The Sun.
London, England, 1861-08-12 00:00:00

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

HOME CIRCUIT.—CROYDON, AUG. 10.
(Before Mr. Justice Williams.)
THE QUEEN V. SALMONS.

This was an indictment preferred by the vestry
of the parish of Rotherhithe against the defendant
for a nuisance, in which he pleaded not guilty.
Mr. Hawkins, Q.C., and Mr. Robinson conducted
the prosecution ; Mr. M. Chambers, Q.C., and Mr.
Sleigh were for the defendant.
This cause commenced on Friday afternoon, and
after it had been partly heard was adjourned until
the following morning. It appeared that the de-
fendant is an artificial manure manufacturer, and
he carries on,his business under the railway arches
at Rotherhithe. The case on the part of the prose-
cution was that he was in the habit of bringing
large quantities of stale fish to the place in ques-
tion, which were mixed with certain chemical mat-
ter, and the result was that the most offensive
smells were created, causing sickness and nausea to
the inhabitants of the neighbourhood, and even to
persons who were casually passing by at the time
the work was going on. _ _ _

After several witnesses had been examined to
prove the disgusting nature of the nuisance com-
plained of, an intimation was given by the defen-
dant's counsel that he was anxious to do all in his
power to remedy the grievance that was complained
of, and a consultation took place between the learned
counsel on both sides, which resulted in an under-
taking on the part of the defendant that he would
erect a shaft and make such other alterations under
the supervision of Dr. Letheby as would be calcu-
lated to abate the nuisance. He also undertook that
there should be no accumulation of the stale matter
permitted, and upon this understanding the case
was allowed to stand over to the spring assizes, and
the recognisances of the defendant were enlarged
until that period.
Mr. Justice Blackburn was engaged in trying
common jury cases, but none of them were of a
character to justify a report. It would be well for
all the parties in the remaining common jury
cases to be prepared at the sitting of the court
to proceed to trial, as the judges have expressed
their intention to go through the list, and take the
causes as they stand, and those that are not ready
will in all probability be struck out.

OXFORD CIRCUIT—GLOUCESTER, Aug. 10.
(Before Mr. Justice Keating.)
EXTRAORDINARY CASE OE ARSON.
William Willey, beer-house keeper, was indicted
for setting fire to the house in which he resided, at
Clifton, his wife and others being therein. There
were also indictments charging him with setting
fire to the premises with intent to defraud the Sun
Insurance Company and his landlord.
Mr. Cooke prosecuted ; and Mr. Cripps and Mr.
Sawyer defended the prisoner.
This was one of the most determined and clear
cases of attempting to defraud an insurance com-
pany that perhaps was ever brought before a court
of justice.

The prisoner occupied the Hope and Anchor beer-
house in the Hotwell-roads, Clifton, and also rented
two other adjoining houses, which he sublet. In the
month of November last he insured his furniture for
£lOO, and his stock for another £lOO, with the Sun
Fire Insurance Company. He also endeavoured to
effect an insurance for £3OO with the Royal Insur-
ance Company ; but the agent, on going to inspect
the premises, declined the insurance, on the ground
that he had not £5 worth of furniture in the
house. In the spring of the present year the
prisoner got into difficulties, and was incarcerated
for debt for a month. He was liberated in
April, and on the 15th of that month a
policeman named Goulding, who was on duty
near the premises, saw the back of the prisoner's
house on fire. He gave an alarm and other police-
men arrived, but the prisoner refused to admit them,
observing to one that " It's not half a fire yet."
The police had to use force to get the prisoner (who
stood at the front door) away from the door before
they could gain admission. They then found the
houso on fire in fourteen different places. Combus-
tibles had been placed in every room, from the
ground-floor to the roof, Bundles of sticks and
shavings smeared with tar were
in the cellar
taken up and
_ placed about, and
some portions of the floor had been
i
which had
sticks
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and
a quantity of straw, wood,shavings,
dpel
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been lighted and burnt a hole in the floor above. The
room above the cellar was also full of wood, shavings,
and straw. Independently of the pieces that had
been partially burnt, he found 2,700 sticks of vari-
ous lengths in different parts of the house.
One of the prisoner's daughters deposed that her
father came home on the Wednesday before the
fire. There were five children in the house when
the fire broke out. They Were awoke by her father,
and got out of the house undressed.
Counsel for the defence did not attempt to deny
that the prisoner had fired the house, but urged

that there was no intent to destroy the inmates.
That portion-of the indictment was abandoned, and
the prisoner, being found guilty of the intent to
defraud, was sentenced to 20 years' penal servitude.
On the sentence being passed, the prisoner's
daughter swooned away, and a terrible scene of
distress with the other members of the family en-
sued.