The Sun.
London, England, 1845-07-19 00:00:00

MINORITY-NOES, 27.

Bannerman, A. Harris, Captain Plumridge, Captain
Barnard, E. G. Hawes, B. Somers, J. P.
Berkeley, 11. F. Langston, J. H. Strickland, Sir G.
Berkeley, Grantley Maher, N. Troubridge, Sir E.
Bowes, John Mitcalfe, Henry Villiers, Charles
Browne, W. :Moffatt, George Wakiey, Thomas
Butler, P. S. O'Connell, M. J. Wawn, J. T.
Colebrooke, Sir T. Paget, Colonel TELLERS.
Duncan, George Palmerston, Lord Napier, Sir C.
Gladstone, Captain Pechell, Captain Berkeley, Captain

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.
HOME el Ul T.— Chelmsford, July 18.
CROWN COURT.—(Before Chief Justice TINDAL.)
THE INCENDIARY FIRES AT BRAINTREE —Alfred Coots,
16, Carpenter, and Isaiah Fish, 18, bricklayer, were indicted
'or wilfully and maliciously setting fire to three barns, two
granaries, and other buildings, the property of Arthur
Algernon, Earl of Essex, in the occupation of Richard
Baynes, and also with setting fire to two stacks of wheat, the
property of Richard Baynes.
Messrs. Marsh and Hawkins conducted the prosecution ;
and Mr. Gray the defence.
The trial created a good deal of interest, and occupied the
Court until late in the evening.
Mr. MARSH stated the case for the prosecution, and said
that the principal evidence against the prisoner was the testi-
mony of a young man, who stood in the position of an accom-
plice; but as the prisoners had themselves made a statement
almost amounting to a confession, he apprehended that the
jury, notwithstanding the nature of the evidence in support of
the prosecution, would entertain no doubt of the guilt of the
prisoners.
Mr. Richard Baynes, the prosecutor, deposed that he occu-
pied a farm called Rayne Lodge, in the parish of Rayne, near
Braintree, which was the property of the Earl of Essex. A fire
took place on his premises on Saturday night, the 16th of March,
1844, and before it could be extinguished, three large barns,
two large wheat stacks, and five cattle sheds were completely
consumed. The barns were full of grain, wheat, beans, and
oats, and the value of the property destroyed was 1,5001. He
added, that he was only insured to the amount of 8001., and he
received that sum from the insurance office.
Cross-examined—He knew nothing of the prisoners. The
family were sitting at supper, about a quarter past nine o'clock,
when the first alarm of the fire was given.
William Wade, the approver, a lad of 18, was then examined.
He deposed that he was a silk weaver, and lived at Braintree,
and knew both the prisoners. He remembered the day of the
fire at Mr. Baynes's, and was with both prisoners between 2
and 3 o'clock on that day, and they all walked together to Mr.
Baynes's spring, where Fish told him and Coote to stop and he
would go and see what sort of place it was to have a fire.
After they had waited about five minutes, Fish came back and
said it was as good a place as any to have a fire, for there were
plenty of stacks and barns. They then all returned to the
town, and met again at night at the Crown and Anchor beer-
shop, from which place they again went to the prosecutor's
farm, and proceeded through a gap in the hedge to the barns,
and stood by the side of one of them, in which there was a hole
large enough for a man's fist to go through. Fish said that
the hole was a good place for the fire to be put in, and Coote
gave him his lueifer matches, which he tried to set on fire but
could not do so. Coote then gave him two more matches
which he also tried to light, but none of them would
ignite, and upon this they all went back to the Star
beer-shop at Braintree, where Coote was sent by Fish to
purchase a box of lucifers. While witness was alone with
Fish, he persuaded him not to set fire to the place, and
told him that if he did he would be sure to be found out
some day or other. When Coote returned with the lucifers,
Fish told him that he (witness) would not go, and he added,
" Come on, I'll go if you do, death or glory. I'll go and light
it." At that time Coote had the box of matches in his hand,
and they both went away together towards the residence of
the prosecutor, which was about three-quarters of a mile off.
This was between eight and nine o'clock in the evening. 114
(witness) remained behind at Braintree, and in about half-an-
hour after the prisoners had left him he heard the alarm of fire
in the direction from Rayne, and he shortly afterwards ascer-
tained that the fire was at the prosecutor's. Witness after-
wards went to the fire, and saw the prisoner Coote there, and
he said to him, " This is a good one, a'int it." There was
another fire in the village on the following Monday, and wit-
ness saw both the prisoners the day afterwards, assisting in re-
moving some furniture from a field where it had been removed
from the fire. Ceote asked him to help him, and at the same
time said, " This was a rare flare up last night, but it was not
so go ,d as the one I lit on Saturday night at Baynes's." Fish
was by at the time this was said, and he added, " We went up
to Baynes's on Saturday night, and I shoved my hand through
the hole in the barn, and Coote then put a light to it." Coote
afterwards said that when they had set the place en fire, they
both ran away, and hid in the wood until they saw the people
come to the fire. The witness then said that Fish afterwards
told him the same story, and that he
(witness) was subse-
quently taken into custody upon the charge of being concerned
in the fire, but was afterwards admitted to give evidence.
Cross-examined—Witness was 18 years old. He now came
from gaol to give evidence. He was not taken into custody
upon this charge until a twelvemonth after the fire happened,
and he did not tell the story he had just narrated until after he
was in custody. He was not told that he would be admitted
Queen's evidence until last Friday, and he then stated all he
knew. He was at present under the charge of committing
another fire himself, and had not been tried.
John Andrews deposed that he knew the prisoners. He
remembered the fires that took place at the prosecutor's, and
at Mr. Scale's and Mr. Lacey's, and while in company with
the prisoners, he remarked that "It was a curious job about
they tires," and Coote said " We did them, only you must not
say anything about it."
Cross-examined—He was himself charged with two fires.
He had been seven or eight weeks in gaol, and he did not tell
this story mail last Friday.
William Bradford, a person in the service of the prosecutor,
proved that he remembered having observed such a hole as the
one spoken of by the approver Wade, in one of the barns, and
that inside the barn close to the whole there was a quantity of
dry
.barley, which could, of course, have been easily ignited.
He likewise stated that when he first heard the alarm of fire,
the tames appeared to proceed from that portion of the barn
where the hole was,
John Dunn, one of the Essex constabulary, deposed that he
apprehended the prisoner Fish on the 23d of May, and told him
that he took him for the fires at Braintree, in 1844. He
replied, " I dare say I shall be sent out of the country for
those fires, and if I am, I cannot be sent to a much worse
country than this."
Everett, another constable p roved that he apprehended
Coote on the 12th May last,
and while he wasin custody he
told him that he was always dreaming about the fires, and that
he had jumped up in the night, and was unable to get any sleep
for them, and when he was in London he always thought that
he (witness) was after him. He likewise said that he, Wade,
and Fish had done all the fires at Braintree. Witness subse-
quently took down his statement in writing.
The statement was put in and read. It went to confirm in
all material particulars the evidence of the approver Wade.
This was the case for the prosecution.
The Learned Counsel having addressed the jury for the
prisoners,
Lord Chief Justice TINDAL summed up, and the jury almost
immediately returned a verdict of Guilty.
The prisoners were directly called up for judgment, and
sentenced to be transported for fifteen years.
It was stated that they had confessed to having committed
two distinct fires, there being an entire absence on every case
of any feeling of malice towards the owner of the property, and
fo
r
mischief. appearing that they were merely actuated by a desire
mischief.

ADVERTISEMENT.—CURE or A CASE OF INDIGES-
TION, WITH CONSTIPATED BOWELS, BY POLLOWAY'S
Pur.s.—Extract of a letter from G. Baxter, Esq., author of
The Book of the Bastiles," &c., dated " The Brynn, Nem-
town, Montgomeryshire, March 13, 1845. To Professor Hol-
loway. Sir,—l consider it my duty to inform you that a few
boxes of your tills, which I purchased at Mr. Morris's,
druggist, of Newtown, have cured me of constant indigestion
and constipation of the bowels, which application to literary
pursuits had long enta.led upon me. I should strongly recom-
mend authors and studiously-disposed persons general!y to use
your valuable pills. (Signed) G. 11. W. BAxrita. ' Sold
by all respectable genders of medicines, and at Professor Hol-
loway's, 244, Strand, Am jdviee maybe had ir"'

•
- IRELAND.
Just published, Second Edition, price One Shilling,
ADEFENCE of the LANDLORDS of IRE-
LAND, with Remarks on the Relation between Landlord
and Tenant, and a Postscript, containing an Extract from a Speech
of the Right Hon. the Earl of Devon referring to the condition of
Ireland.

By W. W. SIMPSON, Member of the Royal Dublin Society.
John 011ivier, 59, Pall-mall, London; Macken and Co., Weal
moreland-street, Dublin ; and to be had of all Booksellers.

(Extract from the Times of 9th November, 1844,

• -
" Mr. W. W. Simpson, the well-known and deservedly re-
spected auctioneer and land valuator, has recently published a
pampt let, entitled ' A Defence of the Landlords of Ireland, with
remarks on the Relation between Landlord and Tenant.' The
Dublin Evening Packet, in reviewing this work, gives the following
character of its author Mr. Simpson, we scarcely need remind
our readers, is an Englishman of vast experience in matters re-
lating to the improvement and value of land in his own country. He
is, moreover, a gentleman of most comprehensive views, and pos..
sesses an understanding naturally strong, and a stock of practical
knowledge and sterling sense which falls to the lot:of very few per-
sons in his own or any other rank of life. With the social condi-
tion of Ireland he has made it his business, almost as a matter of
necessity, to make himself thoroughly acquainted. He feels for her
wants, and has contributed as much perhaps as any man in his
time, to improve her resources, by encouraging the investment of
British capital in every department of Irish industry. Such a wit-
ness as this we therefore hold to be beyond the reach of suspicion on
the score either of interest or partiality, His testimony must be
regarded as invaluable, as it is unquestionably unimpeachable.' "

SALES BY AUCTION.

MALDON, ESSEX.-VALUABLE PROPERTY

exonerated from Land-tax (the greater part Freehold).
MR. W. W. SIMPSON has received instruc-
ticns from the Trustees under the Will of the late Henry
Coape, Esq., to OFFER for SALE by AUCTION, at the King's
Head Inn, Maldon, on MONDAY, July 21, at Three o'clock in the
afternoon, in Twenty Lots,
A highly valuable FREEHOLD and small part COPYHOLD
PROPERTY, consisting of several inclosures of exceeding fertile
pasture and arable land, and plots of building ground,
containing in the whole thirty-five acres, the larger por.
tion of which immediately joins the flourishing, agreeably.
situated, and ancient borough town and port of Maldon, six
miles from the county town of Chelmsford and the Eastern
Counties Railway, added to which a branch line is contemplated
(and, no doubt, will be very shortly carried out) to Maldon,
the effect of which must be greatly to enhzmee the value
of property in Maldon and Dengie hundred, of which Maldon
may truly be designated the capital town. The lands are at present
let to Mr. W. Dawson, Mr. A. May, and Mr. Wade, highly respect.
able and opulent tenants; as accommodation fields, and from
their locality they must always command remunerative rents of
great stability. This property is not only valuable viewed as ac-
commodation surface, but a large portion of it possesses frontages,
and building sites of a most eligible description.
Also three valuable inclosures of arable and wood land, contain-
ing 14 acres, situate in the parishes of Little Totham and Gold-
hanger, near the preceding property.
The estate may be viewed, and particulars, with plans annexed,
may be had of William Lawrence, Esq , solicitor, Maldon ; Messrs.
Teesdale, Symes, Weston, and Teesdale, solicitors, 31, Fenchurch.
street ; at the place of sale; and of Mr. W. W. Simpson, 18,
Bucklersbury.

ESSEX, near MALDON.
Valuable and most desirable FREEHOLD and part COPYHOLD
ESTATE, consisting of about 250 Acres of superior Arable
and Pasture Land, &c.
MR. W. W. SIMPSON has been directed by
the Trustees, under the will of the late Henry Coape, Esq.,
to OFFER by AUCTION, at the Mart, London, on WEDNESDAY,
July 23, at Twelve o'Clock, that well-tenanted, deep-stapled, and
highly-cultivated ESTATE, exonerated from land.tax, designated
Purleigh Barns, and Tobyes Farm. It comprises an excellent
farm-house and suitable agricultural buildings, all in a superior
state of repair, together with 250 acres of land, in a ring fence,
situate near the village of Latchingdon, and bounded by the high
road from Maldon through Dengie hundred. It is in the oc-
cupation of Mr. Thomas Davey under an agreement for a lease
for 21 years from Michaelmas, 1844, at a rent of 3101. per annum.
The Maldon coach passes the farm daily to the port of Burnham, in
Dengie hundred. The estate possesses great advantages as to roads
and markets, and is conveniently situated as to water carriage.
The property may be viewed, and particulars, with plans an.
flexed, may be obtained on application to William Lawrence,
Esq., solicitor, hfaldon ; Messrs. Teesdale, Symes, Weston, and
Teesdale, solicitors, 31, Fenchurch.street; at the Mart; and of
Mr. W. W. Simpson, 18, Bucklersbury.