The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-26 00:00:00

JUVENILE DEPRAVITY,

On Tuesday afternoon a fire was discovered pro-
ceeding from a stable in the occupation of an aged
widow, named Gaisford, at Bulkington, about fives
miles from Devizes, and the flames communicating to
the dwelling-house adjoining, the whole was con-
sumed in the course of two hours. It may be re-
membered that some alarm was excited in this place
about a year and a half ago, in consequence of the de-
molition of nearly the whole of the windows of Mrs.
Gaisford's house, and of a great portion of her
crockery, apparently without hands. Mrs, Gaisford
—good easy woman—and her husband (who was
living at the time) could not be persuaded but that it
proceeded from some supernatural power—that it was,
in fact, the freaks of a ghost. Upon no other person's
mind, however, was there the slightest doubt but that
it was the act of the grandson of the old people, an
artful urchin, then only about nine years of age ; and
circumstances have transpired to confirm the fact.
The boy has since gone by the name of " the
Bulkington Ghost." After the flames had been
quelled on Tuesday, suspicions were excited that
" the Bulkington Ghost " had been to work again.
Superintendent Haines, who had been attracted to
the spot from Potterne, by the light which the flames
produced, discovered upon inquiry that the boy had a
day or two previously purchased some lucifer matches ;
and as the stable communicated with the dwelling-
house, and there being no other persons in the
house at the time than the boy and his grandmother
—the boy having been absent about five minutes tier
fore the fire was discovered—he felt it his duty to ap-
prebend him. His suspicions were strengthened by the
fact that the door of the stable, which fronts the yard,
was fastened at the time—clearly showing that the
fire must proceed from some one in the house. The
boy, at about twelve at night, was taken to the blind-
house, but he had not been there long before he be,
came greatly alarmed, and entreated to be allowed
to go to his grandmother. The constable
who had charge of him said he must know
something of the fire first. The boy as4o,
whether, if he confessed, he should be let out?
Without any promise being made to him, he after-
wards confessed—that he had taken the cows to water,
and that on his return he went Into the stable from
the yard ; that he then fastened the door, applied a
match to the straw in the rack, and seeing it burn,
went into the kitchen and sat down by the side of his
grandmother, as if nothing had happened ; adding,
that he did not think of setting
tW house on fire.
About five minutes afterwards, a person seeing amok°
'storing from the stable, went and endeavoured
to open the door, but finding it fastened, broke
it open, when the flames broke forth with re-
doubled fury. The following morning the boy was
taken before Mr. Ludlow Bruges and the Rev. Mr.
Crawley, when, in the most hardened manner, he not
only denied committing the act, but also said that he
did not even know upon what charge he was taken
up. Mr. Superintendent I/a.igea said he had no doubt
that the boy had made the confession ;.,a the blind-
4onse under the impression that it wouid`be the
mean of liberating him. From this circumstance, ,
and taking into COOS4ergio the very tender age of
the boy, the magistrates did 4.0; feel ia!gel
in committing him ; he was therefore (set, vii;
liberty. He readily acknowledged to the
.supelint.,Ad:.nt that it was he who broke
all the windows a 4 the crockery in his grand-
mother's house. He state, other freaks!