Title: Daniel Defoe: His Life, and Recently Discovered Writings: Extending from 1716 to 1729.  By William Lee.  In Three Volumes.  Vol. II. - The First Volume of his Writings, 1869, London, 244.
Date: 4 June 1720
Place: London

Incidents from one Journal.

M. J. [1] , June 4.

...

Last Saturday Night [2], a Fire was discovered on the Ditch-Side, breaking out at the House of Mr. Pluckrose, an Upholsterer, which was extinguished without any considerable Mischief: There were several Circumstances concurred to give the Neighbours a Suspicion, that the Man had designedly put Fire to his own House; as his obstinate Refusal to admit Assistance, the Removal of his most Valuable Goods some Time before, and so much of the rest pack’d up, as must have taken him up some Hours. Upon the whole, he was on Tuesday, by virtue of a Warrant taken up and carried before the Lord Mayor, who bound him in £1000 Bond, and two Sureties in £500 each, for his Appearance at the Old Bailey, where, they say, some of the Directors belonging to the Offices of Insurance for Fire, are obliged to prosecute him.

Notes:

[1]  Mist’s Journal: was so called from the name of the proprietor and publisher. It was a Tory Paper, and its Title, in full, was “The Weekly Journal, and Saturday’s Post.” It had been some time in existence when Defoe undertook the control, in order to keep it within the bounds of moderation; but he was compelled, after a while, to abandon a charge so obnoxious to his own principles. Each number consisted of six pages, foolscap folio.

[2] 28 May 1720