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

ENGLAND.

Bank of England £21,448,000
Private Banks 4,624,197
Joint-Stock Banks... 3,340,326

SCOTLAND.

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

IRELAND.

Bank of Ireland .
Private and Joint-Stock Banks

3,440,700
1,974,284

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

SUMMER ASSIZES.
HOME ClRCUlT.—Guihtford, 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. Cfarkson and Mr. Knapp conducted the prosecu-
tion, and Mr. Charnock 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 spat.
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. NVe 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
added that he had met a young man at the water side,
and remained with him until eleven o'clock at night.
I told him to show me where the lines were laid, and
took him to the river, and he pointed out several places.
He said he did not know the young man he had
been with. I then, in the prisoner's hearing, instructed
a constable to watch the river, and told the prisoner I
should detain him until I found whether his story
was correct. The prisoner said lie was thirsty
and I gave him some refreshment. While he
was eating it he told me it was of no use
for the constable to watch the river, for there
were no eel-lines there, and he said he would tell me
which way he went. At this time Mr. Bicknell's name
had not been mentioned. The prisoner then took me
over several fields towards Mr. Bicknell's farm, and
showed me the track of footsteps, which I have no doubt
were made by the shoes of the prisoner. As we were
going along the prisoner pointed to a wide hedge, and
said he had lain down there and gone to sleep, and that
some boys were close by, but he did not think they saw
him. We got to the farm about five in the morning,
and I told Mr. Bicknell I had a man in custody who had
confessed that he caused the fire. Mr. Bicknell asked
him if he had ever injured him, and ho replied that he
had not, and on his asking him how he came to commit
such an act, the prisoner said the fact was that he was
not right in his head, and that at times he did not know
what he was about. Mr. Bicknell then walked with me
and the prisoner, and the latter again showed the track
of his footsteps, and I afterwards traced them by myself
nearly up to the prisoner's lodging, and the way he ap-
peared to have gone was more than a mile round. The
prisoner afterwards told me that he took three lucifer-
matches from his coat, and the first he tried to light
broke. The second ignited, and with it he set fire to
the corner of the straw stack, and when it blazed up he
threw the third match down, and ran away.
Cross-examined—There were one or two hundred
persons present when I went to the fire. The stacks were
in an open field.
.My attention was first attracted to
the fire about eleven o'clock, at which time it was blaz-
ing and had attracted a great deal of attention. I had
known the prisoner before, and had conversed with him
once or twice on the subject of fires, and I believe he is
very fond of going to them. I know nothing of the state
of his mind. The effect of my conversation with the pri-
soner was not to induce a belief that he was silly. He
is commonly called "Cuckoo," and I believe he answers
to the name. The prisoner was with me four or five
hours before I took him to the fire. I only gave the
prisoner half a pint of beer at the public-house where
I first took him. I am not aware that drink has a great
effect upon the prisoner. When I took him to my house
the prisoner had about a wine-glass more beer out of a
tumbler. He subsequently emptied the tumbler of beer.
He had made the confession before I gave him this beer,
but when he had drunk the beer, he said he would
tell us which way he went. I did not see any other foot
tracks than those of the prisoner in the direction that he
took us.

Re-examined—A good deal of time was occupied in
going to the river and making inquiries. I gave nothing
to the prisoner until he complained of being hungry and
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
house, and when the last witness came to me we inquired
for the prisoner, but could not find him. The witness
then proceeded to confirm the testimony of the last wit-
ness, and added that the prisoner, when he pointed out
the foot tracks, made others by the side of some of them,
and said, " You see it is my foot." We remarked there
was a half-tip to the shoe, and the prisoner held up his
foot and showed that he had a half-tip on his shoe. The
prisoner also said that if the wind had been a little more
in the west it would have made the old house smoke.
The prisoner made this statement in answer to a remark
made in his behalf relative to the wind, to the effect
that it was fortunate there was an east wind at the
time of the fire, or much more damage would have been
done. The prisoner was perfectly sober at this time.
By Mr. CIIARNOCK—When the prisoner was at the
house of the inspector he told us he would show the
way he went to Mr. Bicknell's. I have known the pri-
soner all his life. He is about twenty-eight years old,
but I know nothing of his state of mind. He has been
in the service of Mr. Drewett as shepherd. I do not
consider the prisoner silly. He always answered every
question I put to him properly. I have myself some-

times called him " Cuckoo." He has been in the habit
of prognosticating about the weather, but I have not
heard him shout out in the street, " It will he a wet clay
to-morrow." The prisoner is generally called through-
out the neighbourhood " the cuckoo boy.' He was not
very cheerful at first, but when he had told us the story
he said that he felt better, and he afterwards told us all
the 'particular q, and seemed much more cheerful. The
fire could be seen all over the town of Guildford.

By Mr. CLARKSON—The prisoner is in the habit of
imitating the notes of birds, and among others those of
the cuckoo.

Mr. Bicknell recalled—l remember when the pri-
soner was brought to me by the witness Hollington. I
have know him ever since he was a boy. I asked him if
he was the man who had set my premises on fire? He
said " I am." I said " How came you to do it—have I
ever injured you?" Prisoner replied, " No, I have no
animosity against you, but I am not right in my head
at times, and don't know what lam about." The pri-
soner then said he would show us which way he went,
and as we were going along he told me how he had fired
the stack, and pointed out a hedge where he had sat
down and looked at the fire while it was blazing. He
then took me to several places, and showed me his foot
steps, and upon my remarking that some were not very
plain, he told me that if I would go with him to the next
field, which was fallow and had; been recently
ploughed, he would show me some that were very plain,
and he pointed out the mark of his tip, and made an
impression with his foot, and said, " Is not that a well
fit?"

By Mr. CHARNOCK—I cannot say that I consider the
prisoner to be of weak mind. He told his story very
cheerfully, and walked over the field and pointed out the
foot-marks.

Jeremiah Campbell proved that he watched the river
on the night in question, and looked for eel-lines, but
could not find any, neither did he see any person come
to the river. _

Sarah Elderfield—l am the prisoner's aunt, and reside
in Bury Field-lane, Guildford. The prisoner and two
other boys live in the house with me. On the night of
the fire, the prisoner went out between six and seven
o'clock, and he did not return until half-past eleven, be-
fore which time the officers had been to inquire for him.
I asked the prisoner where he had been so late, and hP
said with a man from Godalming, whom he did not
know, setting eel-lines.
Cross-examined—The prisoner has lived with me for
twelve years. His father lives at Isleworth, and is a
very poor man. I think the prisoner is of very weak
mind, and he had fits when he was a baby. Formerly I
have remarked that his head was quite soft at the back,
and he frequently fainted when his hair was cut. He
used to wander about the fields, but I am not aware that
he was very fond of going to fires. The prisoner does
not live very well, and if he gets half a pint of beer it
is quite enough to set him talking ; and if he had taken
a pint, I should not pay any attention to what he said.
He once told me that he had dug a hole in St. Cathe-
rine's-hill, but Ido not recollect that he said he was
going to bury himself in it. It was a very curious place,
and several people as well as myself went to see it. I
believe the hole is there now. I never knew the pri-
soner to be mischievous. Since he last came out of pri-
son, I think his head has been worse than before, and he
told me of a dream that he had had while in gaol. On
the Wednesday, the day before the fire, he complained of
his head ; and when he went out he told me he should
not be home that night, and I sent his brother to watch
him, as I feared something would happen to him. I met
the prisoner afterwards, and be told me his head was so
bad that he could not get home.
By Mr. CLARKSON—The prisoner has had no fits since
he was quite a little boy. He has been at work for a
Mr. Drewett during the last seven or eight years, and
he received seven shillings a week. The prisoner had
never been under any restraint. I did not observe any-
thing particular in his conduct, from the time he came
out of prison until the day before the fire.
By Mr. Baron G URNEY—The prisoner was in custody
for three months.
Baron GURNEY—What was he tried for ? Witness—
He was tried for a fire. _

This was the case for the prosecution.
Mr. CIiARNOCK then addressed the jury, and said that
in a case of this description, which was of a character
to excite a prejudice in the mind of every man against
the author of the crime. It was very difficult, indeed,
to overcome that prejudice, but he trusted the jury would
not allow it to prevail with them, but that they would be
guided solely by the evidence in the cause. The case
had been most fairly and honourably conducted by his
Learned Friend, but upon the facts, as they
had been proved, he submitted that the evi-
e.ence was not sufficient to prove, without any rea-
sonable doubt, that the prisoner was guilty of the crime
imputed to him. The Learned Counsel then went on
to say, that the first question for the jury to consider
was, whether the prisoner was proved to have committed
this offence at all ' • and he submitted that this was very
far from being made out. Should they, however, be of
opinion that this was made out, he contended that the
evidence for the prosecution itself made out sufficiently
the fact, that the prisoner was of weak mind and not
accountable for his actions. It was in evidence that he
was called the cuckoo-boy, and that he was looked upon
by all who knew him as a silly, childish person ; and
although, probably the jury were not very well ac•
quainted with medical matters, yet their own common
sense would indtice them, he apprehended, with very
little difficulty to come to the same conclusion. He
would then remark upon the absence of any motive
of revenge or ill-will towards the prosecutor, and upon
. the extraordinary manner in which the prisoner had
confirmed,his crime, and actually called evidence against
himself, which he submitted was convincing proof of the
weak state of the prisoner's mind.
Mr. Baron GURNEY then summed up, and said the
first question for the jury was, whether the prisoner
committed the act imputed to him. If they thought he
did not, there was nothing more for them to consider,
but if they entertained a contrary opinion, then they
would have to consider, not whether the prisoner had a
weak mind or a silly mind, but whether, at the time he
did so commit it, he was in such a state of mind as to
know what lie was about, and be capable of distinguishing
between right and wrong. It was not necessary for any
motive to be proved, and during the present circuit
children of eight. nine, and twelve years of age had been
convicted of offences of this description, when it ap-
peared that their only motive was to see a bonfire; but
as it was proved that they knew they were doing wrong,
they were convicted and punished for the offence. The
Learned Judge then went minutely through the evi-
dence, and left the case in the hands of the jury.
The jury, after deliberating for a short time, acquitted
the prisoner upon the ground of insanity, and he was
ordered to be detained in safe custody.

NORFOLK ClRCUlT—Norwich, Aug. 1.
CROWN COURT--(Before Mr. Justice WILLIAMS.)
Henry Poising, aged 18, was indicted for maliciously set-
ting fire to four feet of "growing furze," with intent to in-
jure the Rev. W. Barker.
Mr. EVANS conducted the case for the prosecution, and
from his statement, corroborated by the evidence of witnesses,
it appears that the rev. prosecutor, who is the rector of Ship-
dam, was walking through his farm, with his bailiff, on the
26th of May last, and just as they turned into an occupation
road, which was divided from the fields by a bank and line
furze hedge, they espied seme smoke rising from the left-
hand bank. Almost at the same moment they saw the
prisoner quitting the place whence the smoke was rising, and
came towards them at a smart pace. When the parties
met, the bailiff seized the lad, and, turning him round, asked
him if he saw that smoke? " Smoke !" said he, " No, I see
none." Notwithstanding this denial the boy was taken into
custody by the bailiff, while Mr. Barker put out the fire with
his " umperellar." As soon as a policeman could be foun I
the lad was searched, and 18 lucifer-matches discovered in
the lining of his waistcoat. When this fact turned up. the
prisoner began to cry, and said that he " had not done it for
the nonce ;" but he afterwards said, when before the Magis-
trate, that he had struck a light as he walked along the
hedge, and thrown three lucifers into the furze, adding that
he meant to have done the same all the way along home.
The jury having found a verdict of Guilty, sentence was
deferred. _

Mary Anne Fury was charged with setting fire to an
out-house in the occupation of John Cook, on the 17th of
July last.
Mr. Palmer appeared for the prosecutor ; and Mr. Power
defended the prisoner.
The prosecutor is the uncle of the prisoner, a middle-aged
woman, and they occupy cottages which are under one roof.
Some short time ago a quarrel arose between the relatives as
to the right to the use of a pigsty and cow-shed, which was
attached to their common residences, and matters grew to
such a pitch that the lady began one day to pelt the aged
man, for such he was, with stones, which she accompanied
with a threat to " cut out his old eyes." Upon this he ap-
pealed to the law, and the lady was taken up, and sum-
marily dealt with before a justice for the assault. Finding
that she had got the worst of that job, the prisoner sulkily
said she did not care for the pigsty, for she would very soon
burn or pull it down, and then nobody should have it. This
was on the 9th of the month, and, sure enough, on the morn-
ing of the 17th the out-house was discovered to be in flames.
On inquiry, it was ascertained that the building in question,
being all safe at five o'clock, when the prosecutor tended his
cow and pigs, they were found to be on fire at six o'clock,
within a very few minutes after the prisoner was seen to go
there. This fact depended on the testimony of the prisoner's
little grandson, an intelligent boy of ten years, who was
susApnecott
subjected to a close cross-examination on behalf of the pri-
soner, the result of which was that he had • not told his
" grand'ther" what he saw till he was told the prisoner was
ehde.r witness, a policeman, proved that he went to
take the prisoner on this charge, she immediately asserted
that she had not been out of her house all that day, and was
only just up.
Mr. POWER having addressed the jury on behalf of the
prisoner in an animated speech,
Mr. Justice WitaLtsts left it to them to say whether they
were satisfied beyond all doubt that the prisoner had set fire
to the building in question.
The jury having deliberated together for some little time,
returned a verdict of Guilty.
George Gaskin, aged 18, was indicted for maliciously set-
ting fire to a barn and other buildings, the property of his
Grace the Duke of Norfolk; the second count laid.the pro-
perty to be in Christian Betts, his tenant.
Mr. Prendergast appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. J.
H. Mills for the prisoner.
It appears that the family of the prosecutor consisted on
the 3d of May last of Miss Betts, two maids, and two men,
named Carman and Gaskin (the prisoner), the latter being
his second team man. Attached to the farm is a large bul-
lock-shed, surrounded on all sides by a six feet fence, save
where access was permitted through a gate from the horse-
vard, which was itself accessible from the back doors of the
dwelling-house. On the night in question Miss Betts, who
had been out "a teaing " with a neighbour, returned home
at eight o'clock, at which time all was safe, and the two men
and women servants were at supper in the kitchen. About
a quarter to nine the prisoner went out for the avowed
object of dressing the shoulders of a sick horse in the yard,
and while absent his fellow-servants combined to shut him
out. The result of this was, that he came into the kitchen
through the "pump back-house door." Just at this period
of time the prosecutor, who was going to bed, discovered that
there was a fire on his premises, and, rushing down stairs,
heard some one pass by him round the corner of the house,
which was in the direct course from the horse-yard to tlt:
" pump back-house yard." The person of this man was net'
recognised by
the prosecutor, who, passing on, discovered that
the bullock-shed was in flames. Under these circumstances
suspicion fell on the prisoner, the rather that he had recently

been reprimanded by his master for some misconduct touch-
ing the management of his horses, though, at the time
nothing was thought of it. After the fire, however, it ap-
peared that the boy had taken the rebuke very much to
heart, and had expressed an intention of running away.
When the prisoner was taken upon this charge, he said he
had gone to the yard to dress one of his horses, but it was
shown to-day that he had performed that operation long be-
fore in the same afternoon. When the premises were turned
up the morning after the fire, a box of lucifer matches was
found under the ruins of the shed, while it appeared that the
prisoner was in possession of those dangerous inventions both
before and after the fire.
Mr. MILES, having addressed the jury for the prisoner,
The jury, at the close of his Lordship's summing up, found
a verdict of Not Guilty.

MIDLAND ClRCUlT.—Leicester, Aug. 2.
(Before Lord Chief-Justice DENMAN.)
John Cobley, aged 49, was charged with stealing, on the
13th of March last, from out of a letter, a Post-office order
for 4/., and also with putting off a forged receipt for the same.
Mr. Sergeant Clarke and Mr. Waddington were the coun-
sel engaged on the part of the Crown. The prisoner was
without the assistance of counsel.

The evidence adduced went to show that in the latter part
of February, or tke beginning of March, the prisoner called
at Belvoir Castle with letters for the Duke of Rutland, Lord
Charles Manners, and the steward, a person named Fletcher.
To the latter person he stated that a Mr. Ward was secretary
to a Society for the Protection of British Industry. The
letters were begging that money might be transmitted to the
Society in question, and were proved to be in the handwriting
of the prisoner, though signed " Robert Ward:" Fletcher
proved that he sent by the Duke of Rutland's postmaster the
sum of V. to Grantham. for the purpose of a post-office order
being obtained and sent to Leicester in aid of the funds of the
Society for the Protection of British Industry; the letter in
which it was contained being directed to Mr. IL Ward, se-
cretary to that Society. The prisoner called at the Leicester
post-office, and inquired whether there was a letter for Mr.
Robert Ward, of Hampden-street. He was answered there
was not, but that there was one for Mr. Ward, secretary to
the Society for the Protection of British Industry. The pri-
soner thereupon said that was the letter he meant; that he
and Ward were well acquainted ; that, in fact, Ward had
married his (Cobley's) sister. The letter containing the
order was then given up.
Robert Ward, who is a laceman, proved that he once lived
in Hampden-street, but now lives in Belgrave-street ; that he
never was secretary to the Society referred to ; or, indeed,
had he ever heard of such an one being in existence. He
further deposed to being a married man, but that he had not
married a sister of Cobley's, nor was he, in fact, an acquaint-
ance or connexion of his.
The jury found the prisoner Guilty.