Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 12 January 1883
Charge of Arson
James Jarvis, Conisboro’, was charged with setting fire to a haystack belonging to Jas. Wainscott, Harthill, on the 7th inst.
Police-constable Pirrie said he received information concerning the fire and met the defendant shortly afterwards, whose whiskers beard, and eyebrows were singed.
Defendant had been seen in the neighbourhood during the evening. He asked defendant what he knew of the affair, and was told that he knew nothing at all about the matter.
Defendant said his whiskers were singed when pulling down some old chimneys at Conisboro’.
Superintendent Hammond said the defendant went to the owner of the stack which was burnt, and told him the following day that be saw the stack on fire, and had put it out as well as he could ; he did not think he had left one spark in it.
Police-constable Hitching said he went, in company with Police constable Pirrie, to the scene of the fire. Afterwards, from certain information they received, they went to Thorpe. When they had nearly reached that place, they met the defendant, and asked him where he,bad been staying on Saturday night. He said be had been sleeping in an outhouse. On being searched, some hayseeds were found in his coat. His eyebrows were also singed. The stack which was destroyed was distant about ten yards from the farm house.
Defendant protested his innocence, and was remanded until Monday next, bail being allowed.