Star.
London, England, 1807-09-23 00:00:00

OLD BA/J. SiPT. 2t.

'Edward Gijon was indicted tor felnnionfly, wafting.,
aiabcioufly, and unlawfully letting fire to a certaTh
honk in the Parilh of St. Clement Danes, then being
in his poffellinn, with intent ro defraud the Co•nora-
tion of the London Affurance of Houfes and Goods
from Fite. The two &ft Counts in the Indictment
charged the Prifnoer with having done fo with intent
to defraud the London Affurance Company. In three
other Counts he was charged with having wilfully,
malicionfly, and unlawfully committed the above
crime, with intent to injure William Richards, or
John Langfield, the Leffee and Sub Lace, of the.
Houle fo let fire to.
The circuostiances of the cafe have already been
before bin Readers.

After a very eloquent and animated fpeech from
Mr. Fittnisn, on the part of the profecerion. wit-
nefier were called in fupportof hi; Itatement. •

William Bucklow, a publican in that neighbour
hood, fwnTe that on the morning of the sth Auguß
lag, near the hour of four o'clock, he was alarmed
by a cry of file, which he loon perceived to proceed
from the houfe of the prifoner, whp kept a .Coolcis
Shop. The !Inure of the prifoner had two doors, the
one leading into Bofwel Court, and tyre other into S..
Clement% Lane. The witnefs went to the door which
int.) St. Clement's Lane: 11e there found the
watchman making a great noire, and calling to thole
within to give him admittance. Nobody, howevcr,,,
opened, and after making every polTible effort to rouse.
any perfon that might be in the !mule, the watchman
knocked out a panne! from the door, and in this man-
ner he and the witnefs procuied admittance. On
goitig into the houfe, the witnefs perceived feveral,
Reps of the Rairs were *toil entirely confnmed. He
immediately proceeded, with the aflitlance of other
perfons who immediately arrived, to knock down the
Reps which were already in filmes, that the progrefs
of the conflagration might be more effeefually check.
cd, and in abtiut ten minutes the flames were got
under. The prifoner came in about this time to the
place where the wirnefs was, and teemed defirous of
getting down to the cellar. He Was, however, pre.
vented ; and immediately afterwards the witnefs hav-
ing followed Mr. Stentiford, and feveral other per-
fons into the cellar, obferved a candle fixed in the
half of a potatoe, and placed upon a piece of coal,
burning, fo as to communicate w ith the Hoer above,
at a place where there was no plaitler. In the rpm
where the lighted candle od, the floor abt.ve was
completely burned through. On either fide flood a
candle fupported in a fimilar manner, but which were.
both extinguithed. From the overflowing of the
tallow, however, over the potatoe, and the impref
lion they had made on the flooring above, 'live
could he little doubt that they alfo had been burning
in the fituation in which they now flood. The wit.
nets alfo dircovered the appearance of fire in another
part of the flooring above, within about to or la
inches of the burnt Reps, but with no communication
between the one and the other, In that he was fully
convinced they could not have originated from the
fame caure. There, one of the joins was completely
burnt through, and fame pieces of lath were obferved
banging down, fcorched, and covered in tonic parts
With tallow.

In this arconnt as to the (late in which the Pri-
foner's houfe was found, the Witnefs wascorrnborat•
ed by Mr. Stentiford, another neighbour, who had
taken an affive hand in fuppreffing the ®times, and
by feveral others.
'Thomas Greig, who refides at Ni. t, Botwel.court,
Paid, that in the prifoner's dull hole he found a pota.
toe with a hole in it, which had marks of burning
upon it ; and Thomas Dedge, laid he found a bun-
dle of (mall chips on the very fpot where the fire had
been dilcovered.
Eleanor Hihbert, who had been fervant to the
prif,,ner tome weeks, laid, that on the night previous
to the fire the prifoner's wife had gone to the crun-
try, being the fir tt time the had known her to t'oo from
home. The Prifoner informed the witnefs that The
was gone to Bow Fair, and would net return till next
day. About half pall it o'clock*at night their mat-
ter ordered the witnefs and her fellow fervent to bed.
He followed them up [lairs, feemingly to-go into his
own bed room, having his till under his arm. On
her leaving the kitchen and ceillr there was no car-o-
dic burring. Early in the *wining the Pritaner
knocked up witnefs and her fellow fervant, inform-
ing them that they were all on fire. The witnefs run
to the room door, when the prifoner delired them
both to go to the leads as fall as they could,and take
the other way of getting down, as the ufual Hairs
were on fire. • The "'dinner was at this time dreffed
ac ulna!, and even wore his apron, as he had done,
during the preceding day. While the women went
to the leads, agreeably to his orders, he went for
their b:ixes. On his return, he gave the alarm from
the leads to the watchman, and afkcd why he had
net fprung his battle ? The witnefs did nor know
what became of Rim afterwards. He teemed much
alarmed, and went down the fame way as the witnefs
did, being through the adjoining honk. which the
I rifoner alfo occupied by the door leading into St.
C lement's-lane.

Martha Davies corroborated the teflimony of her
fellow fervent with this exception, that the interval
of time between the period of her matter's going for
their bons, and his arrival on the leads, when for the
Ertl time be alarmed the watch, might be about ten
minutes.
George Heath made an inventory of the pmperty
in
.the ptifoner's honk, which, in whok, was not
worth 401.

Out of a box claimed by the prifoner's wife, on the
clay fubfequent to the fire, there were taken, en ex,
wining it, at Bow-them a Policy of Infatance with
the London Affurance Company, by the paoner, to
the amount offisol. on his furniture, flock, &c. in the
houfe where tbe.prifoner formerly lived, being the
Gltien Shears, in Wood firee, Cheapfide, with an
indot (intent on the back of the infirument, figned by
two of the Directors, transferring the rick to the pri.
lintel's place of refidence in finfwell-court ; alfo a
nevi, for the premium from 24th June, 1807, to zap h
Jane, tBoB. 'rhefe were proved by the proper Offi-
cers, but Mr. GURNIT for the prifoner contended,
that they could not be received in evidence against
him, not baying been found in his poileifion.
The learned judge (Hearn), laid it down, era E,
being found in the poffeffion of his wife, they were
pima fad* evidence the prifustr.

• The Chatter incorporating the Company, and its
Seal, were altar produced and proved.
I Mr. Guam sy objefled to the'policy and indorfe-
i ment being received in evidence. Full, he nbjefled,
that being a corporate body, the profecutois could
undertake nothing but by their common real. The
transfer of the policy now produced, however, was
only figned by two perfons, Paid to he Direftnrs of the
Company. Secondly, he fibre/yeti that the indorfe-
ment, nr whatever elfe it might be called, was kme-
thing very like a fraud on the revenue. there being no
Ramp annexed to that new engagement.
Mr. Janice HAAT,t Paid, tuppnfing the prefent to
be never fu had a policy, an objedinn to the legality
of it could not avail in the prefent inflance, this not
being in the nature of a claim to recover it ; but the
policy being here fought to he adduced only in evi-
dence of the intention by which the prifoner was
aftuated. Suprn,fing a petion to have committed a
forgery, it would not do away the offence becaufe the
paper on which the infitument was written did not
bear the proper Ramp. Again, fuppofing a forged
conveyance • f certain lands to have been made, it
wotild have been no lefs a forgery, although it could
be (hewn that the lands enumerated in the convey-
ance had no aAual exillence.
Mr. GURNEY alledged, that Mr. Garrnee and he
had, daring, the lall Lent Affixes, sffrted a fimi.
lar do trine to that now maintained, but that it had
been difenumenanced.
Mr. Jusrtce Ls BLANC fuggeßed that it would be
more regular to allow the writings to be put in, and
an objeftion to be then taken to them.
The policy of infurance was accordingly read,
being from June 24, 1806, to Jane 24, 1807, renew-
able every year. on payment of t4.s. ; bur not to be
transferable, unlefs signed by two of the Direftors of
the Company.
Mr. GuaNSY then repeated his objeflions, that the
indorfemet.t was not good, not being legally Ramp-
ed ; that it was not good, ascot having the common
foal of the Corporation affixed or appended to it; and
that the policy had expired on ;he 24th June, ltic.7,
no evidence having been adduced that it had fleet
been renewed by a fublequent payment of the pre.
mium of 141.
This lag objeflion was remnved by produaion, and
proving of the receipt, of the premium' from June
807 to June 18oli. •
The learned Judge made a note of the other points,
referving a quellion of law upon them.
Mr. FIPLDINo Paid there were other counts in the
indiament, charging the prifoner with fatting flue to
his houfe, with intent to injure the landlnid.
He accordingly athiticed proof to fhew that Wil-
liam Richards was the leffee, and JohniLlogfieli,
of whom the pitfoner held the two b..tdet, wag the
lake, tinder Richands, of the houfe, in ereft....n.
The ner lard in his defence, that his reafon
for making rhefe itifurances was, that he was told
tly,his landlord, if the walis fell, he must rebuild
them at his own expence.
Several very refire/labile meichants,particilarly Mr.
B Hand and Mr. Laing, gave the pri.Orier a gor.d
chara&et : the latter laid he bad been often tt tilted
in his bottle to the amount of 3otoo and 4.0,0e0i at
a time, and never war found cilthonett or ir~ekuLrr.
Mr. Jiiffice HEATH —.l Gentlemen of the Jury,
the prifdner at the Bar Rand. charged with a capital
offence.. The inditiment flares that he, on the soh
of Augull lath, unlawfully, wilfully, an-1
let fire to a !mute fitnated in Clement',-lahe, then in
his poffellion, with intent to defraud the Loudon
Affurance Company, against the Statute. There
are other counts, by which it is charged that he fee
fire to it with intent to defraud William Richard. and
Jahn Langfield. You have already been apprifed,
that tliis offence is made capital by a recent Aft of
Parliament, which was enafted by the Legiflature,
fur protalion to the Infurance Offices from fire,
again(' the numerous frauds which have been prat.
ticed !Ilion them. Now there is no proof pofitive
againtt the prifoner, for nobody taw him do the a6t
with which he Rands charged—that is, nobody taw
him let fire to this bottle. The evidence is merely
circumflantial ; and, in truth, fuch is the nature of
the offence, that you can fcarcely expefl politive
proof. It hardly ever happens that the evidence is
otherwife than circumstantial in fuch cafes as this, but
this is often more fatisfaftery than pofitiv.e teilimony,
in which the conclufion may be drawn from witneffes
who have fcrfworn themfelves, which can never be
the cafe where the whole depends upon a chain of
circurnflances. Whether the circumlhances here are
fatisfaCtory to eflablifh the guilt of the prifoner, is
for your confederation."
The Learned Judge then recited the whole of the
evidence, making (bort but fuitable clmments on the
leading pa) z: of it, and left the tale entirely to the
Jury ; giving him the full benefit of his good 'ha-
rafter, if they ,thought the cafe doubtful ; but if
clear, they could only lament that .a man who once
I lad a good charafter, lhould have In unhappily for-
feited and thrown it away. He thin cleared the Jury
to fay (if they fltnuld find the prifoner guilty), whe-
ther he did the at with intent to defraud the London
Affurance Company ; and alto, whether be did it
with intent to defraud Mr. Richards the landlord,
and Mr. Langfield the tenant?
The jury found the prifoner Guilty of letting fire
to his houfe with intent to defraud the London Atfu-
ranee Company.
The Learned Judge then defired them to find alb),
whether the ptiloner did this aft with intent to-de-
fraud William Richards and John Langfield, for a
point of law depended on that matter, of which he
had taken a note.

The Jury laid they did not find that it was done
with intent to defraud or injure either the landlord
or tenant, for none of their property was in the
huLfe ; and as to the walls, the prifoner was bound
to rebuild them ; and therefore the verdict-was en.
tered up Guilty on the fira and fecond counts ; and
Aot Guilty on the third and fourth.
The quellion of law, of courfe, Qiil remains to be
decided.

Seven were convilted of felony. viz.
J Simms, for Ruling three River tea fpoona, the property of
J. Hatehrtt
R Hylaud, for Realiag a chalk hared', the property of B.
Welton.

Mary Davis, for Resting a tons, containing one guinea sad five
Shilling', from the perfon of Hannah Pantie/.
J. Stock, for healing 31. ix". 64. and other things, the property
of William Huntingdon.
T. D. Walker, for healing a quantity of lead Axed to Fina-
ls, Church.
_ _

W. Skuff, for Realists two curtains, the property of Qe- Rev.
C. T. kicachecos ; ant .1

Ann Coney, for tleanng &counterpane, the property of A.ltotes.
Twn were couvieted of ruifJemeatiors. viz.

H. Williaint, for obtaining, under falfe pretences, a quantity
of knives and forks of G. and R. Knight; and
T. Lightfoot. for obtaining salb. of candles, under falfe pre.
tences, of J. Hill and F. Parkinfon.
And f-ur were acquitted, among whom was,
John Collin., a young lad who was capitally iodide(' for forg-
ing and uttering a cheque for 4cl. payable to R. Walker, and
figned by G. Griffiths, with intent to defraud Mars. Preleott and
Co. bankers, io Threadneedle-amt.

It appeared from the tettimony of a gentleman belonging to
Meffrs Prefenteg !mule, that on the azd of lima. about a
quarter before five in the afternoon, the prifoner prefented the
cheque in queftion for payment. The gentleman fufp.ded tae
cheque. and Aced the lad from whom he had got it. The boy
replied he bad got it front a Mr Selene, in St. Johrnftred, who
had defired him to get the money for it. The boy appeared em•
barraffed on being farther queftinned, and ftated that he hat'. gut
the cheque from a perfon who was then at as eating haute in
Bartholomew lane. One of the Clerks went to the eating -houre
with him, but no fuch perfon was found.
For the prifoner, a gentleman with whom he had lived x 8
months, gave him a good charaCter, and laid he Ibould have no
hefitation in again employing him, should he be acquitted of the
prefect charge.
Mr. Juftice 1.2 BLANC told the Jury, that the quellioo they
had to deter mine, wag not whether the cheque was a forgery, for
that there was uo doubt; but they had to fay by their verdid.
whether the prifoner bad uttered the cheque with the knowledge
of its fo being a forgery ? The Jury deliberated in Court for half
an hour. and then Aced leave to retire. In about an hour they
rAturacd with a verdict of—Nnt Guilty.

AN INcamotatty.—At Guildhall, on Monday,----.B
Thomas and wile were charged before Alderman
PRINSEP with felting fire to the premifes of John
Morgan, at the houfe of Mrs. Tagg, in Swin-alley,
Coleman-fireet, and Realing various articles, his pro-
perty: This cafe was of the molt cruel and atrocious
dele4tion. Vfnrgan, who is employed at the ERR
India Warehoufes, occupied the fecond floor at Mrs.
Tagg's houfe. On Saturday evening lag, Mrs.
Morgan went out to meet her hufband on his return
home. Thinking he might return before The faw
him, The gave the key of the Weer-door to the pri.
Toner, who lived oppofite, and requetled her to give
the fame to Morgan, if fheiaeard him knock at the
door. Shortly after the left the horde, Mrs. Tagg
was alarmed by the fmell of fire, and entering Mr.r.
gap's apartment, found the bed on fire, and a child
fleeping in in adkining bed in danger of being de.
firoyed. The flames being with great difficulty ez•
tinguithed, it was difcovered that fome incendia.y
had placed the hot Ores from the grate between the
'bed-clothes, and made other preparation for letting
fire to the room. Mrs. Morgan, on her return, alto
miffed her keys, and found her drawers plundered of
clothes, &c. Sufpicinn having fallen on Mrs. Tho-
mas, in confequence of her having been entrufied with
the key, an Officer was procured, who found part of
Morgan's property in a bag under the prifoner's bed.
It appeared alto that the prifoner had robbed her
hufband of all his clothes. The latter gave informa-
tion In criminate his wife, and, under all the circum-
fiances, The was fully committed for trial. The
hufband, who was in the fervice of an oilman in
Lombard ttreet,. bore an honell good charatter, and
as it did not appear that he was in the flightelt degree
implica•ed in his wife', cruel condudt, the Magiltrate
was induced to difcharge him.
As great number of perfons are rendered very un-
happy by Sprats, Wind in the Stomach, Ohfirtic-
ri,ns in the B .wets, want of regular Peril iration,
Vomitings, and Bilious Complaints, Head .tors,
Heart Burn. Cottiveners, Nervous Disorders, Cholic,
Gout, &c.—We are authorized to fay. that SP EDI
MAN'S Lills are in molt cafes an excellent remedy for
thefe complaints; and especially recommended dur-
iog the time of Sea Bathing, and drinking the Sea
arid Mineral Waters ; alfo for thole vifiting Warm
aces. Prepared by THOMAS SHELtzros, jun.
Druggift, Tottenham Higli Crofs, Middlefex, by
virtue of an aflignment from H. and J. Befwick, fole
Proprietors of the Receipt, by the will of M. SP E EDI.
MAN ; and are fold by Shaw and Edwards, No. 66,
St. Paul's Church Yard ; and Bacon and Co. No.
Iso, Oxford-fireet, in Boxes at as. 4s. 6J. los. 6d.
and One Guinea ; and may be had of the Principal
Venders of Medicines in 'Town and Country.