The brothers Barry, accused of having' defrauded certain in- surance
offices by making false returns of property destroyed by fire at their warehouse on two different occasions, were acquitted on Thursday at the Central Criminal Court, both on the charges of conspiracy and of false pretence. There seems but little doubt that in such cases great irregularities do occur, and that in this case a false return had been made, but there was no evidence whatever to implicate either of the two Barrys, and, as Mr. Baron Martin said, a master could not be held responsible for his ser- vants' action in a criminal case. The case seemed to excite great public interest, and applause at the verdict had to be severely checked.