The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-06-30 00:00:00

• PRWE'SRVIN 'PEN'CR.

the prisoner applying to Um to say that be had bad:
goods from bun to the amount of 50t.
Thomas Baker is a coal merchant.-1n 1811 reside/tat
193. Whitecrosi-street. Remembers the fire is White-
cross-street. at 196. Saw Hattie come out. He' *as
completely dressed. The witness (lid not vary in tha
least from his former evidence, and in addition corrobo-
rated the testimony of Mr. and Mrs. Gibbs, as td the
node of their escape.
Crosgexamined.—There was no person with Gettig
who had a trunk in his hand. He appeared quite com-
Posed.
George Penton Carr, El. proved the house. No. 196;
in Whitgerossotreet. to have been bit rty in 1911:.
Mr. Pye corroborated the evidence efitr. and Mrs,
Gibbs.
Elisabeth Brookes saw the prisoter and a young man
come out. The house was. on fire at the top. The pri-
soner came back, and they toast up the m. oh and woos
away.,
au Itice to the prisoner, repeated his

Maashey, „ appreni
former testimosy. As fu as be could recollect. there
was only a bedstead, bed, box, and a trunk, in the sleep-
ing room. There might been have six chairs in the par-
lour. There was very little crockery-Ware. The bars mast
have been removed, otherwise the persons could not
have escaped. The whole of the property ibelonging to
Uottie would not amount to more than 18/. or 201.; was
certain 401 would have covered it.
Hugh Stone lives at 98, Whiteeross-street, stated that
the prisoner came to his house at 11 o'clock on the night
of the fire; his wife asked if Mrs. Gibbs was safe, and ho
said " it's all right, they are safe."
Stapelton denied going to Mrs. Brookes.
The case for the prosecution here closed, and the
Judges left the Court for a short time. The Jury were
supplied in an adjacent room with refreshments.
On their return the prisoner was called on for his de-
fence. and lie pat in a written one. He claimed the at-
tention of the Jury to the fart of his being called on at a
distance of twelve years, to answer for past events. He
begged of them to dismiss from their minds all they had
heard previous to his being put on his trial. He asserted
that he could show that his property in New-street ex-
ceeded by far the sum he was insured for. He declared
hit utter inability to account fer the fire, unless it was oc-
casioned by the oven; and so unconicioas was he of the fire,
that he escaped with difficulty, leaving all his clothes be-
hind, and only savings box. He had applied to two at-
tornies, bat they declined acting without money, and he
had none to give them. He dented having ever secreted
himself, and Called the attention of the Jary to the fact
of hh name being over the door in so public a situ ition.
Hedenied being at the fire in disguise, and concluded by
throwing himself on the mercy of the Jury.
The Foreman wished to know from the Counsel for the
prosecution, whether the prisoner had paid for the lease.
They were aoswered in the negative, and the Court ob-
served that in the absence of such evidence, the Jury
might take it in his favour.
Messrs. Watetlito and Law called the tillowing wit-
nesses on the part of the prisoner:—
Mr. Selby, a Solicitor of Clerkenw .11, identified an at-
testation, signed by his clerk, named liarkin, since de-
oeased. This paper related to a conveyance of a house.--
The paper, however, bore date in 1814.

Mt. Justice Beattoucn held this not to beevidence.
Wm. Clarke, proprietor of the White Lion, Edgeware.
formerly lived at the Marquis of Anglesea, liow•street.
Knew Mrs. Gibbs, and Davies the officer. Had never
seen them in company. Witness would not believe Mrs.
Gibbs on her oath.
On his cross-esaniination, he said his reason was be-
cause she had robbed him in his absence. A person
named Randall saw her do it. The money was after-
wards found in her pocket, it consisted of a crown•piecn
a 10.1 f-crown, and a shilling. He did not prosecute Mrs..
Gibbs. He never saw Gottie before this day.
John Randall (the pugilist) was next called. He knew
nothing of Mrs. Gibbs, but on the occasion referred to
by the last witness.
John Drakeward sworn. He would not believe Mrs.
Gibbs on her oath. The reason this witness gave, WAS
that she had accused the witness with being a reputed
1 thief, and observing, that her husband could prove it.

Cross-exatnined.—Had been taken up on a wrong
chsrg•- Was proved to be innocent, and afterwards pro-
secuted the prisoner at the bar of the Old Bailey.
Eliz. Mason, of No, 13, Shrewsbury-court, Whitecioss-
street, knows Mrs. Brookes, but could say nothing about
her character.

Thomas Bromley, of Wych-str:et, Drury-lane, knows
Gottie. Has known him for eight or nine years, and he
has borne a very good character.
George Thomas Baxter, Oilman, of Blackfriars-road,
and of St. Martin's street, had known the prisoner for
seven years, and always supposed him to be an lioneit
man. He had, borne that character generally,. Thinks
his name was on the door in New-street.

Thomas Moore bad known him for seven years, during
which time he had borne an honest character. Had seen
his name over the door in New•street. He was visible to
the public at all times.
Mr. Brials, of St. Catherine's, had known Gottie since
1806 or 1607. Had worked with the prisoner. He al-
ways was an honest, sober, worthy fellow•servant, and
never heard any thing dishonest of him.
_

Josiah Eatoti had known the prisoner for eighteen or
nineteen years. He had always borne a good character.

Thomas Summers said, there could not be a more hon-
est and industrious man. His name was on each side of
the door.
Adam Finch, of the Commercial-road, had known the
prisoner twenty years. He was a very honest, respectable
man. _ _

George Coxhead, New-street, Covent-garden, bad
known the prisoner for four years, daring which time he
had borne the character of an holiest, upright man. Wit-
ness offered him 5001. for the lease and fixtures o ! his house
as it stood.
Joseph Greases, of New-street. cheesemonger, bad
never heard any thing to implicate the prisoner's charac-
ter. His name was over the door.
Ht nry Hutchins, of 445, Strand. The father of witness
gate dm prisoner 671. for the lease of a house in Round-
court. His name was over the door in large characters.

--
Joseph Rutland, the Deputy Marshal of tile 'Marshabee
Prison. This witness royal the prisoner to have been
confined in the Mambabpa.
Thomas Smith, of Crouch-end, Hornsey, bad known
the prisoner for nine years, and always understood his
charm-ter to be very good.
John Kemp, of Chelsea, had called on the prisoner for
payment of 61. 3s. GtL which he paid him. This was in
1511. The coals were famished by Mr. Lesl.e.
This closed the ewe, and at five minutes after eight
o'clock Mr. Justice BURROUGHS commenced summing
up the evidence. The Jury then retired, and, at a
quarterbefore clever, returned their verdict of Not tivdlty.
The prisoner will be placed at the bar this morning on
the charge of setting fire to his late house in New-street,
Covent-garden.