The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-03 00:00:00

ENGLAND.

Bank of England £21,448,000
Private Banks
Joint-Stock Banks... ... ... 3,340,326

SCOTLAND.
Chartered, Private, and Joint-Stock Banks 2,903,322

IRELAND.

Bank of Ireland 3,440,700
Private and Joint-Stock Banks

Total
Bullion in the Bank of England £15,485,000
JOHN THORNTON.
Stamps and Taxes, Aug.,2, 1844.

SUMMER ASSIZES.
HOME CIRCUI T.—Guildford, Aug. 2.
CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Baron GURNEY.)
ARSON.—George Elderfield, 28, was indicted for
feloniously setting fire to a stack of straw, the property
of John Bicknell.

In another count, the stack was said to be the property
of the Right Hon. Arthur Earl of Onslow.
Mr. Clarkson and Mr. Knapp conducted the prosecu-
tion, and Mr. Cbarnock defended the prisoner.
Mr. CLARKsoN having briefly and candidly detailed
the facts of the case, called the following witnesses. The
case was of rather a singular character, and appeared to
create a good deal of interest.
Mr. John Bicknell examined by Mr. KNAPP--I hold a
farm called the Wilderness farm, about a mile from
Guildford, and which is the property of Earl Onslow.

About half-past ten at night, On the 17th of May, I was
awoke by an alarm of fire, and I got up immediately

and found a straw-rick on fire. The fire very soon com-

municated to the other buildings, and before the horses

and cattle could be got out, —several were destroyed.
Fifty quarters of oats and two of beans were also burnt.
On the next morning the prisoner was brought to my
house in the custody of an officer.
Charles Hollington—l am inspector of police at Guild-
ford, and upon my receiving information of the fire, I
sent for the engine, and proceeded myself to the spot.
I also, for particular reasons, sent a constable to the
prisoner's lodgings, and afterwards went there myself,
but we could not find the prisoner. We searched for
him on our way to the fire, but could see nothing of him
at that time. We again went to the prisoner's lodgings
after this, and he was then at home. I asked him where
he had been, and he replied, " Laying eel-lines ;" and he NORFOLK ClRCUlT.—Norwich, Aug. 1.
added that he had met a young man at the water side, CROWN COURT--(Before Mr. Justice Wituams.)
and remained with him until eleven o'clock at night. Henry Powing, aged 18, was indicted for maliciously set-
with intent to t told him to show me where the lines were laid, and
Bak
the case for the prosecution, and
ting fire to four feet of " growing furze,"
julth7,lt,ev. W. in-
took him to the river, and he pointed out several places.
He said he did not know the young man he had frOmrilis conductedNstAaNteSTßent, corroborated bvthe evidence f witnesses,
been with. I then, in the prisoner's hearing, instructed it appears that the rev. prosecutor, who is the reeelro fShip-
a constable to watch the river, and told the prisoner I dam, was walking through his farm, with his bailiff, on the
should detain him until I found whether his story 26th of May last, and just as they turned into an occupation
was correct. The prisoner said he was thirsty road, which was divided from the fields by a bank and line
and I gave him some refreshment. While he furze hedge, they espied some smoke rising from the left-
was eating it he told me it was of no use hand bank. Almost at the same moment they saw the
for the constable to watch the river, for there Prisoner quitting the place whence the smoke was rising, and
came towards them at a smart pace. When the parties
were no eel-lines there, and he said he would tell me
him if
bailiff raitzedmtolleel;id,,a,nsdn,turnig him round, asked
which way he went. Al this time Mr. Bicknell's name
it e
the
es said hwe,as"taNioie,nl. seet
had not been mentioned. The prisoner then took me
over several fields towards Mr. Bicknell's farm, andßarker put boy was
the fire with
cntolinisnteol.:"'yh yyoatt.whlseittbliasittaisffn,ding while th iAsird.eni
showed me the track of footsteps, which I have no doubt his e umperellar." As soon as a policeman could be found
were made by the shoes of the prisoner. As we were the lad was searched, and 18 lucifer-matches discovered in
going along the prisoner pointed to a wide hedge, and the lining of his waistcoat. When this fact turned up, the
said he had lain down there and gone to sleep, and that prisoner began to cry, and said that he " had not done it for
some boys were close by, but he did not think they saw the nonce ;" but lie afterwards said, when before the Magis-
him. We got to the farm about five in the morning, trate, that he had struck a light as he walked along the
and I told Mr. Bicknell I had a man in custody who had hedge, and thrown three lucifers into the furze, adding that
confessed that he caused the fire. Mr. Bicknell asked he meant to have done the same all the way along home.
The jury having found a verdict of Guilty, sentence was
him if he had ever injured him, and he replied that he deferred.
such not, and on his asking him how he came to commit Mary. Anne Fury was chargeil with setting fire to an
such an act, the prisoner said the fact was that he was out-house in the occupation of Joh Cook, on the 17th of
not right in his head, and that at times he did not know July last.
what he was about. Mr. Bicknell then walked with me Mr. Palmer appeared for the prosecutor ; and Mr. Power
and the prisoner, and the latter again showed the track defended the prisoner.
of his footsteps, and I afterwards traced them by myself The prosecutor is the uncle of the prisoner, a middle-aged
nearly up to the prisoner's lodging, and the way he ap- woman, and they occupy cottages which are under one roof.
peared to have gone was more than a mile round. The Seine short time ago a quarrel arose between the relatives as
prisoner afterwards told me that he took three lucifer- to the right to the use of a pigsty and cow-shed, which was
matches from his coat, and the first he tried to light
attached to their common residences, and matters grew to
such a pitch that the lady began one day to pelt the aged
broke. The second ignited, and with it he set fire to man, for such he was, with stones, which she accompanied
the corner of the straw stack, and when it blazed up he with, a threat to "cut out his old eyes." Upon this he ap-
threw the third match down, and ran away. pealed to the law, and the lady was taken up, and sum-
Cross-examined--There were one or two hundred marily dealt with before a justice for the assault. Finding
persons preseytwhen I went to the fire. The stacks were that she had got the worst of that job, the prisoner sulkily
in an open field. My attention was first attracted to said she did not care for the pigsty, for she would very soon
the fire about eleven o'clock, at which time it was blaz. burn or pull it down, and then nobody should have it. This
ing and had attracted a great deal of attention. I had was on the 9th of the month, and, sure enough, on the morn-
known the prisoner before, and had conversed with him ing of the 17th the out-house was discovered to be in fumes.
once or twice on the subject of fires, and I believe he is ailninqaillra-,reitaNtvaLaesoccrltoacilciedwliheantttilliee
ro buildingsecu oirn question,
t tended his
very fond of going to them. I know nothing of the state
of his mind. The effect of my conversation with the pri- cow being all
pigs, they were found to be on) fire at six o'clock,
within a very few minutes after the prisoner was seen to go
soner was not to induce a belief that he was silly. He there. This fact depended on the testimony of the prisoner a
is commonly called " Cuckoo," and I believe he answers little grandson, an intelligent boy of ten years, who was
to the name. The prisoner was with me four or five I subjected to a close cross-examination on behalf of the pri-
hours before I took him to the fire. I only gave the I soner, the result of which was that he had not told his
prisoner half a pint of beer at the public-house where " grand'ther" what he saw till he was told the prisoner was
I first took him. I am not aware that drink has a great suspected.
effect upon the prisoner. When I took him to my house Another witness, a policeman, proved that he went to
risoner had about a wine- take the prisoner
the ne-glass more beer out of acharge, all that day, and was
tumbler. He subsequently empti that she had not been out of her
ed the tumbler of beer. on' this 'she immediately asserted
p
only just up.
He had made the confession before I gave him this beer, Mr. POWER having addressed the jury on behalf of the
but when' he had drunk the beer, he said he would prisoner in an animated speech,
tell us which way he went. I did not see any other foot Mr. Justice WILLIAMS left it to them to say whether they
tracks than those of the prisoner in the direction that he were satisfied beyond all doubt that the prisoner had set fire
took us. to the building in question.
Re-examined—A good deal of time was occupied in
going to the river and making inquiries. I gave nothing The jury having deliberated together for some little time,
returned a verdict of Guilty.
to th prisoner until he complained of being hungry and . George Gaskin, aged 18, was indic • ted for maliciously set-
ting fire to a barn and other buildings, the property of his
thirsty, and I swear that he was perfectly sober.
Charles Mandeville—l am one of the Guildford po-
lice. On the night of the fire I went to the prisoner's pert to be in Christian Betts, his tenant.
farm is a large Grace the Duke of Norfolk ; the second countlaaidndthAelpr.ro;
Mr. Prendergast appeared for the prosecution,
house, and when the last witness came to me we inquired H. Mills for the prisoner.
for the prisoner, but could not find him. The witness It appears that the family of the prosecutor consisted on
then proceeded to confirm the testimony of the last wit- the 3d of May last of Miss Betts, two maids, and two men,
ness, and added that the prisoner, when he pointed out named Carman arid Gaskin (the prisoner), the latter being
lock-shed, surrounded on all sides by a
the foot tracks, made others by the side of some of them, his second team man. Attached to the
where access was permitted through a
bul-
and said, " You see it is my foot." We remarked there six feet fence, save
gate
backed
the
of the
a half-tip to the shoe, and the prisoner held up his
Lard, which was itself accessible from the 9
foot and showed that he had a half-tip on his shoe. The
prisoner also said that if the wind had been a little moreme
dwelling-house. On the night in question Miss Betts,e who
had been out " a teeing " with a neighbour, returned Home
in the west it would have made the old house smoke. at eight o'clock, at which time all was safe, and the two men
The prisoner made this statement in answer to a remark and women servants were atsupper in the kitchen. About
made in his behalf relative to the wind, to the effect a quarter to nine the prisoner went out for the avowed
that it was fortunate there was an east wind at the I
object of dressing the shoulders of a sick horse in the yard,
time of the fire, or much more damage would have been and while absent his fellow-servants combined to_ shut him
the through the "pump back-house door."
done. The prisoner was perfectly sober at this time, out. The result of this was, that he conic into the. kitchen
By Mr. CHARNOCK—When the prisoner was at .
house of the inspector ho told us he would show the of time the prosecutor, who was going to bed, thatdiscovered
heard some one
back-House pagsb y
Just at this period
way he went to Mr. Bicknell's. there was a fire on his emises and, rushing down stairs,
soner all his life. He is about twenty-eight years old,
I have known the pre-
was in the direct course from the horse-yard to the
but I know nothing of his state of mind. Ile has been "pump
yard." The of '''''''
in the service of Mr. Drewett as shepherd. Ido not recognised by the prosecutor, who, passing on, discovered that
consider the prisoner silly. He always answered every the bullock-shed was in flames. tinder these circumstances
him round
person
erstohne corner
~a ofm atnh ewas house,not
question I put to him properly. I have myself some- suspicion fell on the prisoner, the rather that he had recently