A most dangerous kind of villain was locked up on
Wednes- day. A blacksmith of 21, named William Anthony, was tried for fire-raising, and it was shown in evidence that he made a regular trade of setting fire to yards and buildings, often with people in them, for the sake of the half-crown which firemen pay for early information. He was convicted of this crime in five instances, and is believed to have committed it in thirty-six, while his arrest has actually reduced the number of fires occurring in London from unknown causes from twenty-five a month to three. The Judge, Mr. Justice Grove, inflicted twelve years' penal servitude, a sentence scarcely adequate to the offence, which is in reality that of living by attempts to murder. A man of that kind would burn a city for five shillings, and is more dangerous than any number of Communists. They had at least an appre- ciable motive.
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