Star.
London, England, 1831-01-25 00:00:00

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PROGRESS OF INCENDIARY FIRES.

The heroic conduct of-a boy of the name of Looker, who
became a voluntary sacrifice to save his innocent father front
merciless law, has excited universal admiration iu all men.
This generous youth had written a letter to save his indis-
creet legalcousinsTfarTOMinii‘ t
...engeance ; but the act was charged
on the father, who, in the teeth of very strong eviuence,
was prestumd guilty tinder judicial circumstances. which
demand SOLLMN ENQVIRr. The noble minded bay then
came forward and confessed that the act was entirely his
own, and as that of a youth of eighteen, and for the
avowed purpose, who would have suspected that English
lawyers would, on such a confession, have procured his in-
dictment, conviction, and sentence to SEVEN YEA;ts
We should blush for ourselves if

stance. It is a re& et' on laws and on
ton
of them, which we desire to honour, and far which we would
teach all men to entertain respect, but we ou,rh, to be honest
enough to call a spade a spade. Pardon is promised the
youth, but mercy does not keep pace with the sympathies
of humanity.
IicENDIARISSI.—One night during last week, another
attempt was made to set Bere Regis on fire. A hayrick
was kindled in the midst of numerous stacks of corn awl
farm buildings, but it was fortunately discovered in time t.)
put the fire out, before it had completely got hold of tin
hay. rick. Withip the last week also a number of dm at.
ening letters have been received by farmers and others.
The premises of Mr. Joe. Gaskins, comb-manufacturer,
of Birmingham, were recently set on fire by an incendiary.
The Norwich Union office has offered a reward of 50 guineas
for the discovery of the offenders ; and his Majesty's pardon
has been offered to any one of the offenders (except the pr.
son who set fire to the premises) who shall give information
of his accomplices.
On Tuesday morning, spout ono o'clock, a fire was disco-
vered in a wheat stack containing about 20 quarters, a bean
stack containing 12 quarters, and a stack of oat straw, in the
yard of Mr. Samuel Thompson, of Stiekford, between Bos-
ton and Spilsby. The three stacks were consumed. A re-
ward of 10001. is offered for the discovery of the offender.
—Lincoln Mercury.
INCENDIAILISM EXTRAORDINARYA few nights aga
a youth residing at Woodhouse Carr, near this town, sat
off a fire balloon, having his name and residence written
at the bottom of it. When it had ascended it took a dit ec,-
don to the southward; and we are informed, on good au-
thority, that it alighted at the foot of a hay-stack, in tho
neighbourhood of Wakefield, which it set on fire. From
thaftagments of the balloon, the name and residenceNqi
setter-off were discovered, and on Wednes)av .
received a post-letter, f-om the owner of the `stack, inform-
ing him of the conflagration, and demanding damages.—
Leeds Mercury.
Some of the farmers whose corn-stacks and buildings were
destroyed during the late disturbances, and who prosecuted
the incendiaries, have had demands ,made on them by the
clerk/. of the Magistrates for their professional service..,
ui-
elnding their travelling expenses to the Assize-town, and
their tavern bills while there ; and a poor farms-, who has
been nearly ruined by the destruction of his property, has
been called upon to pay a demand of 301. or 401. for prose-
cuting the offenders.

Thursday evening week, an oat-stack, in the neighbour-
hood of Sheffield, was destroyed by fire. Five young boys,
under 4xteen years of age, have been taken into custody, and
confess having committed the crime. According to theN own
statement, they were led to commit the atrocious deed by a
mere love of mischief.

The peaceful and remote village of Swindon, Staffordshire,
about seven miles from Wolverhampton, has been the scene
of two fires, which, it is but too surely manifest, were wil-
fully occasioned. At about half-past eight o'clock on Friday
week, a wheat rick in the farm-yard of Mr. J. 'Perry; a re-
spectable farmer at Swindon, was discovered to be on fire,
but by the help of a number of people who were soon on the
spot, apart of it was saved, and the damage done does not
exceed 301. The shock which this fire had excited' was only
in a slight degree allayed, when another cause of alarm
arose. At half-past eleven o'clock, a large rick of barley
belonging to Mr. R. Williams, who resides it a abort dis
tune only from Mr. Perry, burst into lames, and every
effort which the united force of the whole neighbourhood
could use was unavailing ; tie rick was entirely consumed.
In preserving the surrounding property, including wheat
ricks, fanning buildings, filled with ;lock, and the dwethius
house of the proprietor, the praiseworthy andeirdirs of these
who assisted with all their might wore 'fortunately success-
ful. The circumstances to show that these fires were the
work of wicked and mischievous bands, are strong andlcon-
clusive, and suspicion points to three unknown indtvidnals
as the perpetrators of them.
The provincial papers and private letters which arrived
yesterday morning, contain accounts of fires at ModdershaU,
near Stone, Staffordshire; at Highllna Park, a few miles
from Burton-on-Trent ; at Trent Hay, near Stoke , and' in
the neighbourhood of Drayton Park, in that county. Sere-
rrJ labourers have been apprehended and committed for trial,
charged with belrcarcerned in setting fire to a wheat rick
at Swindon, S hire, of which we have already, given
an account. There have also been fires at Bridstow, Here-
fordshire, and at Collaton, Rayleigh, and- Lympatose, De-
vonshire. The handsome mansion of John Flemiag, Fag. M.P.
' at Stoneham Park, caught fire on Teeroday night, and the
damage done to it is estimated at 6,0001.
On the night of Tuesday last, about 12 o'clock, a light
having been observed to proceed from a straw barn at the
farm monad belonging to James Greig, Esq. of &des, the
roof and beams connecting the barn with the thrnslfiag-ina-
chine were cut wander, and the 11 rarikei were thus oonfirsed
to the barn, which was destroyed. There is no room left
for: doubting that this fire was the work of incendiaries ; for
independent of the place where it 'being completely
detached from all other buildingewlits algediria or other lights
were used, some pieces of mg, which bad been ignited, and
ether combustible materials, were found sear the spot where
the fire commenced ; these materials had been introduced
through a arnallstifrie window, into a mass of straw, which
had been accumulated in thebarn.—Kelto Mail.
bICEIIDIARI,Iar AT. DIATTd24, 14 LAIL LANOPUNT.—At
fire o'clock on Saturday. morning, a barn beleagiog to 'nen.
mss Heade, Esq. is the occupation of Mr. John Freemen,
son. of Drayton, was discovered to be is Limes, which in a
short time contranaed the premises, together wish its amtet,t,.
about 40 bushels of clover seed. It would be diticLit to as-
sign a reason for this wicked act, as Mr. Freeman is a ur..n
universally respected.