The Trials of the REV. Robert Bingham, at the Sussex Assizes, 26th of March. as Accurately Taken in Court by J.V. Button (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1811 Excerpt: ...in the pariah of Maresrield aforesaid, the property of Thomas Rivett." "The second count, charged him with setting lire to a dwelling-house, then iti his own occupation." ' The third eoUnt, with feloniously, wilfully, awl Unlawfully setting tire to the snid dwelling-house ami premises, and burning the goods and chattels therein, with intent thereby to injure and defraud the tTtrioJI Fire Insurance Office." Ma. Serjeant Rest. May it please your Lordship. Gentlemen mS the Jury.--My learned friend, who. Opened the Indictment, having conveyed to you the eharges against the prisoner at the bar; it is toy duty shortly to state the evidence, by which the charge will be supported. In this instance, Gentlemen, one motive which led to the commission.of so heinous an offence is known, it was done to defraud the Office at which the prisoner had effected the insurance of his property, whether there was any motive will perhaps appear. The prisoner was not the owner of the house? but lived there as curate of the parish; the house was nisu red by Mr, Rivett, the rector. t Will now briefly state the circumstances which will fee pr6ved to you, anil beg you to remember, that in offences of this kind, eireumstantial evidence is all that generally can be produced; because when crimes.of Slis kind are committed, the perpetrators have always. the pretention to commit them without witness. The Upe took place on the ifith of Jarraary, ami on the 15th, a servant boy, in the employ of the Prisoner, had bee employed several tims, to carry thing's from the house to a loft over the stable; some of these things were papers; and others, of some value, were found after the fir, over part of the privy; we have tie evidence, Meed, that these latter Were placed there by th...