A Youthful incendiary.
--A small negro boy named William, the property of Thos. Emmett, was arraigned before the Mayor yesterday on a charge of setting fire to the house of John T. West. Mrs. West testified that the back porch of the house was discovered to be on fire about 8 o'clock last Friday morning, but was promptly extinguished. Shortly afterwards the passage was filled with smoke, and going up stairs, she found one of the beds burning. Assistance was procured and the fire again extinguished. The boy William was then placed to watch the room, and considerable excitement prevailed on the premises. At 1 o'clock Mrs. W. wanted the boy for some purpose, and found him in the room where the fire occurred. In a short time thereafter a second bed, in the same room, was discovered to be burning, and they then suspected the boy of setting it on fire.Mr. West testified that after the occurrences above narrated he tied the boy to a table, when he confessed that he had set the premises on fire; that when he went to the well in the morning, a woman, whom he did not know, told him if he did not set fire to the house she would kill him, and throw him into the basin. Witness said he used no threats to make the boy confess. A match was found in the bed last burnt. He subsequently brought the boy's master to the house, and the same confession was made in his presence.
Mr. Emmett gave his boy an excellent character — said he had raised him, and never knew him to do anything wrong. Admitted that the boy made the confession in West's presence; but subsequently, when alone with him, declared that he was innocent, and that they had extorted his statement by threats of violence.
The prisoner was remanded to be tried before the Hustings Court in February next.
