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ALLEGED ARSON AT WADHURST.
Samuel Ray, 33, collier, was indicted for feloniously and maliciously setting fire to a stack of hay, the property of Luther Ebenezer Piper, at Wadhurst, on the 6th of May, 1894.—Mr. Hodgson prosecuted.
Prosecutor, formerly of Riverhall Farm, Wadhurst, said on the 6th of May he had rick of hay of some five or six tons. It was alright in the morning, but he went away during the day, and on coming home he saw the stack in flames. The hay was all destroyed. Prisoner was brought to him by the police, and he said “I went to the stack to light my pipe, and the fire caught the stack. I was frightened and ran away. It was an accident.” Witness said “You have been about here all the afternoon,” and prisoner said “Yes.”
Mary Grace Piper, daughter of the last witness, said prisoner came to the house at three o’clock on the day in question, and he afterwards went straight away up the road leading to the stack.
Ellen Horscroft said she saw the prisoner in the afternoon, about two or half-past, near Buckhurst, about three-quarters of a mile from Mr. Piper’s rickyard. He (prisoner) came over the hedge from the direction of the fire.
William Pratt, labourer, living at Buckhurst, said his attention was called to the rick about five o’clock. From what Mrs. Horscroft said he stopped the prisoner, and tracked him back through the wood to the stackyard.
Sergeant Huggett said prisoner came to him about seven o’clock, and said he had come to give himself up for setting the haystack alight. He added that he could not help it, as he was lighting his pipe, and the fire flew out on to the stack. Prisoner also said that he tried his best to put the flames out. Prisoner had a pipe on him when he came to the police-station and an old match-box. Witness tracked footprints through the wood up to within 100 yards of the rickyard. The stack was 40 yards from the road.
Re-called, Miss Piper said she saw two boys in the locality at five o’clock. The stack was alight at that time.
The jury found the prisoner not guilty, and he was discharged. |
Jennerations
