Star. — 1828-12-10 (London, England)

HOUSE BREAKING.  John Jackson was indicted for burglarioosly entering the dwelling house i f Mr. John Phillips, at 'f herfield, and stealing therein one double-barrelled gun, one single-barrelled gun, a It. note of the Royston Bank, and other goods, the property of the said John Phillips. Verdict Guilty—Sentenced to transportation for Lie. ARSON•  Joseph Wood was charged with unlawfully, malici• oubly, and fAoniously setting fire to a stack of clover hay, the property of Mr. Alfred Hi:, at the parish of Great Hadhun.  Mr. RYLAND stated the case, and implored the Jury to pay the greatest attention to the evidence, as the case was one which might affect the life of the prisoner. Mr. lt's examined—ln the month of November last witness was one of the overseers of Great Hadham. On the sth of that month, Wood and Uncle applied at the gene'al vestry, at which witness was present, for relief. Wand was working on a ticket at 43. per week. The vestry refused doing any thing more for him. Wood is a single man ; he appeared to be much dissatisfied at the decision. On leaving, he burst into a loud laugh—it was a laugh of contempt. Uncle applied for a pair of shoes, which was !mused him. They went away together. Oa the Friday foiloiv;ng. Wood and Uncle again applied to witness, who told  them that they had been refused at the general vestry, and he could do nothing for them ; witness told Wood in particular that his conduct had been so bad at the vestry, that he certainly would get nothing; Wood and Uncle went away together; witness about halt an hour after saw a blaze in one of his fields, which on approaching he discovered to arise from one of his clover stacks being on tire; the stack was distant from any buildings; it was impo-sible to save it, as there was no water near ; on li-soking about, witness saw Wood and Uncle among the crowd; he went up to them, when they appeared confused and hung down their heads ; the value of the _stack was about 481. David Uncle deposed, that, on the 7th November, he went with the prisoner to the woikhuuse to apply for relief. They were both refused, and went away from the workhouse together. It was then about seven o'clock in the evening. They proceeded its company to the pro. secwor's house. The prisoner went in, and witness waited outside. The prisoner remained inside about ten minutes, and then came out with a lighted pipe and some matches, and proposed that they should go together and set fire to Mr. Roes barley-stack. Witness refused to accompany him, and told him he should not do it. He then said, he would set fire to the clover-stack. Witness consented to accompany him. Witness blew the pipe while the prisoner lighted the matches and thrust them into the stack. After the stack was en fire they went away, but returned again. The reason why the prisoner proposed setting fire to the stack was, because the parish would give them no relief. It was the prisoner who first suggested setting fire to the stack. By the Jolson—Witness was n t angry at being refused relief. He had ran reason for what he did. He did not join in doing it because he had been refused relief. He did it because the prisoner asked him. He would not have committed murder, if asked by the prisoner or any one el-e. This was the whole of the evidence for the proarentioa. The prisoner, in defence, said that the witness Uncle was the patty w Jur first sugkested the crime, in which he (the prisoner) joined at his entreaty. Mr. Justice Butthouott told the Jury that the case wholly rested on the evidence of the approver, and after the answers he had given, denying a'.y motive for the participation in the act, it wmild be for them to say what credit they could place in Iris testimony. It was competent for a Jury. to convict a prisoner on the unsupported evidence of an accomplice, but it was the general practice of the Judges to advise a contrsry course. The Jury, after a short consultition, found the piloner ciarifty. S.nrence of death was then pronounced with the usual formalities.