The Sun.
London, England, 1850-12-28 00:00:00

WANDS WORTH.

After the disposal of the ordinary night charges,
Edward Amos, a man about twenty-eight years of age,
was brought from the House of Detention, Clerken7
well, and placed in the dock before Mr. Beadon, on
a remanded charge from the Marylebone Police-
court, on his own confession of setting fire to certain
warehouses and workshops belonging to Captain Thomas
Ross, and situate in the vicinity of Clapham-common,
on the evening of Friday, the 20th inst.

The first witness examined was Richard Young, a
police-constable of the D division, to whom the prisoner
surrendered himself, and who recapitulated the testimony
which he gave at the Marylebone Police-court.
Captain Thomas Ross sworn—The damage done was
considerably more than 1,0001.; the buildings destroyed,
although temporary, being very extensive, covered with
slate roofing, and containing large quantities of ma-
hogany, cedar, and other expensive woods, besides a vast
number of flooring-boards, and every description of ma-
terial required for fifteen or sixteen first rate houses.
There was also a pile of deals near the buildings des-
troyed. The prisoner was at work on the premises for some
weeks, under my contractor, Mr. John Wood. He was not
discharged; he left of his own accord. Some weeks
since he came to me and said, " I'm about being seat off
those premises, and I don't see why I should bo put out
of work. You are getting some holdings' made, and
will you give me so much a hundred to make them?" I

said, " My good fellow, I don't see why you should be
driven away, you shall do them at the price." He went
away, and I did not see him again. I said to the priso-
ner, when I saw him at the station, " You could have
had no motive to injure me." The prisoner made no
reply, but as I was coming away he said, " Now, sir, I've
done this act, and I am ready to give you all the satis-
faction in my power." The prisour then accounted to
Captain Ross for the way in which he had disposed of
his time during the evening in question. He said that
he found the workshop door open. He made some other
remarks, one of which was that he supposed he should
not get more than seven years. He also said he had
remained in the building until he was very cold. He
did not know what came over him, but he ultimately
conclAed he would do it, and did do it.

By Mr. BEADON—He did not in any of his conversa-
tion show any hostile feeling to me. Witness ascer-
tained that all the facts the prisoner had mentioned
were true.

The prisoner had no questions to ask the prosecutor.
John Wood said he was contractor for part of the
work. The prisoner worked for him up to three weeks
since. He was not discharged, but he told him he
would be if he did not marry his sister. They had never
quarrelled, but he had spoken strongly to him abuut his
sister.

Capta;n Ross here said he had omitted a part of the
prisoner's statement to him. He was very angry towards
the Woods. He said he would have his revenge, and
wished they'd been there to be burnt.
Mr. 13EADON said this was the most important evidence
yet given.
Caroline Weod was next examined—She had known
the prisoner some time, and had had a child by him,
which was three years old. He had promised to marry
her. He had said he would have his revenge on her
brother on the Wednesday previous to the fire.
Alfred Wood proved that he saw the prisoner write,
and the threatening letter produced as sent to Mr. Chris-
topher Ross, was in his handwriting.
The letter was produced by Inspector Coleman, but
the contents have already been made public.
The prisoner was then formally committed, but will
be brought up on Monday for the depositions to be
completed.