Old Bailey Proceedings:
Old Bailey Proceedings: Accounts of Criminal Trials
11th December 1689
George
Davies
proceedingsdefend
of the Parish of St. Bartho. Exchange
, was Indicted for the same Fact, (viz.) for
Firing the House of one
William
Whitehead
proceedingsvictim
, on the 4th of October
last. It was Evidenced, That the Prisoner was found with another Man in the Cellar, by the Boy of the House, who said, that the Prisoner threw a Quart Pot at his Head, and then made his Escape out at the Cellar Door; after which the Fire was found between the Partition, and was easily put out. The Prisoner deny'd it stifly; and said, that he never was in the House: But the Master of the House and his Servant Swore that they knew him to be the Man, for that he was wont to frequent the Kidnapping-Office, (so called,) near to the Royal-Exchange, viz. in St. Soizbin's Alley. The Prisoner pleaded hard, and said, that he was Wronged: and he was
Acquitted
. But the Jury had a severe Reprimand from the Court, and another Jury ordered to be immediately Empanelled.