Star.
London, England, 1822-08-09 00:00:00

SUMMER ASSIZES.

SHREWSBURY.
Edward Jones was indicted for having wilfully and
Maliciously, on the 21st of March last, set fire to a
stack of hay, the property of T. Craig, Esq. standing •
in a field near Shrewsbury.
Mr. PEARSON stated the case for the prosecution,
which would, he said, present two questions fir the
consideration of the'Jury : first, whether the stack of
Mr. Craig, which beyond all doubt was burned on
the night in question, wits maliciously 'horned ; and
next, if so, whether the prisoner was the incendiary?
On the first, they would receive satisfactory evidence
from those who would spew that the stack was so
made that it could not have been destroyed by the
effect of its own fermentation, which would be fur-
ther established by the production of a piece of tow
found in the hollow beneath it. On the second, they
would heat the evidence of a witness who saw tl.e
prisoner between ten and eleven on the night of the
20th of March, coming from the rick with a lantern
and a lighted candle, and proceeding to his mother's
cottage. This witness, it was true, did not disclOse
the circumstance to a Magistrate till a fortnight after-
wards ; but his testimony, which might be weakened
by this delay, would receive confirmation from others,
who would prove that mat ks were found in the places
where he stated that the prisoner trod, and which
were in the line from the rick to the cottage.
Thomas Burgoyne, bailiff to Mr. Craig, the pro-
secutor, saw the stack in question safe on the evening
of the 20th of March. He saw it again between two
and three in the following morning in flames.
-Thomas Wilkinson was employed in sp►eading
about the half-burnt hay to dry ; it was spread over
the field, tedded, and completely dried. The rick
was formed four square, laid on large hawthormroots.
The witness assisted in building the stack, which was
well and firmly built. The hay lay on the hollow,
so that a dog might go under it. It was so dried,
that, in his judgment, it could not take fire by its
own fermentation. He arrived at the fire about three
O'clock in the morning; it was seven before it was
completely extinguished. Supposing fire to be put
in the hollow, it might have been a couple of hour's
before it was burnt to the state in which he saw it.—
The ruin of the stack remained till the 10th of April;
and consisted of a great deal of scorched hay ; inl
pulling it to pieces, the witness judged that the fire
had been placed at the corner where the wood was
laid, and had burnt upwards. There was a hole in
the corner, which extended a yard up the rick ; a
little hay at the bottom was left uninjured. The
wood on which the stack was built being of green
wood, was not entirely consumed, but scorched. A
piece of tow; partly burnt at one end, was found in
the hollow.—(The tow was produced by the witness,
and answered to his description.)—lt was found about'
a yard within the hollow, where it might have been
introduced from the outside, near the corner, whence
the opening ascended as a chimney to the top. It
appeared l►ke a torch, lighted at one end. The wit-
i ness went from the stack to the house of the prisoner
'by the back way. Near the house is a pigsty, and
close to it an old gap trimmed with thorns. On the
gap was the m.rrk as if a person had trod on it and
trampled it down. Upon the other side of the gap
was a rail, upon which there was dirt which appeared
fresh, but rather dry than wet. The dirt was on the
same line with the mark left on the gap. From the
top of the gap, a person might step to the roof of the
pigsty. There was about a yard between the top of
the rail and the top of the gap, and about a yard
; thence to the roof of the pigsty, which was of thatch.
.1 On the old thatch there were no marks. The wit-

ness saw die prisoner about half-past three on the . - The Jury, after a very short consultation, said that
morning of the fire. they believed the stack was maliciously set on fire,
John Oakley deposed as follows :—On the 20th of .but not by the prisoner, who w
:Vlarch, W lednesday, came from my own house to I as acco
the announce-
rdiogly found
Shrewsbury, and returned between ten and eleven in' Not Guilty. A great shout followed
ment, which was immediately stopped by the admo-
the•evening, having waited for coaches by which I nition of the Learned Judge. The n fitness Oakley, on
expected my sister to waive from ilirmingham. On :_
leaving the Omit, was seized and roughly handled by
my return I passed near the stack,. which is about a.' the populace, until rescued from them by constables.

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ONDON.

TH E EVENING STAR.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 1322.
THR FUNDS.

STOCK EX CH ANG F, TWELVE O'CLOCK.

The Market has been very slack up to this hour, and little se
no business doing. Consols for the Account 30*.; for Money
801; and. Reduced el*.
FORZIGN Penna.—The 'whole of the business transacted upl
to this hour is in Clam Stock, of which several thousands have
been done•--82 to j. All other foreign securities are fiat.
STOCK F.XCHANGE,•ONK O'CLOCK.
The Commissioners have given 80} foe Reduced. Consols are
801 to *, and the Market keeps steady at that price.
' Foams FUNDS.—No alteration within this hour in foreign
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efit ; Old 881 to 89 ; Russian 63* t. Danish 673 ; Neapolitan
73* ; Colombian 86* ; Scrfp