Notes for: William Saunders
Herts and Cambs Reporter: 27 Jun 1884:
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.
From the London Standard, 10 Mar 1897: Receiving Orders... Saunders, William, Trumpington, Cambridgeshire, farmer, March 6