The Sun.
London, England, 1829-07-09 00:00:00

BOW-STREET.

It may be recollected that on the night of Sun-
day, the 31st of May last, the house of a person
named Christy, a cheesemonger, in Stanhope-street,
Clare-market was consumed by fire. On the fol-
lowing day Mr. Christy appeared at this office, and
applied to Sir Richard Birnie for advice, stating
his belief that his premises had been intentionally
set fire to, and that a person named Brookes, a boot-
closer, formerly his lodger, was the person whom he
suspected of having done so. Sir Richard Birnie,
after having put a few questions to Mr Christy, de-
clined expressing any opinion upon the subject, arid
told him, that from some information he had re-
ceived he was induced to believe that the house
had been intentionally set, fire to, but not by the
party to whom he had alluded. It subsequently
appeared that Brookes having heard of the report
which had been circulated to his prejudice, came to
this office and declared his :willingness to meet any
charge which might be preferred against him. Mr.
Christy was then sent for by Sir R. Birnie, in order
to substantiate his accusation, but he (lid not think
proper to attend, and as the affair appeared to be
involved in some degree of mystery, upon the appli-
cation of Mr. Barber Beaumont, of the County
Fire-office, (in which Mr. Christy had ensured,) the
business was placed in the hands of Ruthven, the
officer, who has ever since been engaged in en
deavouring so procure such evidence as would tend
to fix the charge upon the guilty party.
Yesterday morning Mr. Barber Beaumont and
other witnesses were in attendance at 10 o'clock, in
Sir R. Birnie's private room, a summons having
been issued requiring the attendance of Mr. Christy,
in order to give evidence against Brookes, who was
in waiting and ready to be examined.
An hour having elapsed without Mr. Christy's
appearing Sir R. BIRNIE asked the summoning
clerk if he had served the summons upon Mr. Christy.
The clerk stated, that he served the summons
upon Murrell Christy at a public-house, where he
lodged, in Little Britain. The summons required
his attendance at half-past ten o'clock this morning,
in order to give evidence respecting the fire which
had taken place in his house.n the night of Sunday
the 31st of May.

Sir R. BIRME—Did you serve the summons per-
sonally upon Mr. Christy, or did you merely leave
it at his dwelling ? The Clerk replied, that he
handed the summons to Mr. Christy in person, who
said he would attend.

Sir R. DIRNIE—An hour has now elapsed with•
out his appearing. It looks as if he were appre-
hensive that something disagreeable might occur to
himself.

Mr. Barber Beaumont then stated, that from the
facts which had come to his knowledge,he had good
reason for believing that Christy himself was the
person who had set fire to his premises ; and the
principal reason why he had come to that conclusion
was, that he (Christy) had set up a claim to the
amount of 3971., although the whole amount of the
property consumed upon the premises did not ex-
ceed 80/. He had claimed the value contained in
two trunks, which he said were filled with wearing
apparel. Now it could be proved that these very
trunks had been removed in a van on the Thursday
previous to the fire. A box containing papers was
found in the room, where these trunks were alleged
to have been deposited, and none of the papers were
at all' injured.
Mr. Hodsoll, assessor to the County and other
fire-offices, stated that he examined the premises
after the fire had taken place, and found in the ruins
the fragment of a sheet and a patch-work counter-
pane. They were old, and but partially burnt.
Amongst other property, the value of which was
claimed, was a quantity of plate, consisting of silver
spoons, &c., but no melted silver whatever was
found amongst the ruins. He (Mr. Hodsoll) had
attended the ruins of 340 fires, and had generally
found, where linen or clothing was packed in trunks
or boxes, that the centre of goods so placed re-
mained unconsumed. No such vestiges, however,
were found in the ruins of this fire, although the
sum claimed fer linen and wearing apparel was 140/.
Mr. Christy had also stated that he had lost a cash.
box containing 1901. in notes and sovereigns. The
box was found in the ruins unopened and empty.
upon being questioned as to this, Mr. Christy said

- The complainant again declared that she opposed
him with all her power; and he was required to
give bail to answer the charge at the sessions.

SUMMER ASSIZES.

MIDLAND CIRCUIT.

:Before Lord TENTERDEN and the LORD CHIEF BARON.
Northampton—Monday, July 27.
Rutland (at Oak ham)—Friday, July 31.
Lincoln and City—Saturday, Aug. 1.
Nottingham and Town—Thursday, Aug. 6.
Derby—Tuesday, Aug. 11.
Leicester and Borough—Friday, Aug. 14.
Coventry and Warwick—Wednesday, Aug. 19.
HOME CIRCUIT.
(Before Mr. Justice PARK and Mr. Justice GASELEE.)
Hertfordshire—Wednesday, July 29, at Hertford.

, -
Essex—Saturday, Aug. 1, at Chelmsford.
Kent—Saturday, Aug. 8, at Maidstene.
Sussex—Saturday, Aug. 15, at Lewes.
Surrey—Thursday, Aug. 20, at Croydon.

NORFOLK CIRCUIT.

"Before Mr. Baron GARROW and Mr. Justice J. PARKE.)
Buckinghamshire—Monday, July 27, at Buckingham.
Bedfordshire—Thursday, July 30, at Bedford.
Huntingdonshire—Saturday, Aug. 1, at Huntingdon.
Cambridgeshire—Monday, Aug. 3, at Cambridge.
Suffolk—Thursday, Aug. 6, at Bury.
Norfolk—Monday, Aug. 10, at Norwich.
OXFORD CIRCUIT.

(Before Mr. Baron HuLLocic and Mr. Baron VAUGHAN).
The days on which the different Assizes on the Oxford
Circuit are to be held have not yet been officially an•
nounced. However, it is believed that the following list
will be found correct:—
Berkshire—Saturday, July 25, at Abingdon.
Oxfordshire—Wednesday, July 29, at Oxford.
Worcestershire—Saturday, Aug. 1, at Worcester.
Staffordshire—Thursday, Aug. 6, at Stafford.
Shropshire—Wednesday, Aug. 12, at Shrewsbury.
Herefordshire—Monday, Aug. 17, at Hereford.
Monmouthshire—Saturday, Aug. 22, at Monmouth.
Gloucestershire—Wednesday, Aug. 26, at Gloucester.
N.B.—The Learned Barons will arrive at Abingdon on
the afternoon of Saturday, July 25, to open their Com-
missions, and they will attend Divine Service at Abing-
don, on Sunday, and proceed to business in their respec-
tive Courts on Monday morning at ten o'clock.