The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-20 00:00:00

The female prisoner was suffering from bad health.

THAMES.—EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE OF ARSON.—
seph Phiaman and Rachel Phiaman, his wife, were
charged with setting fire to their dwtliing-house, with
intent to defraud the Sun Insurance-office. The prisoners
were German Jews, occupying the shop, back parlour,
and front kitchen, at No. 57, Cable-street, Wellelose-
squ Iro, where Phiaman carried on business as a barber.
John King, a tinplate-worker, living at Ratcliff-high-
way, said that last Friday Pbiaman showed him a receipt
for a premium paid to the Sun-office, insuring 1001., and
that he meant to set fire to his premises on Sunday even-
ing. Witness informed the police, and on Sunday called
on the prisoner, went down to the kitchen, and saw a
qnantity of wood and coals laid on the fire-grate, from
which linos communicated 'with all parts of the room,
and on these lines were smipended linen and clothes.
Tee lines communicated also with some rags on the
dresser. The male prisoner' asked what he thought of
it, and he said, "You know your business best ; but
Satan himself could not do it better.' The prisoners shut
up their shop and went out soon after eight o'clock.
They returned between nine and ten, and witne-s, on
going to the house, found that the kitchen fire had been
lighted. Phiaman tell him the coals would not burn, and
that he meant to put off setting fire to the place till the
following afternoon. Witness ca.led again next day, saw
the woman brandishing lighted rags about in the kitchen,
and while he was upstairs with her husband a dense
smoke ascended from below, and the kitchen was on fire.
The firemen, who were on the alert, were quickly at the
house, and the fire was extinguished.
This strange story-was mainly confirmed by other wit-
nesses, and a police-constable who bad watched the pre-
cniges stated that the kitchen dresser was burnt, and the
gas pipes burnt down, and that the prisoner's furniture
did not deem worth more than eight or nine pounds. This
witness also said that the doors had been closed before
the place was set on fire, that a suffocating smoke rushed
•up the stairs, and that he met a man who lodged in the
upper part of the house running out of the passage carry-.
ing his children. He considered that if the fire had
taken place in the night everybody in the house would
have perished in five Minutes. Pi limier told him that
his wife had the policy of insurance.

• Mr. Selfe sail notice must be served on the prisoners
to produce it, and remanded them till Saturdal.

BOW-STREET.—TICKET OFFICES.—An application
for advice was made to Mr. Jardine, by a gentleman
whose name was not mentioned, as to the mode of en-
against a person keeping what is forcing a warranty
called,an "Opera-ticket office," adjoining the Royal
Italian Opera, Lyceum.
The applicant had purchased the box at the "office"
in question, under the belief that the place bad been
opened in connection with the theatre,—that it was,
in short, an authorised box-office. He asked on what
evening the "Trovatore" would be performed, and on
the office keeper's positive assurance that it would be
played on Tuesday (last evening) gave three guineas
for a box for that night. He had since ascertained
that the opera for that night was "La Traviata ; "
that the office was entirely unconnected with the the-
atre, and that he bad been charged 50 per cent, more
than the fair price. He did not complain of being
cheated in the Trice, but he thought the representa-
tion that the " Trovatore " was to be played was a
pretence for which he ought to have a remedy. He
had demanded the return Gf the money, which had.
been refused.
Mr. Jardine did not think he had any power to
compel the man to return the money. The applicant
had only a civil remedy. The man was certainly
bound to return the money, and probably if be (the
worthy magistrate) sent a policeman to tell him 80,
he might give back the money without compelling
the applicant to take legal proceedings.
A. constable accordingly went with the applicant
to the ticket-office, and the proprietor, on hearing
the magistrate's opinion, returned •the price of the
be x.

LETTERS FOR LISBON, PERNAMBUCO, BAHIA AND RIO
DE JANEIRO.—Yesterday a written notice was posted in
the Great-hall of the General Post-office, in St. Martin's-
le Grand, by order of the Postmaster-General, which
was as follows :—" Ship. letter bags.—Mails will be
made up for Lisbon, Pernambuco, Bahia, and Rio de
Janeiro, for transmission by the steamer Petropolis, to
leave Southampton on the 24th instant (Sunday next).
—General Post-ofEce, May 19, 1857.7

THk BANKRUPTCY OF MR. W. PITCHER.

A meting of the creditors of Mr. Win. Pitcher,
of Northfleer, shipowner, &c., who has lately sus-
pended, was held yester !ay, Mr. White presiding,
when the subjoined statement was presented by
Mr. J. E. Coleman, the accountant :L---
STATEMENT OF THE AFFAIRS OF WM. PITCHER, OF NORTH•
FLEET, KENT, SHIPOWNER, &C., MAY 9,1857 :
DR.
To creditors unsecured‘ £30,803 9
Credit rs partially secured.. £93,185 6 9
Estimated value of security
held

Creditors fully secured
Estimated value of secu-
rity held
Amount of claims 6,000 0 0

Sae contra £4,950 0 0
Liabilities on bills received 1,824 7 1
Expected to be duly honoured at maturity.
£94,97816 3
CR.
By cash balances £Bl 6 5
West of Ireland Fishing and Fish Manure
Company's shares, estimated at l'o 0 0
Loose tools, stores, drc., estimated at
.20,200 0 0
Debtors good
Estimated amount to be received on com-

pletion of vessel now building for the
Russian Government, say 1,40 0 0
Surplus security with creditors contra 4,950 0 0

£27,496 7 2
Amounts tinder £lO, and to
be paid in full £l3B 17 11
Safaries, taxes, rates, and
other charges 939 15 9

1,078 13 8
Household furniture, &c.,
stands at c05t....... ....... 1,623 3 2

1:26,417 13 6

It was explained that the assets will realise about
ss. in the pound if the stock be sold by auction,
and another valuation (could arrangements be made
to. secure an incoming purchaser) shows about 10s.
In 1852 the estate exhibited a surplus of 13,0001.,
but losses have since occurred, and these, with the
interest on borrowed capital, private expenditure,
and the difference in cost and estimated value of
premises, have caused the deficiency; One creditor
complained of the manner in which his debt had
been contracted shortly before the suspension. A
suggestion was made to wind up by inspectorship,
but several creditors thought that an offer of com-
position would be accepted. Mr. Coleman stated
that if the creditors will agree to take 6s. Bd. in
the pound he will endeavour to make arrangements
for the payment of that amount within two months..
The majority supporting this proposition, a com-
mittee was appointed to carry it out, and a memo-
randum was drawn up, and signed by many of the
parties present.

Country markets.