Inquest
INDENDIARY FIRE AT DESBOROUGH IN THIS
COUNTY
On the 17th instant the very novel and unusual occurrence took place
of holding a coroner's inquiry at Desborough upon a fire which was
discovered about twelve o'clock on Saturday night, the 13th instant,
burning down a hovel, stack of barley, peas, and straw, destroying
various implements of husbandry, on the premises of Mr. Biggs, in the
occupation of Mr. Kilborn. The coroner for this division of the county,
Thomas Marshall, Esq., of Kettering, having been requested by the agent
of the Sun Fire Office, to summons a jury to investigate the cause of
the fire, a most respectable body of landowners and tenant farmers met
at the George Inn, at Desborough, summoned from this place and the
adjoining parishes. The court being opened and the jury having been
sworn, the coroner briefly stated the novelty of their meeting on the
present occasion, pointed out the inquiries they had to make.
—First, whether the fire was purely accidental; or, secondly,
whether wilful and malicious; and thirdly, if so, who was the incendiary.
The coroner and jury then proceeded to the spot (nearly three quarters
of a mile distant) to view the premises; and on their return to the inn
proceeded to take the evidence then brought before them, and after a
rather lengthened inquiry the jury came to the following verdict:
—That from the evidence produced the jury had little doubt the fire
was not accidental, but wilfully and maliciously caused by some
incendiary, but who the incendiary was they had not sufficient evidence
to show. The jury were then liberated with thanks for their services. It
may be desirable here to remark, that by the prompt and praiseworthy
exertions of the inhabitants in removing a stack of beans, a barn filled
with corn and a wheat hovel and other property were providentially
saved.
Northampton Mercury,
Saturday 27 December 1845