The Manchester Examiner. — 1848-04-08 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

ARSON.  Samuel Shepley, 29, was indicted for setting fire to a mill at Dukinfield, the property of Messrs. [limas, Dean, and Co. at Dukinfield, on the 29th January. Mr. Trafford and Mr. APlutyre were counsel for the prosecution. Mr. Dean, one of the firm of Binns, Dean, and Co. cotton spinners, of Dukinfield, proved that the prisoner had been in their employment occasionally, up to the latter end of July last, when he was discharged for misconduct. He lived near the mill, a wall separating it from the prisoner's house. The mill had been partially burnt down about a fortnight ago, and a new end to the mill has since been built. On the night of the 29th January, one of the rooms of the new mill was discovered to be on tire, by which property to the value of about £1,500 was consumed. Hugh Ellice proved that the room in which the fire originated was left quite safe at half-past four on the day when it occurred; and that there was nothing in it likely to ignite spontaneously. Thomas Shaw deposed that on returning from Hyde, about halfpast twelve on the morning of the fire, he observed a light in one of the upper rooms, moving backwards and forwards. He immediately gave, an alarm. John Binns said that he was on duty as a watchman in the front mill on the night of the tire. About half-past eleven the prisoner passed hirn in the direction of his home. A little before one o'clock witness noticed a light in No. 4 room, anti immediately gave an alarm to John .1 adson. The mill then broke out into a blaze; many persons were at the fire, and amongst them the prisoner, who stloti with his hands in his pockets watching other people work. Hannah Lees, who worked at the mill in question, said that on the night of the fire she met the prisoner at Ashton-under-Lyne; her husband was with her. They stood near a spirit vault, and tier husband said "Well, Sam, they've made a job of Jockey's old end. Prisoner said," Aye, and the new end 'twill be down before morning." They then left him.—James Shepley said in January last he lived with the prisoner (his brother) at Dukinfield. The prisoner cattle home about twelve o'clock on the night of the 29th January. His clothes were bedaubed- with mortar. He asked hint where he had been to get his clothes so dirty, and the prisoner said, " Hold your noise." Witness and wife, and the prisoner and his wife, sat down to supper. After it was over, prisoner asked his wife.if there were any matches. Some were given to him, and he then put his hat on, and went out of the house. In about twenty minutes he returned, and after sitting in the house a few minntes, prisoner said, "Hush! there's some one calling murder." "Nev," said another brother named Edward, "it's fire." They all three then left the house, and found the mill on tire. Witness remained there' till the fire was over. They breakfasted together the next morning, after which prisoner went up stairs and witness followed hint. After a short time witness said, "Sam, this is a serious job you've done." He said, "What ?" Witness replied, " I think you know something about the fire at the factory." His brother Edwin coming into the room at the time, prisoner said, "Don't hear what this man saws; he says I know something about the fire." Edwin said, "Aye !" Prisoner said, ‘! I'm not afraid of telling you for fear you should tell again, and I'll let you know how I did it?' He then described how he had set the mill on fire. Several other witnesses were examined, after which his lordship summed up, and the jury returned a verdict of guilty.—Transported for life.