylor, Henry Taylor, and Charles Swinay, were there. Hunt
and Twining went out, saying they were going to Hoare's.
Whitcher and I joined them in a quarter of an hour. Twining
left at seven ;we remained till eight. All three of us left
Hoare's and came on the road for Barton Stacey. Wo all had
lighted pipes with us. 'We came about half a mile, and the❑
sat under a hedge, on account of the rain. Our pipes went
out. I went back to Hoare's, for some tobacco, and
then joined Hunt and Whitcher again. I also got a
light to my pipe. We then got up, and went across
some fields to Cowcombe Farm. I cannot say what time we
got there ;it was dark. Hunt and Whitcher entered the rick_
yard. I did not see a pipe then. I stood on the outside, I
saw Hunt and Whitcher in about a quarter of an hour, When
they came out Whitcher said he could not light it. I don't
know whether Hunt could hear this, We then went to Bar-
ton Stacey, to a place called Shortdrove. Hunt and I then sat
under a hedge. Whitcher said he was going to Berriman's, to
light his pipe ; he was absent five minutes ; he then came back
with Berriman. Henry Hunt then got up and talked to them.
In three minutes Berriman left. Hunt, Whitcher, and I went
back to Cowcombe Farm, and they entered the rick.yard again.
I remained in the field, about 60 or 70 yards from the yard ;
they remained there half an hour. They then came back.
Whitcher said he could not light it with what he had, but now
he had begun doing it, he would be if he would not do it.
He said he was going to Berriman's to get some striking tackle.
We all went to Berriman's house. I heard one of them ask
Berriman for the striking tackle, for they could not do it with
what they had. I said I should not go with them any more,
and went out into the wood.house. They said they did not
want me. Hunt and Whitcher then went into the road, but
did not see which way they went. I went to sleep in the wood-
house, and waked in about half an hour. I then saw a tire at
Cowcombe Farm. I went there, and saw Hunt and Whitcher.
There were a good many other people. I was then riding Mr.
Lewis's horse and leading Mr. North's. I saw Hunt and
Whitcher on Wednesday, the 14th, at Fyfield's beer shop, at
Barton Stacey. Whitcher said to me, " Mind, don't say any
thing about the fire." Hunt was in the same room.
Cross-examined by Mr. SAUNDERS—I work for John
Childs, of Barton Stacey, and have done so for six years; I ant
his apprentice ; I don't know how long it is since I first told
this story, it was about a week after it took place; I told it first
to the Governor of the gaol ; 1 was in the gaol at the time; I
was taken upon the 15th, and it was about a week after that I told
of it; I don't know what I was taken up for; I was charged
with going along with these men to Cowcombe farm ; I did not
abscond; I was at my work as usual; I was taken up the day
after Whitcher; the Governor asked me what I had to say
about it; I did not tell this story to save myself; I did not tell
before, because no one said any thing to me about it; I was
taken before a Magistrate, but I don't recollect what they asked
me, or what I answered.

Mr. Busigny, by Mr. SAUNDERS--I am the attorney for
the prosecution. On the 14th December I sent for Whitcher
and examined him. He went away. He came a second time;
I believe on his own account. He asked if the proclamation
of Nov., 183), was still in force. I said I believed it was. We
had a general conversation about the proclamation. He asked
me if a person gave information of the fires, would he be enti-
tled to the benefits of that proclamation, and he in consequence
gave information, but not the substance of that which is re.
duced to writing. I went to Colonel Ironmonger, but the pri-
soner, by my desire, had gone to Colonel Ironmonger before me,
to give the information respecting this fire, and it was at that
time the prisoner's confession was read. No person was then
in custody, but it was in consequence of this the others were
apprehended.

By Mr. MISSING—I communicated to Colonel Ironmonger
the information I had obtained, and that something had passed
respecting the proclamation, and after that Col. Ironmonger
told him whatever he said would be taken in writing, and read
against him.

By Mr. SAUNDERS—We do not recollect it being told the
prisoner that it might save his life, but he might expect to go
out of the country.
Mr. SAUNDERS here submitted that the confession could
not be read, as the prisoner made it under the impression that a
pardon was offered to any one who would confess.
The Learned JUDGE said the case was so novel, that he
should consult Mr. Justice Park upon it. He observed, that he
did not approve of an attorney, being clerk to the Magistrates,
being so active in the prosecution ; he was aware there were
some cases that required it.

Mr. Justice GAZELEE having again come into Court, said
that it was his opinion that it was evidence, but if it was :neces-
sary it would be taken into consideration hereafter, and probably
a merciful view might be taken.

Other evidence was adduced, after which,
The Jury acquitted Berriman, and found the other two
Guilty.

The prosecutor, by Mr. MISSING, begged that Whitcher's
case might receive his Lordship's merciful consideration.

The Learned JUDGE thought that his life would be spared,
if a still greater degree of mercy was not extended to him.
The prisoners were then removed.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

TATTARSALL'S.
Two or three trivial alterations resulted from a very dull after.
noon's business. The following were the closing prices :

kIDDLEswokTtr.
6 to 4 offered agst the Pastile colt
DERBY.
17 to 2 agst Lord Exeter's Beiram (takers at 9 to I)
10 to 1 agst Mr. Dilly's Margrave (taken)
10 to 1 agst Lord Exeter's Spencer
14 to 1 agst Lord Chesterfield's Non Compos
14 to 1 agst Lord Exeter's Byzantium
16 to 1 agst Duke of Grafton's Pastille colt
18 to 1 agst Lord Mountcharles's Minster
18 to 1 agst Mr. Vansittart's Darioletta colt
25 to 1 agst Mr. S. Day's Gratis
11 to 4 agst Lord Exeter's lot
4 to 1 agst Beiram and Spencer.

CHOLERA.—It is a well known fact that the
American Indians have very effective vegetable specifics
for all diseases, except those introduced by Europeans, to
which they are liable, we think the following not unde-
serving of the attention and enquiry of the Board of
Health. Mr. 1116GREcoa, in his work on British America,
just published, says,—" A root, called, from its colour,
blood-root, and from its taste, chocolate-root, is boiled
in water, and the decoction used by the Indians as a cer.
tain remedy for the most violent attack of cholic. It is
also taken by them to remove dysentery, &c. It removes
acute pain as readily as opium, without posseasmg the
pernicious qualities of that drug."