The Statesman.
London, England, 1824-01-02 00:00:00

sTATEsmAN

fire had commenced 20 minutes. before he left the 'horse.
Witness remarked the plirase.at the Cline, and is pearly*
the words ased by the prisoner rreie, I.lkitsw-the tonna Vim
On fire. _ _•

Thomas Aldis, shoemaker, of London Read, was present
at the tire,'end proved that it proceeded from the lower
part of the house.
Cross examined.--'l'he smoke was so great that I could
not see exactly where the fire was. The Game was to great
that it rolled along the ceiling like a person drawing down
a sari blind. I don't remember saying that it proceeded
front gas. It had a peculiar appearance ; it circled all
round die shop.
•By the COURT.-1 took out of the shop three Cheshire
cheeses and a half, two Dutch cheeses, a bladder of lard, a
halffirkin of butter, about twelve pounds in it. I was
reaching after the other half firkin, but could not get at it
for the smoke. 1 saw two sides of bacon hinging at the
door. Saw nothing particular in the atrangements of the
shop.
James Edwards, shop boy to Swaffield in September last,
had been with him nearly three montha.—l slept in the
parlour : it was parted off by a slight partition, with glaz
ed windows. I could see into the shop when sitting down.
There was a fire place in the room ; fur the last three
weeks I slept there; before that, at home. In the last three
weeks my master slept at Watling street ; be had a shop
there. I bad never slept at Watling street. We
usually shut up, on Saturday nights, between eleven
and twelve. There were six gas lights fixed ; we only
used three ; one near the little parlour, within eight feet
of it ; and two in the shop windows. We had no fire in the
grate that evening ; there was afire in the morning. I think
we had no other lights that night besides the gas. I
used to light myself to bed with a candle. There was a
large fiat bottomed candlestick for my use. We used to
open on Sunday mornings. There was a dog; IC used to
be tied up in the shop at night; but the night of the Ere
it was in the little room. Master toll me to remind him
to take the dog to Watling Street. I put out two of the
gas lights that night. My candlestick had a candle in it:
it stood in the usual place. l put up the shutters. filar
ter was serving in the shop. We cent out together. I
could see into the shop while shutting it up. We took
some meat and coppers in a basket. I did oat remark the
candlestick daat night. I went into •thi back room to
make Inv bed. I was to collie back and sleep.. I did not
want a light to ace while the shop was open : tile gas was
enough. The money w..s the contents of the till, It was
not locked. I might have taken it. My mother asked
for a holyday for .rue on Sunday. 1 was to sleep in the
bark parlour. Master locked the shop. and gave me the
key. He did not say any thing about a fire up stairs. 1
cent with him to carry the basket of meat to Wading
Street. It i* about a mile and a half distance. Master had
only an umbrella in his hand. In going along we observed
a tire ; we were got, to the coach stand. inure
than a varier of a and on our way. The shop
in Wading. Street is nearer St. Paul's. opposite South.
wart; Bridge. We heard the cry of fire, and the
ringing of the bell. We did not say any thing About
it. We slid not think that it was our house. We could
tell partly from what quarter it came; it seemed to come
from the direction of the Obelisk. We were certain it
could not be one house, We had left it all secure. We
said welted left our house. quite safe, and I thought it was
towards Prospect Place. The dog seas forgotten; I told
master so, and that be would go without food on Sunday,
as there was none at the shop. He said that I might feed
him on Sunday evening. 1 went very near home to Wets
ling itmet. .Master. took the baskets and told me to make
'haste home and go to bed. 1 went home to the .London
Road.. 1 could not get near the fire. 1 saw it was near
master's house. 1 went hick to Watling Street. lie Ras,
nut in bed. It was nearly two o'clock. When I left the
tire, there was not a beans left ;it was all down. 1 told him
so. He asked me if I was sure it was our house, and said
he would go over and look after it. 1 asked him it
shield go with him? lie told me to go to bed, having
called up his wife and sister. I got into his sister's bed,
and she went into his wife's bed. When 1 got to Watling
Street, he had Isis coat off. He said that he would go over
and sec if any thing could be saved. I went to bed. I
don't know then be returned. I felt him in bed about four
o'clock in the morning. The shop at Watling Street was
only opened on that Saturday morning. 1 had taken over
cheese and other goods on the truck. There was furniture
left in London Road; sofa, chairs, two tables, fire irons,
chest of drawers, and boxes. I was employed two or three
days in removing things to Watling Street. 1 took an old
chair and a bedstead. We used to get the meat for the dog
from St. tleorge's market. It is nut open on Sut:day, and
1 seas to hare brought meat fur bins from my mother's.
Cross.examined.—When my master talked of going
over, I told hint it was of no use, every beam was burst
down. lie had alarmed his wife and sister, and was greatly
agitated. He asked if I was sure that it was his house. In
the morning he told the to go over, and see if any body
was hurt, and if any thing could be saved. Witness
added, that the stock nits kept up at London Road; that
no One had ever tampered with him to keep him out of the
way; that he had always been ready to attend ; that be
had lost his clothes, and his master said he was very sorry,
but lie would make it up to him. 1 have seen eight In
family ; there were utensils enough for them all.
. Rrezamined.—Master n id any thing about leaving
the house in London Road. I understood him that he was
going tp keep a young man there to sell on commission.
The premises were 40 feet long. 1 have not been tampered
or talked with by my master. 1 save the plan at the Bine
of the last Croydon Assizes, when My master bad an action
with Mrs. Bonsai. It did not come on. -I Was flat at'
Croydon. 1 hare not seen my master since 'this charge was
made. I tow the model at Mr. Benton's'office. I went
there to measure the ground, aid 'to' show the 'different
places where I heard the cry aid saw the fire.
By the Coutrr.—l thisk this was the first Saturday night
that 'nester went imam to sleep in Watliug ert. We used
to open of a Sunday .morning at t 3 o'clock. I don't
know what kept him up till 2 o'clock. I was greatly
agitated, and did not observe any thing, either books or
drink; did not observe if he bed on bests. or slippers.
'flie dug was buri.t. I saw his skeleton. He was not tied
up. I must have shut the door on making my bed. We
ha I heals stock in (hieing that week. I brought in 10 or
'2O lumps of fresh butter on Saturday. 1 don't know
which. There was half of it left at night. We bath
went ugt together. lam sure all the gas lights were out.
There was a light left for me to come in—a candle at the
back of the shop, at the little counter ; about eight feet
from the partition.
By the Jury.—We have had the gas escape and smell
powerfully. We bad separate pipes to the lights—no main
pipe. Two of the gas pipes were out of repair.
Cross-examlneti.—The two pipes were stopped with cork.
Two or three mornings before one of the corks fell oat.
1 hare seen Evans at the Hall. I think that he shoved
me the same cemll:stick which h left lighted in the bask
part part of the shop. The dog might have got up and
tstrown it down.. He was • soischiefous dog—a French
dog, and he would do any thing you bit him—full of
.tricks. '[A auodel of the premises, with the dircctioa of
the „ices pipes,:end other circumstances of the evidence
laid down la it and the witness shows the situation of
the coaster: upon' which he put the candlestick] On
that Saturday night the gas went nearly out. toed wbea.we
went oat to 1014 Watling Street, we saw the gas lash up
,again is thp'street,lamps; the rush might have driven the
cork, out 0ga41,, . • •
• bi skerioe Liked tbe.ltisoner what ha hadl to.
.
Asir . . 1. ' • . •
aho prisoner 4ePteil tb4 abstßeOtod all,tlio=expoomdpito
aktrihured to him as to the breaking not of tiostAreat
Itativoltivatid a very good bosisaasia Loodou Bead. by
• •

7'r.,P..! '7- **' t'

.- -
industry and bard labour, which he never could be mad
moss* to destroy.
Whneemussithen.cslied evidence for the defence.
aullkel.Fearite, of the Piormix Fire Office, pro.'
o policy, dated in lti2l, for 4001., for the tixtorest
astd atock to trade. It was renewed in July List. The
othee do pot prosecute in this case. l was the only person
from our office who attended the examination at Union
11.41. Ur. Harmer attended for us t 3 watch the case, but.

we do not prosecute.
Sarah Swaffield, sister to' the prisoner, sat up for him
on the night of the fire. lie came home between twelve
and one o'clock. He generally sits up an hour or so and
smokes a pipe. I went to bed, and was callt.il up before I
got to sleep. 1 heard what passed between my brother
and the boy. Ile did in fact go oat. He had smoked his
pipe. Ile returned about four o'clock. Mrs. Swaffield
left him in. l was in bed with Mrs. Swaffield. The buy
was gone into miue. He generally slept at Watling Street.
fhe Saturday night before he slept in the London Road.
Win. Saunders lived from May, 1821. to December, 1822;
as shopman to the prisoner. The second year the trade
I was larger than the first. The gross returns were more
than 5001. I saw the shop from time to time after that.
I was there the Saturday before the fire. The stock was
much as I had always seen .t. The returns were about
401.. a week. I don't know what is meant by gross returns.
Mr:Swatfield was always accounted a very honest man, and
paid every one very regularly.
Samuel Wheatley is foreman to Messrs. Nilwall and Co.,
cheese factors. We always sepplie t him with whatever be
might choose to purchase. We sold him 20P1 a year fur
the last two years. He was always an honest man, and
used, to pay really money. He had not caked for two
months before the tire.
J. Surridge, butter and cheese commission agent, had
sold goods to the prisoner about 501. or 1001. wortb within
the last 18 months. He used to pay money. I sold him
SI. worth of batter in the week of the fire.
Joseph Porch, innkeeper and carrier, in Leadenhall
Street, had delivered batter and cheese from Wincanten, to
the prisoner. His bill for earalage, in the last two years,
was 351. Should suppose the goods delivered in that time
world be worth 4001. He was always considered as a very
honestmas. Witness drew up the agreement for him fur
the house is Watling Street.
Henry Toggrell sells cheese for one Apothecary, in
Wiltshire"; had delivered 6001 b. of cheese to the prisoner in
the last six Swaths., Seventy-two cheeses were on their
way to him When witness heard of the fire, and .but for
1 hat, Would have bees delivered on Monday morning. His
character was that of an honest man.
Charles Barfield, builder, in the London Roads bad knows
the prisoner Li years; was with him on the evening of the
fire ; knew him to be an honest man. The witness had smelt
the Of, and knew that one of the pipes was imperfect, and that
it was stopped with cork. Had tried with lighted paper to
hod ottt this teak 'in the pipe nearest the partition ; had
warned Swaffield of the danger of fire from it, who said
that the pipes Were not his, or he should cut them away.—
Swaffield, however, did not use that pipe again. .
Jblan Stapp', Of 85, Snowfall); wholesale cheesemooger,
had sold Swaffield goods to the amount of between 5001. and
6001. in the year before the 13th of September. Con•
sidered him as a perfectly honest man. Nineteen pounds
worth of goods were delivered to Mum on the Friday be-

fore the fire.
Jilsepli Water; in partnership with Leedham, supplied
Swaffield chiefly with bacon. lle paid ready money ; used
to pay from 151. to 201. a month. Upon inquiry 1. found his
character 'very good.
Mr.. Pearson, attorney, of Staple lne --Swat field ap.
plied to me about purchasing the lease of the house in the
London Road. L inquired into the title, and found the
party had noue. 1 a tvised him to keep his money in his
pocket. A mortgagee had IDOL on it, and the treaty was
for that interest. He was most anxious to purchase, but 1
prevented him.
T. Rotten, Ksq., had a mortgace on thelonse in London
Road: • Mr. Pearson applied to him about eight months age
for tire purchase of his interest.
Several other witnesses were called, who merely corrobo•
rated the previous testimony.
Win. Rinks, plumber, went to search the premises by
direction rrf the Albion Insurance Company ; found near
4cwt. of. lead. 1 found a piece of the broken candlewick at
the back of the premises—that which had been pro laced
was very like it. This was the second &starter the fire. 1
threw it back again among the rubbinKThere were large
lumps of cheese, which we threw out to the *
Ralph Stephenson, another plumber, co rated the
evidence of thelast witness.
Numerous witnesses were called to the character of the
prisoner, who testified most strongly in his favour.
At sic o'clock the Judge proceeded to charge the Jury,
' which ditty took up an hour and a half.
The Jury consulted for 15 minutes, and returned a ver.
diet of Not Guilty.

POLICE.

Mammal Ilottsz.—Nesterday the Lotto HATOR received
a communication from the owners of the ship which -was
wrecked on an island in North Am.rice, and in which three
sealnen. who the day before yesterday applied to his Lord-
ship, had nearly perished,
'file o wners stated, that although the cargo had been lost,
the claims of the seamen should be in due time completely
answered; that they should be paid out of the profits
arising from the sole of the wreck the moment the ac•
counts were settled, and that in the mean time employment
should be procured fur them on hoard ship.
The LORD 11 A TOR Observed, that the conduct of the owners
was praiseworthy in the highest degree. He did not know
that it was by any means obligatory upon them in a legal
point of view to pay the applicants under all the circuits-
trances ; but whether it was so or not, the prompt manner
in ,which they offered to serve the unfortunate seamen WAS
highly honourable to them.
The seamen were not quite so willing as the Lord
Mawr WAS to -cousineml this• readiness to serve
them as exhibited upon the part of the owners.
They were very grateful to his Lordship for
the decisive. steps be bad taken to -do them justice,
and were not backward to ecknowledge that, had not the
chief magistrate taken public notice of the hardships under
' which they laboured, their ease might be postponed from
day to day, as bad been the course pursued by the owners,
until staraation should be the consequence. The seamen.
then left the Justice room, hoping that, if they were
to sail, proper security would be given for the pay-
ment of their wages, and expressing their conviction,
that men who hazarded their lives were entitled to their
par, whether they succeeded or not in bringing a ship out
of danger.
Mr. Martin, the Member for Galway, applied to the Lord
Mayor for assistance in carrying into more complete effect
his bill for securing merciful treatment to animals. His
Lordship could; he said, further the cause of benevolenee,
by allowing him to place a person over the officers fur the
daily businesi for the purpose of superintendiogAhem in
putting-his bill into effect. Although a numberof.examplee
had been made, the evil the bill was intended'-t0 remedy'
.5611 existed to as great extent,- partieudatlf •111.. the ,
neighbourhood 'of Smithfield, and the exertions of • the
superintendent Should be more particularly directed ; to_
that quarter. -..,: • •
' The Loan Manna said' he could not consent to. liferlere,l
-with a system • of polio. *bielv fiat long-laieftadiCe op-
*probation of all who= weri-itaiaalasest .aritli, • Ir. , ' tl'e
'officers wee. .catresnely aestive6 saftli .1 iitiopi,:.as • ell-
;fre
as.spieleed.. aid: wherever 411004.11,14;
... isitnn fat ,
gjlt
:performance of theirantyV Ili ' vat- tisintSeitt p
perform is, .• • ..,....• ~.,• •f• -;: n.• ~:...;;.. .. • v Al

•

with obtaining goods miller falseis par ectiee
Mr.Joim tion4ard W/5 charge,
acrktsio Mr. Dicks:,
ittl LOYALLY Yesterila) .
Edward Margwell deetteeti—t
son, Warelitifigestian, No.G, Lad I,she.• aura o„,tara
to the warehouse in February last, ants •
_pia tos wilt"
look at home goods, He then palm him a
Mi. SiMeim, of 25, ".Edirsond Pace, Aldealt
there end saw Mr. Simeon, who told him that —air.
and had some dealint,e with him, and that he hats
Mr. (Molten! for 501., and he would do to again. Wei
out the faith of this, gate credit to theeprisonev,ar,,l le; •t.
t Ike the goods away. Some tiros after Mr. Good od
again, and ordered some goods, and desired the., to
scot to No. 2,Grange Court, Carey Steer!. 'flue heir I; „
the panel, hot no person answering the description w 4,
be found there, or even known.
Edward Thompson is an apprentice ;to Mr. D:el sae
tonic the above mentioned parcel to the address met ti
he inquired for Mr. Goodsell, but the woman told him
no person of that name lived there. He was r-tnieni,z
from Orange Court, and met the prisoner, who asked I,'„,
if the parcel woe for him ; he asked the prisoner if ra
name was Goodard ? Prisoner said " Yea," asd with t.t—
-„
ok the parcel out of his hand, and • said it was for Ibim,
Mr. Oondard said, that he got credit" foam the horse
Dickinson, and gave bills at one month's date, which
remain unpaid ; hut as to any frandident intention he sea
perfectly innocent. The only charge against him Prat i-'3
not paying the bills.—The prisoner was remanded 1•••••
Saturday swat.
Bow syncer.oo•—sOn Wednesday evening d coantra
gentleman, who stated his none to he Brown, came to tut'.:
office, and stated that he had just been robbed in a ;nil
nnacconntahle manner of property to the amount of 1,62'4.
He was in town from Leicestershire on business, and havit o
dined in the city, he thought he would manse himself fit
an honr or two at the Olympic Theatre. (rids. Tbettre
has been entirely closed for some nigh's past.) He trtird
in Wych Street at about half-past six o'clock, and he Psis
surprised to find the doors closed. Concluding that t',i4
mum be owing to some neglect on the part of the Lide
dings of the establishment, lie toinatenced knocking
the door pretty !tinily, but no one Appeared to answer I
demand for admission. %While he was stooling Orr-, sr
pet aims came about him, hut he observed nothing re es
able in their conduct. lie at length tamed welkin tow!
the city, anti feeling inclined for some refreshinrst.
instinctively placed his hand upon his roatmce.:
when, to his utter consternation, he discovered that
had been robbed of his pocket batik, containing &
notes and sovereigns to the. amount of 1,624!. tie
manicated 11;3 loss to some persons, and they advised
to come here.
The Magistrateimmediatelycalled f T Smith, and of
experienced officers, and gave them direction, to 'tie
best exertions to detect the robbers. The officers procee
to all the flash houses. and made a general sear( ii, bat
in making any discovery.
WC:4O4MP STREET. —THR SILK Tit Iter It:
soon as Mr. Bennett and Mr. Twyford hail taken their!
this Office became crowded to excess with men and
interested in the Silk Trade, from the parishes of Bet
Breen and Spitallieids, b-gging their Worsli;?a' ad
and interference, under circitinstances of such an appal
,eatare, as in their operations are likely to involve
(sands of a hitherto industrious class of the y
bruin and panerisin. Two respectable looking journey
weavers stepped into the witnesses' box, and on the lo
the Trade sated their case, tt hieh was briefly this :
raid they wereat present, or at least latterly, in them
went of a Mr. lea berry, No. rid, London Wall, of usl
as en employer, they would wisti to speak with that di
of respect and gratitude his conduct at all titn-s des'
and was entitled to receive, from them.—But two
houses in the sante trade, a Mr. Griffith and a Mr.
ants, of Fort street, Old Artillery Ground, had ref
iliecovered an omission in the last regul aloft!, made •
13 years ago, for the cities of !amnion, Wesininetei
county of Middlesex, by which the district where the
(Well court Square.) was by SOOlO means or other negl
to be included by the Nieeletrates at Oeneral Qoartei
sions assembled ; and alth tngli this iegleet rein
dead, or at least inoperative for 13 years, they have i
these few days discovered it, and have ref need theii
neymen's wages from 20 to 30 tier rent. The e.otiott
of which is natural. Mr. Newherib who has to meet
in the same inviter, cannot eateitanto competition
them, and is therefore from nerensity, and not from it
tion, obliged to discharge his workmen.
Mr. Hs KTT—!'his is certainly a novel case,
the (lettere! Quarter Sestions still he held on the L
am satisfied the Magistrates will rectify any error
have been unintentionally made.
Weavers.—lilt what ate our children to do till the
besides, it will cost at least 6(11. to MI. to bring thi
oess forward so as to include tho district, wlti.
first neglected; o tether on the part of the Comm!
conducting, or on the part of the Magistrates for not
log. they could not tell.
Mr. listasart.—The parishes are bound to
you.
Weavers.—lt will be difficult fair them to get war]
to. holli us all.
Mr. LUNN you not work at the pri'
*or by Mr. Griffith and Mr. Williams?
Weavers.—li we do, we become liable to the
penalty of fine and confinement, for violating
of Parliament; beside, are yon of opinion that
finish the stork we have now on hanus at the
-agreement ?
Welters, the officer, who had been formerly eng,
the silk trade, here stepped forward, and exelt
regulations; after tt hicb the 514aistrates desired
to stand over • until to-morrow (this day); and,
mean time, Mr. Newberry should bc. waited on to
his attendance.
TOWN !!seal.—Joha Murphy, a soldier in the East
Regiment of Militia, was charged situ stabbing Damsel
with a bayonet.
The prosecutor being so severely wounded es to be
aity's Hospital in a dangerous state, the hearing of
was deferred till his fate could he ascertained. and he
attended in a state of great debiiity to give his
eridte
trricley evening last between nine and ten o'ricck, I
the tap room calla Two Sawyers public hints., Crol
Silver street. accompanied by ills wife. Tee prisli
andul proceeded
ed.Ptr
blows; a
ho were
riot g
i n
esoaifliorvorailed ~
the watch was called in and the house cleared; the m
was' not many ya,rds from, the door on his way horn's,
prisoner CMG behind him and w.O ti ed Is ifs 11/d ha,
bud. He was cePtain it was the act or the prisoner.
;might was so dark that he did not see with Wo. wt
*jury was inflicted. He was picked up by the Witch,
taken to Guy's Hospital.
• Tee prosecutor's wife corroborated this Velem'
swore positively to the prisoner; and that a err
,Jerry Neale had been wounded 40 the side by a 1,14°'
A rusty bayonet was here produced to thv eitnoss
the spot by the watch ; but site could not swear to
the weapon with which her husband was wounded.
The prisoner in his defence denied striltior this prow's?'
the street, but cohlfssed he had given hint a blow wito
for interfering in the tap room. , .
Tie.prisoner being again positively sworn to, Wei
Moths Sessions, in default of sureties, and the doui
-aveyend beck to the 11 .spiral. - oaeasae

• geItRISD.-04 tem Both- alt. at the new iTtif.tnn,
Osorp Christmas. gay. of Gower street. WA* oldest dace
Landscer of Upper Conway stmt. env ust to,tlall.Ntsf-t
Oh the 't fit Lost. at St. tteorge's;l I swkvet equlre, Mr. Atltttiroon,
of
••slifly. to Anus, third daaglitor of, Mr., Igiontoi. it Nutt) piss*.
- ei Wednesday'. J.. Mithaei, EN. solltUor qt Sod I..nt Spare,
eldest duChter of I.r..inon Hart. E.-q. Fttithurett stoiret• .
DtSl).-410 Wastortlay last, Itoserober 111..-at Isflttioilksee 14.8''1'
stow. Thomas Coo:Lousy Kanter Esq. Unmoor of St. Bartliviao
' Hospital.. • ,
"Ilsosistrty sliotfitg; altos' LO . eliV/041 Fetaliata
.

Emma•

rte ORice,
by R. WARDELL, LL,D. Proprietor.

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