The Sun. — 1859-06-29 (London, England)

LAMBETIL—SERIOUS CHARGE OF ARSON AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.—Ann Bryant, a girl of 15 years of age, servant to Mrs. Neve, who occupies apartments at No. 4, Alfred-place, Camberwell Newroad, was placed at the bar before Mr. Elliott, charged on suspicion with setting fire to a house, and destroying a bed and other articles of property, belonging to Miss Hubbard, and also with attempting to commit suicide by throwing herself out of the first-floor window.  Mrs. Ann Elizabeth Neve deposed that she was a milliner, and had a shop in Newington-causeway, and also occupied apartments at the house of Miss Hubbard, at 4, Alfred-place, Camberwell New-road. The prisoner was in her service, and was principally engaged in nursing her baby at her lodgings, where witness's mother also resided. On her return last night she found that there had been a fire at the house, and that the prisoner had narrowly escaped from destruction. From information and personal examination, she found that the place had been on fire at different places at the same time. She strongly suspected the prisoner with having caused it, and her conduct on the following morning so strengthened her suspicions that she gave her into custody. Mr. George Dewins deposed that he was on a visit at the house of his relative, Miss Hubbard ; and that on the night before, about 11 o'clock, when going to bed, he saw a bonnet-box which was placed on a shelf, with several others, on fire, and, without giving any alarm, he procured some water and extinguished it. He then went into his bedroom, where he found the bed on fire, and the room filled with smoke to suffocation. He, in consequence, called out for water, and having thrown a quantity over the bed, had the latter removed into the garden. Mr. Elliott—Had the bed been much burnt ? Witness—Very much, as well as the bed clothes. The toilet-cover of the dressing-table was also very much burnt, though it was some distance from the bed ; and a chest of drawers, also separated from both the bed and the dressing-table, was very much scorched and injured, The witness further said that had he not gone up stairs at the opportune moment he had, the house must, in a very short time indeed, have been in flames. In conclusion, the witness said that on that morning, about six o'clock, he was alarmed by the cries of the prisoner, who had jumped from a window 15 feet high, and who had no doubt hurt herself a good deal, but broke no bones.  Emma Wa-•ren, a servant to Miss Hubbard, said  that about half-past 10 she was in the room occupied by the last witness, and turned down the bedclothes, aid at that time all was safe. Mr. Elliott—Did you take a candle up with you ? Witness—Yes, sir ; but I placed it carefully on the top of the drawers when I went to turn down the bed. When I went down to my own room, the prisoner came to me for a light, and I gave her one, and told her to go to her own apartment. Mr. Elliott—Do you know whether she went up stairs after that ? Witness—l cannot say, sir. Police-constable, 402 P, said that on that morning be was sent for to take the prisoner into custody, and on examining the house, it was perfectly clear to him that the fire was not accidental. The prisoner admitted to him that she had been up stairs on the night before without a light, but on getting. there she struck a match, and got a light. She further said she was tired of her life, and that was the reason she threw herself out of the window. Mrs. Ncve said the prisoner had no business whatever to go up stairs at such an hour, and added that but for the fortunate circumstance of Mr. Dewins going up stairs at the moment, the result might have been most serious, as her mother and child were in bed at the time. The prisoner, who appeared rather a simplelooking girl, but rather full-grown for her age, seemed to treat the matter with apparent indifference, and havino•i' received the usual caution, was asked if she v., ished to say anything to the charge, when she replied she knew nothing about the cause of the fire. She was remanded for a week.