The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1870-02-11 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

THE CENTRAL GLAMORGAN GAZETTE-FRIDAY, FEBRITARVII, 1870.  A FARMER COMMITTED FOR ARSON.  At the divisional petty sessions at Marlborough, on Saturday, the Justices were occupied for five hours in hearing a case which excited great interest, the court being densely crowded byagriculturists and others residing in the neighbourhood. A respectable young man, named Isaac Salter, a fanner, residing at Avebury, Wilts, was brought up in custody of the acting chief constable of the county, charged with having on the night of the 21st January wilfully set fire to two ricks of corn and a hayrick, the property of Mr. It. Spackman, farmer, of Kennett. The ricks, which were wholly destroyed, were valued at upwards of X5OO. The evidence adduced showed that on the day in piesCon the prisoner, who was about leaving the country for America, had been with his mother and brother to visit a relative in Hampshire. and on their return home they stopped at the Bell Inn at Overton, about three miles and a half from tho prisoner's house. After a short stay the mother and brother proceeded home in their four-wheel trap, leaving Isaac (the prisoner) behind, he having refused to go on. Be remained attheßall Inn about an hour, and he then left to walk home. The most direct roaclwould take himpast therieks, r hich were standing in a field a short distance off the roaclleadingfromlCennetttoAvebury. The prisoner, however, alleges that he did not go that road home, bat turned off the road and struck across the Downs and farmlands to Avehnry turnpike gate. This was admitted to be a rather shorter way in point of distance, but a most difficult and almost impossible feat on a dark night like the one in question; and in addition to this a witness named :relining was called, who stated that on the night in question he was travelling on foot from Avebury to Kennett, and he met no one on the road until he had nearly arrived at home, and after he had passed the ricks about 400 or 500 yards, when he sw a man coming towards him. It was very dark. Just as the man was passing him he staggered, and the witness then turned round and looked at him, when he saw that he was a tall man, dressed in dark clothes. Witness met no one else until he eot hone, and about ten minutes afterwards he saw t',e ricks on fire. The witness identified the prisoner as he stood in court, dressed as he was on the n'ght in question.—lt was not proved that the prisoner was actually seen at the fire, but several witnesses were called who spoke to him as he passed them, he going towards his home and away from the fire. and they (the witnesses) towards it. They also spoke to his dress being dark, and said that they did not think him sober. Some 15 witnesses were called, and the prisoner was fully committed for trial at the next assizes for Wilts. The Bench refused to grant ball.  Mr. Jefferson proposes, we understand, to revisit England during the course of nest year. Captain Vaughan, the master of the Vale of Ayrton hounds, met with a severe accident by a gunshot a day or two since. One pellet penetrated the right eye, while others struck him in the head and face. This will prevent him hunting again this season.  Mr. Davis, the stipendiary magistrates of the Potteries, the umpire called in to decide the dispute between the flat pressers at Tunstall and their employers, has declared in favour of the men.  A great storm occurred at Wick on Sunday. The wind threw up prodigious waves, which demolished a large portion of the new harbour works, and entirely destroyed the staging. The storm has now lulled.  James Rutterford, now awaiting his trial for murder in Bury Gaol, made an attempt to escape on Saturday. He was captured by a warder burrowing under the foundation of the outer wall of his cell.  The portrait of Mr. Fowler, C.E., painted by Mr. Millais, which attracted so much attention at the last Royal Academy Exhibition, has been presented by the former to the Institution of Civil Engineers.