Herts and Cambs Reporter: 27 Jun 1884: Saunders straw stack fire

ARSON AT SHELFORD.

John Poulter, having no fixed place of abode, was charged by Mr. William Saunders, of Trumpington, farmer and butcher, with having fired a certain stack of straw, being his property.

The prosecutor said: I occupy some land on the left-hand side of the road leading from Trumpington to Little Shelford. On the 12th of June I had a stack of straw standing on that land. I saw the stack about 5 o’clock on the afternoon of the 12th. It was all right then. Early the next morning I was called to the stack. I found it in flames, and it was entirely destroyed. The value of the stack and what was burned with it was about £40. The prisoner had never worked for me.

William Marshall said: I live at Little Shelford. I am a bricklayer. On Friday morning, on the 13th, I was coming from Shelford to Cambridge. I know Mr. Saunders’ field on the right-hand side of the road coming from Shelford to Cambridge. As I was coming along the road, I passed prisoner about 200 yards on the Shelford side of Mr Saunders’ gates. It was then about ten minutes past five o’clock. After I passed him I could see some smoke, and when I got up to Mr. Saunders’ gate I could see the stack in the field was on fire. I gave information to the prosecutor’s men.

Mr. D. Austin said: I live at Great Shelford, and am a bricklayer. I know a field occupied by the prosecutor, on the right hand side of the road coming from Great Shelford to Trumpington. There was a straw stack in the field about 100 yards from the highroad. I met the prisoner on Friday, the 13th, on the road side of the gate leading to the field where the stack was. When I passed the field the stack was all right. I saw the prisoner stop opposite the gate and when I looked back again I missed him.

P. c. Charles Chiddington, said: I was on duty on Saturday, the 14th of June, in St. Andrew’s Street. Prisoner came up to me and said, “I want to give myself up.” I said “what for?” He said “for setting fire to a rick on the Walden Road about three miles from Cambridge.” I said “do you mean it?” He said “yes.” I said “did you do it purposely?” and he said “I suppose so.” I then gave him into custody of the County Police.

The prisoner said he had nothing to say, and he was committed to the Assizes for trial.