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Northern Star (1837-1852), 20th September 1845, Edition 4 of 4, Page 5, BnADFORn Lvwrmarv.—Tliis charitable and ...

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      ^«Tal Accident On The Birmingham F* 1 ^ ...

      _^« TAL ACCIDENT ON THE BIRMINGHAM f * _^ AND BRISTOL LINE . Defford , Sept . 15 . n _% e adjourned inquest npon the bodies of the en-• _^ driver , Ward , and _Williani Miles , a carpenter , _^ bnfliet with their deaths by a collision of trains on if- line on Saturday night , the 30 th ul ., was _resell this day before Mr . Best , the coroner for this _5 _^ _on ofthe county . It _« U _•* remcnibercd that the inquest wa 3 tegun ? n be held on the Monday succeeding the accident , on which diy evidence was given that the accident was _rinsed bv the engine of the up-train coining in _cbntrf with a truck which was upon the up-linc _, but _ij . ( t . | i was intended to be shifted to the down-line , and attached to a train which was momentaril y

      _ex-JLtcd from Birmingham . A special goods train E mu Gloucester coming up at the lime , a collision ensued ; the engine was thrown upon the opposite j _^ ls . and thc train from Birmingham approaching at ihe instant , struck the engine , occasioning the _deaths of the two unfortunate persons , the subjects of this inquiry * seriously injuring several other persons , j . « irojing * the engines , & c . It was alleged that r _^ ief _shoals were shown to stop the special goods tiavn . and the porter -who was in charge of the track stated he was not aware thai a goods train was coming up from Gloucester , but that he , _notwithstanding , carried a red light as a signal for trains to step at Defford ; that another red light was placed on _J latform of the station , and a third was exhibited

      _iv a labourer at Defford-road-bndge . A man named Xbhnttj porter at the Bromsgrove station , deposed tliat he came from Gloucester that night with the special goods train , which was laden with iron rails and deals ; that he did uot sec the red li ght at tho station distinctly , bat that lie saw the rod light at Pcfford-bridge , and was unable to communicate with the eng ine-driver , "Ward , who did net appear to have seen it . As the evidence of thc stoker and others ( who were then so seriously injured as to be unable to attend ) was denned very important , the inquiry was adjourned to this day . The jury having auswered to their namra , 'f he Coroner thought the batter course to adopt would be to read over the evidence given at the former meeting , a summary of which has been given already .

      . James Baird was then sworn ( he appeared with Iris arm in a sling , from the effects of the accident)—I am a stoker on the Bristol and Birmingham Railway . I knew Joseph Ward when living , lie was driver of the engine No . 15 on that line . I was stoker to that engine . On the SOth of August we left Gloucester , following shortly after the mail train , ¦ which left at nine o ' clock that night . Ours was a special goods train , consisting of twenty trucks , eighteen were loaded , and two empty ; they were loaded with wood and iron rails . We came on

      towards Bredon , when the pumps of thc engine failed , and Ward , the driver , would not allow mo to put more fire iuto thc engine , because he thought we should have to pull it out . We then came on towards Eckington , and finding the pumps of the engine working very well , he said wc would put more lire in , and I accordingly did so . Then on passing Defibrd station 1 had been putting fuel on , and Ward said there was something wrong . 1 was engaged in _putiin-j fuel on between Eckington and D _. * nbrd , about a mile apart : my head was down , and on passing the Defford station Ward said there was _something wrong . I looked , and saw Ward shut thc steam off thc engine , and I was instantly _to-sc-1 somewhere , and knew nothing else . I can't

      say if he reversed the engine , but believe he made his way to thc lever for that purpose . The first thing that I " recollect was finding myself on the ground , and some person pulling at me . Ward was perfectly sober when we left Gloucester . Wc stopped and took water at Cheltenham—perhaps for about ten minutes . J did not perceive any signal lights on approaching De . _Tar-J-hridre , because my head was down all the way from Eckingtoii to Defford , being engaged in putting on fuel . " I saw no signal atalL I had not completed supplying the engine with fuel , when Ward told me there was something wrong . When 1 looked up I did not see a signal or the truck , for I locb . "I towards the reversal lever . I cannot tell whether the break was on when we passed Defibrd station or not , nor do I know in what part of the train the guard was . Ward was , as far as I know , a sternly driver , lhad only been stoker with him that week . J never was with Ward when he disregarded anv signal lamp . I cannot say what pace

      we were going at , but we were not going very fast when we _jia-ssed the Defford station . I could not tell the i * a ? e because I was nutting on the fuel . Before tlie ' pumps got out of order we were travelling at about ti . _iky-miles an hour . We have many times gone fasferwith thc luggage train . I do not know whether Ward renewed the speed again after he found thc engine had again got in order . The adding fuel might not bo a means of decreasing speed , as tliat would depend on the state of the water in the toiler . The steam was turned off entirely twice between Brcdon and Defford because of the pumps _heiii _;; out of _or-. lcr . Of course that would decrease the speed ; but when thepumps were put in order aad the steam turned on , it would increase the speed . I ipver lift my head up while filling the fire . If I had lifted my head 1 might have seen signals . It would occupy more time than the engine would pass over a _inilu in to feed the fire . I cannot tell the pace

      we were going at . The Foreman . —An answer we will liave , and you must know whether you were going at two miles or thirtr . Witness . —I can't tell . ShaU I tell yon a lie ? The Foreman . —To the boat of your judgment . Witness . —Well , to the best of my judgment , we were going thirtv miles an hour . I don't know how hag the mail had left Cheltenham when we arrived there . It is in _maiiv instances the guard ' s duty , and in other instances the driver ' s duty , to inquire at what time trains have left stations . I saw the mail train leave Gloucester . We were ordered to stop till that iiad gone forward . I do not know whether thc driver or stoker ofthe mail train knew that we were to _f-liow them . I did not notice whether there was any signal lamp at the rear carnage of the maii _JKW 11 .

      Mr . Wiiatciy . —Itlias been proved by a prior witness that there was one . _Examination resumed . —Ward said nothing to me about haviiar seen any signal _lights between Eeidiigton ami Dvifovd . I did not notice and cannot say _-wh-jiiicr Ward was standing up and attending to his dutv between Eckington aud Dciiurd . There is no occ / _is . _Hi for _sittiim down with a goods' train . I can't sav if he w ; _is _s-noking . If Ward had been attending to _' _his dutv as driver , if the lights liad been in tlieir _pr-v-cr place , he would have seen them . I saw - _- lights , li is _ojilit _impos-stok f ' ; the light around zap would be too strong . Il t _* Cos not require Ward to stoop to open and shut thc fire door . I should consider the engine-driver tis one

      01 tlic _s- _gacst oilicers that could be on a railway . 1 Sever nave , to iny knowledge , been on an " engine _yy _$ : '' "! i ! _sed by a signal unheeded . I never heard Oi . ' _. V . _~ _aassiaif Eckington in that way . On onr _approach to the D _? _ffi . _* i _* d station , there was no whistle from the engine which I was on . It is the engine drivers duty to sound the whistle on approaching erery station , lie never approached auy station before ( to my knowledge ) without sounding die wMstic . lie sounded the whistle that ni ght at every staiK . 31 except at Defford . That I am certain of , to the hist of my knowledge . There arc some engines that when the _' re is too much water the whistle will not sound , but the pumps have nothing to do with it . V . v . M'Connell said . —The whistle of noenrinewiii

      £ 0 Ua = l if too lull of water . Examination resumed . —Tlie mail train which left Gloucester before us would stop at Cheltenham , AshchiircB , Spctchley and Bromsgrove . I am not aware of any notice being sent along the line of our being about io start from Gloucester . If the driver were taken ill 1 could drive an engine . I should say Ward was not smoking between Gloucester and Defford , as he was not given to smoking , but chewed tobacco . An engine-driver ' s wages would be 6 s . or 7 s . per day . Ji j , rag « _s are 3 s . Cd . per day .

      3 Ir . _3 I _* _Coiinell re-examined . —I am thc superintcndcnt _oflocomotivcsonthc Bristol aud Birmingham kue . 1 stated at my last examination that I believed ? lard had . bsen au engine-driver about five years bciwe he came io this line , I have , however , since heard Ihat he has been an _eoninc-drivcr for about eijiht . wars . I met Mr . Stephenson at Birmingham , who loJduicihathe knew Ward well , and had selected him for the _Xorth Midland line when it ??«« d- _. _^ have also seen testimonials from Mr . _Jlarsiia ! _-, the locomotive superintendent of the North -Midland , as to his character as a good and steady nj'ivcr . There was also a testimonial from _ihcloconiotive . superintendent ofthe South Western Railway to ms good character , and another _letterrccommending

      kiBi . 'i ? a man having a knowledge of engines , from ) _«* hna of Laird , Kitson , and Co ., eminent engine- j -Bluer ? , of Leeds . They were recommending him as a driver while he was in the service ofthis line . I : considered him a man of considerable experience in i •¦ He _ffian- _'gement of an engine . I never knew any j _TO'i _-i in the locomotive department -without his pro- j _Jiieu'g satisfactory testimonials . The same rule is * observed with respect to stokers , because we consi- j ufr that they may become drivers . Our wages to the _eugiiie-drivcrs are as high as the average of railways , I and censiderab ' y higher than some in the north . Thc j _W ' -ino in question . No . " 5 , is one of thc largest on ! _I-hshue , _and the fire-box , in which the fuel is placed , j * 5 of eonsidaiihle size : and if the fire was very >

      - ™ in iaL . _fire-Lo _^ which , as a matter of precaution , _£ _w _urm-r had allowed Ij to be , from liis pumps « iii , _* _:-f to keep up the supply of water in the boiier , a-d 'i thereby causing a risk of ihe fire-box or _iubts _£ * i : g hxxiA if the fire was strong , I liave do donbt /! " . :- ;' _*¦«« tiiv . c necessary to " replenish the live J \ , "' - - ' _« - - . * l _.-. _n-r as the _ensir . e -would take to trr . Tcl a f ' _"" , i h _? uis ! _2- . ce !; et'veMi _Evfcingioii and _BriforJ . The f _^ - •* : « £ * . ? sir . *? ,, that " ihe whistle would not act * -- aim . * r . \ _z > n ; s if then * was too much water in

      ^«Tal Accident On The Birmingham F* 1 ^ ...

      them . " 1 he failure of tho whistle to act arises from several causes * when the water is what we term _bS it effervesces in the boiler , or rises in combination with the 8 ieam , and prevents the whistle from _soundmg distinctly . When the driver from neglect has pumped liis engine too full of water , allowing the water to get too high , and the steam too low , thc same _resul .. will follow . That is peculiar to all locomotive engines more or less , but some are better tnan others , from being higher and having more steam room . I may add that the water on the Gloucester line is bad at many places , particularl y at Oheltenham , and the engines are thereiore more liable to this _dolect . We are getting all our new engines made on the most approved formte reniedv this delect , and prevent ; the circumstauce recurrhi " " 1 Siiould observe that the company have _izone to _tmZt that * . _*> _ItL-Jt-: ! « .

      expense , and taken _irreat pains to obtain the best water . 1 think it was in the latter part of 1 S 42 we discharged a man , an engine-driver , for runniii " past a signal at Stoke , and in several in .-tances we have suspended drivers when cases of disobedience of signals have been reported , but on immediately investigating the circumstauce , it has been found _' that although he had run past the si gnal , it had been shown too late by the station master , so that it was impossible for him to stop it in time . Stationkeepers have been lined for it . In every case vvherevei ' disobedience of signals has been reported it has been investigated , and wherever proved , punishment has followed . If there is one thing more than another that I impress upon our drivers it is a strict attention to signals , the peculiarities of our line rendering that of the ihvit importance .

      The Foreman . —What would be the punishment of an engine-driver if he filled his engine too full of water , and so rendered ihe whistle incapable of action ? Witness . —I should discharge him for ifc . There is a rule printed on a large board at the Bromsgrove , Gloucester , and Birmingham stations , in which among other orders thwc is one requiring the drivers to report immediately to the foreman in charge any defect which they may have observed iii any part of tlieir engine or tender , among which the whistle would he included ol course . Wc keep a book ill whicn I enter all defaulters , stating the name , the crime , and punishment . 1 have not got it with mo . I may observe also that I have regular daily reports from all the foremen , in which are stated the arrival and departure of all trains at their stations , and which contain also remarks on the conduct of the men , and the condition of the engines and tenders .

      Foreman . — -What would be the punishment inflicted on a station-master for not reporting an engine-driver neglecting signals ? Witness . —I consider tliat a very serious offence , but I do not know the punishment , as it is not in my department . I have remarked sidings on the line to prevent the necessity of trucks being taken across the main line . They were not at all the second-class stations ; but it is to be recommended that they should be on both sides , and we adopted them Gn several stations [ ou our liue . I may observe , in connexion with that question , that thc taking trucks across the main line is unavoidable at some of our stations—at Defford , for instance , as you must push it _across after it is luaded . A Juror . —If a siding had been on the down-line at Defford , would the accident have occuived ?

      Wituess . —¦ In all probability not . The company have ud however , I believe , auy laud at Defford to make a siding on the down-line . Mi * . G . Wiiately . —The Act of Parliament does not give us power to purchase land , and wc have not sufficient land at present to make a siding on the down line at Defford ; but if they apply for a new Act I am quite sure they will instruct me to obtain the necessary power , if possible . Examination resumed . —At the Defford station there is a station-master and a porter in ordinary cases . ' But on market-days they have the assistance of another man . The traffic is very irregular at this station , but in every _instance libera assistance has been applied for it has been had . The staff of the

      line lias been greatly increased . I know of but two stations , Bredon and-Barnet Green , on the line where the station-man is also employed as a . _" _-jignal-nian . It is go at some level crossings , police-stations , for instance , where only third-class trains stop . Shaw , who was employed as a signal-man on the night of the accident , was in the employment of the contractor for the maintenance of the permanent way . The Talae of the large engine , Ko . 75 , is , I should say , £ 1 , 500 , and the value of the other , No , 30 , is , perhaps , about £ 000 . The duties of the men at the Defford _station commence at about half-past live o ' clock in the morning , and they would remain on duty until about ten o ' clock at night . I have not , to my recollection , had any occasion to chastise the

      deceased , Joseph Ward , for any inattention to signals or neglect of duty ; so far as I could judge of him his conduct was very regular . He wa 3 a very quiet man , and from his previous character I had great confidence in him as a good driver-Thirty miles an hour I consider too high a rate of speed for a luggage train . I think twenty miles an hour the maximum speed for a luggage train . They arc a class of men ( drivers ) that 1 should like to see better paid and better educated . I 3 efcre I put drivel's on a train , I try them a month or two on a pilot engine . 1 have never received any report , to my recollection , of Ward having been in tho habit of passing signals unheeded , though I have seen suck a report iu the newspapers . The porter in charge of that train that ni g ht had been a guard of a regular goods train lor upwards of three months , but , at his own request ; he was allowed to reside at a station , but had been _ibl ' _ieed to so out as a guard of a special

      goods train every weak . A guard's is a very responsible situation , as from hhn the driver takes his signals . If the guard was that night between two trucks , so that he could not see anything , as he stated he was , he was not in a proper situation , for he ou _^' . it to be able to sec both before and behind . Abbott is a verv steady young man . A means cf communication belwccD thc guard and the driver is very much to be desired , and 1 hope it will soon be effected . From the experience Abbott has had , although so young a man , I consider him fully qualified . Thc improvement in engines has been going on gradually , and when it was found more steam room was required it was made , not merely for the whistle , though that was important , but with n view to the general safety and better working of the engines . The consideration of a report against a stationmaster , for not signalling properly , would belong to the secretary and general superintendent of the line , in the management ofthe traffic on the line ,

      Mr . Thomas Cook , grocer , of the city of Worcester , sworn . —I was a passenger on the d r * % vn jjKe _froi !) Worcester on the uHit of the _SOlh /*? August * We left W wees ** - ' u r Ucf (| re n j - V v . _---1 fl ,,- _*; i .- * _.. i ' - - e * n 111 tu an op .-n work bridge ( the Anbott _s „ < \) oa this side Stoulton ; wc remained unil . _Cr the _bridge for a few minutes , ; perhnp 3 ten minutes ( about six mil es irom _Vnf _* , )); while _r- iit _!* _:- tliere the up mail train to -uimiinj _& _jiin pas t . 'J , and we were informed that the detention arose from a portion of the up line being under repair , which rendered it necessary that ihe mail train _sheu'J pass over a portion oftlie down line . Wc then moved off , and got into a rapid snecd .

      until wc came to Dcfibrd-bridge , on the _birmiugham side of the Defibrd staticn , when I lieard a whistle from our engine , jnstanil y followed by a concussion that threw us off the sear , and we felt ii crash behind us ; a momentary silence ensued , and I heard voices cry , " Jump out , " and I did so . Tho passengers were all scrambling np the bank niucli alarmed . My attention was instantly attracted by a very large body of _15 re whicli proved to be the trucks on fire , that had been thrown upon the engines . The other engine was on the up line , or between the two , but in the confusion of the moment I could not exactly saj * _. except that tliey were lying athwart tiie lines . I remained upon tlte bank for some minutes , during which time exertions were being made to extricate

      thc poor man Ward , wiio is dead . Shortly afterwards I saw two of the carriages on fire . I and a young man named Bnrk started off to Spctchley , and when about a mile on our road wc saw a lot of men at work repairing the up line , and I sent them down to the accident . They took with them some levers . While there I saw what I supposed was our guard . He was a guard , and was sitting on a kind of truck or bench . I asked liim if lie was hurt , and he told me he was terribly shaken . He was in a complete state of consternation . We then went on to _Speteiilcy . All was quiet there , and they knew '

      nothing ofthe accident . They told me that they expected tke goods train in from Birmingham in ten minutes , and in about that time it arrived , the driver of which suggested , that having plenty of hands to spare and ropes , tbey should go slowly down the line and render what assistance they could , and they did so . In about two hours the eng ine and tender returned to Spctchlev . I went as fast as I could to Spctchley , as 1 was anxious about the down mail train running into the wreck ; and , indeed , the Birmingham goods train , which arrived ten minutes after my arrival at Spetchiey , would have inevitably run into it and _caused further damage , if I had not given the

      _mlormation . Benjamin Giles sworn ( this witness had his arm _lirokenl . —I am a stoker on the Birmingham and Bristol line . On the nig ht of the 30 th of August I left Birmingham bv the quarter before eight o clock train from Bimiinglwm to Gloucester . It was a passenger train , and consisted of six carriages . Alter welclt the Spctchlev station we came to a p lace where the line was being repaired near to Wadborough , and stopped there until the up mail had passed . _W e then went ou at a good speed until we came to the next station , Wadborough , and thence to Besford station . All proceeded well until we came in sight ofthe l > eiford station , thc driver having shut off steam betore then . I saw the red light aa usual on the platform at the station . I then went to my break , and put it on , and on turning myself round I saw something m the road . The first thing I observed was the steam . Ti . hffli -natonthe break as tight as 1 could , and 1

      saw our driver reverse the engine . I ran to the side ofthe tender , and with the driver vve jumped oil . The collision took place instantaneously , lthniK Before I got to ihe ground . I found that my arm was out ofthe socket , and I went to iue station . 1 did

      ^«Tal Accident On The Birmingham F* 1 ^ ...

      not notice anything particular afterwards . I did not see more than one red light . We were above twenty _S a _* _f _? !; . time > havin » vraited for _^ e mail rf , _lhe fed h ght was on the left hand side at Detlord , coming from Birmingham . Wedn d ° ' Cl ° Clt th ° inaUest was a _# ourncd until . _Dbpi-oro , Wkdxbsdat . —The third day ' s inquiry into the causo of the fatal accident which occurred at this station of the Birmingham and Bristol Railway , on the night of the 30 th ef August , was resumed to-day . Several witnesses were examined . One witness , Djvc . employed on the railway , stated that he recollected live or six instances of neglect of signals occurring within a year and a half on the part of the engine-drivers . He had reported several instances , but got no reply . He did not report all the cases of neglect , because he found his complaints were only circulated anions thc guards and

      drivers , and that bad feeling towards himself was the consequence . Mr . Whateley said that he felt it his duty , on the part of the company , to say that the witness had been guilty of great derilictlon of duty in not reporting every instance of disobedience . It was his duty , at every hazard of unpopularity or otherwise , to report every caso of negligence which came under his notice ; and it was his , ( Ml * . Wliatc _** ley ' s ) duty to say that the company were determined strictly to enforce that order . The inquest was again adjourned . On Thursday the inquiry was resumed , and after the examination of several " additional witnesses , the jury retired , at half-past four o ' clock , to consider their verdict . At eight o ' clock the Courtroom waa thrown open again , when it was stated that a verdict of " Accidental Death" had been returned in both cases , with a deodand of £ 1 , 500 ( the value oftlie engine , as stated by Mr . M'Connell ) , on the luggage engine driven by Ward .

      Fnigntfcl Osixmos Accident In* Fleet-Str...

      FniGnTFCL _Osixmos Accident in * Fleet-street . — On Tuesday evening between nine and ten o ' clock , the following frightful accident occurred to a young man named Daniel Love , aged 23 years , an assistant in the service of Messrs . _Uarvey and Co ., the extensive _lincndraper-j , of No . 0 , Ludgate-hill . It appears that the unfortunate man was standing at the corner of Bridge-street , after a walk which he had taken when the shop was closed , when ono of the Clapham omnibuses , No . 1 , 623 , with two spirited horses , started off from the Kings and Keys tavern , Ffeetstrcet , without driver or conductor . They continued

      tlieir speed until they reached tbe corner of Fleetstreet , where they turned sharply round , and , before he could get out of the way , he was knocked down by thc pole , which struck him on the right side of the head , inflicting a frightful wound from the top of the head to the lower jaw . The wheels of the omnibus were fcrceil off by the collision , and the vehicle was completely broken to pieces . Thc poor fellow was carried to thc residence of Mr . Harvey , where he was seen by two medical gentlemen , and thence removed to St . Bartholomew ' s Hospital . The horses escaped unhurt .

      Dreadful axd Determined Suicidb of a Ladt of Fortune . —On the morning of Monday thc utmost excitement prevailed in thc neighbourhood of Fiushury-squarc , in consequence of a report that Mrs . Elizabeth llarley , of 6 , New Union-street , had committed suicide . On Tuesday morning the time had long passed when she should have been down to breakfast , and one of her daughters went to her bed room , but could not gain admission until the door was broken open , when the unfortunate parent was found suspended by a handkerchief to the bed rail . This huly was possessed of good property , and no reason ean be possibly assigned for her self-destruction , except a statement or prediction she made about twelve months since that she was sure she should not die a natural death , but by her own hands .

      Duatii of Thomas Davis , Esq . —This gentleman , who has been one of the principal writers for the Nation newspaper since its establishment , died on Tuesday morning , at his residence in Lower _Baggotstreet , Dublin , after tliree days' illness of typhus fever . Mr . Davis had been called to the Irish bar in 183 S , but ho had devoted his attention chiefly to literary pursuits . Some of the political articles and poetical pieces produced as evidence by the Grown during the State trials , were from the " pen of Mr . Davis . In politics he was ardent and _thoroughly sincere , and in private life he was remarkable for a most kind and benevolent disposition . —Morning Chronicle .

      _Fiftv Houses _Benxr _ueaii Exeter . — -On Monday the following deplorable _intelligence was made known to the principal fire insurance-offices in the city , through the medium of their agents relative to a terrific conflagration occurring at the market-town ot Mortoukanipstc . il ! , Devonshire , levelling in its progress no fewer than fifty dwelling-houses , besides consuming a vast amount of property . The ill-fated town is situated about twelve miles west by south of the city of Exeter , and contains a population of about 3 , 000 . Ifc _stinds rather ' romantically onthe confines of Dartmoor , on an eminence , and is bounded on all sides by high lofty hills . The town comprises a long street , with two or tliree smaller ones leading into it . Most of the buildings are somewhat of an ancient form , and the woollen trade is its chief support .

      From letter . *; received , it appears that the fire was discovered shortly after midnight on Saturday morning , issuing from a baker ' s bakehouse atthe rear of his dwelling-house , in one of the small thvoughfares , called Gross-street , between the Bell Inn and the West of England Agency-office . Notwithstanding thc lateness of the hour , the most active and prompt measures were adopted by thc authorities to suppress the flames whilst in their infancy , by calling into requisition all the buckets in the neighbourhood , and throwing a copious supply of water en tho burning property . The wind , however , which was blowing rather brisk , scattered the lire on to the roof of lhe dwelling , wliich , being thatched , like most of the houses in the town , aud in an exceedingly dried condition , kindled with astonishing rapidity , extending

      to the several apartments of tlio building almost at thcsanie moment . Tho homos on each side , occupied by small tradespeople , in less than live minutes afterwards ignited , and the flames progressing alonjr the thatched roofs , six contiguous dwellings were fired . The excitement that reigned throughout the town under the circumslaiicis may be well conceived . A small engine was muddy brought to the scene of destruction , but the huge was in sueh a disgraceful condition as to _render it next to useless . Iu t ' ne meanwhile _the-destructive element raged with uncontrollable fur y—house after house caught fire without the least incans being at baud to save them ; and by two oV ock the _confbi'n _' . _' . ciou liad assumed a most _w ' al aspect . Ths whole of the houses on one side of oi'oss-strcct Were in one immense blaze , and the town ! being situated on au eminence , the country was illuiiniimted for mile . * - round , attracting thousands to thc

      - -imtj l ' . _Jijsperiod fi _* om 8 oii . oovei _* .- * ,, »» 4-SUdy , 1 _£ a , ; _^ _W _fwrujiS _t _S f for tin * aid ofthe _cUvon-h-. _?*<& _'•¦ - _^ _suusaquctit two hours the _emiiWoifin the towi ? w f ° * mo pitiable description . In the different - _^^ . S _^ bescen families iimniug to the adjacent / "' _,,. '' , !? _f ' with their trifling household furniture , fea . * . A _J their respective homes would be destroyed - _jj J , " progressing destructive visitation . By three o ' cio .. hifc may be said that the fire reached its height . It had gained the houses in Forc-strcct , and at one time there could not have been less than twelve or fourteen burning from their basements to tlie roof . The authorities , at this juncture , fearing that the whole town would fail a sacrifice , as there was certainly every appearance of it , wisely determined upon pulling some of the buildings down , with a view of stopping the course of the conflagration . A number of labourers were instantly set tu effect that object in

      Cross-street and Fore-street , and enginesfroni Exeter having by that time arrived , the work of destruction by six o ' clock was got wider . The toiva now presents a most desolate appearance . The whole of Crossstreet , from the West of England Agency-office to the Bell Inn , is now in ruins , while a part of Fortstreet presents a similar deplorable sight . The number of houses consumed is roughly calculated at fifty . Amongst them arc the premises of Messrs . Nix and Co ., drapers ; tho Golden Lion Inn , belonging to Messrs Bellamy , and Mr . Bidder , builder . The chief portion of the building property is said to be insured in the Sun Fire-office ; but most ofthe inmates , chiefly ofthe poorer classes , arc unfortunately uninsured ) and the destitute condition they are thrown into must be very severe . A similar fire has not occurred in the county for a number of years .

      Dreadful _Mukdeh . —On Wednesday evening week the sen of a respectable farmer , named Kenny , residing at _Clonderlaw-bay , county of Clare , was waylaid on returning to his father s hcuse , and barbarously murdered , within a pistol-shot of his home . The father was alarmed by the report of a gun and ran out , when the first person he saw was a young man ofthe name of Sexton , of the same neighbourhood , hurrying off with a gun under his arm , and a few yards further on the unhappy parent was almost distracted to find his son a corpse before his eyes , the fatal ball having perforated his forehead ; and the _assassin , not content with his deadly aim , had also broken thc poor voting man ' s skull with a blunt instrument , proba ' blv the butt of a gun . An inquest was held next dav bv Mr . T . Whitestone , coroner , when a verdict of - ' " Wilful Murder" was returned against some person or persons unknown , as more than one may have been implicated .

      Bot Killed bt Ligiitxixg . —On thc first Sabbath of hist month , a herd boy at Pitnisk , in this neighbourhood , went out with his cattle to the field at ten o ' cloek . In a short time afterwards a violent thunder shower came on , and about eleven o ' clock , after the shower liad partially subsided , tho cattle were observed by some persons straying among the corn , and on going " into the field , the b _.-y was found lying on his face , quite dead . On being lifted up , he presented such an appearance as to leave no doubt tliat he had been struck by the electric mud . —Pones Gazette . Shocking Dkatii . —On Monday Mr . Wm . Carter the coroner , held an inquest at , the Star ur . d Garter Tavern , Keckingcr . road _, Bermondsey , respecting the death of Margaret Fordham _Cummiiiss , aged three years . The verdict , which tells thc whole case , wa ** — "That the _decPiwsd was accidentally suffocated bv failing into the soil ofa privy . "

      Fnigntfcl Osixmos Accident In* Fleet-Str...

      SuiciDB . —On Monday evening Mr . Alilis held an inquest at the Greyhound , Staines , near Windsor , on the body of Matthew Bond , ageu 13 , who committed suicide under the following circumstances :-It appeared iyoia tho evidence , that the deceased , old iu years , was also old m crime , having beeu frequently convicted of ielony . On Friday night week , about twelve o Clock , the policeman on duty near the premises of Mr . Harris , farmer in tke abovc village , discovered deceased emerging from an outhouse . He went up to him , and on laying hold of him by the collar , he dropped from beneath his coat a fowl , which was subsequentl y found to be tho property of Mr . Harris , lie was taken to tho station-house and locked up in a cell by himself . During the night he

      was visited several times by the man on duty , and he appeared safe , but on the cell being entered in the morning , he was discovered with his handkerchiet tied tightly round his neck , the end being fastened to the gaspipe which ran along the wall . The deceased was not suspended , but he had pressed liis neck forward , and thus produced _strangulation . The handkerchief was removed , and a medical man was called in , but life was extinct . It further appeared tliat the deceased had never exhibited any symptoms of insanity , and the only reason assigned for his committing sujciiic was the fear of being sent oufc of tlio country . 1 he jury , alter some deliberation , returned a verdict of /

      Fatal Accident to a City Merchant . —On Tuesday a _gentleman , named Mordaunt , who carried on business as _amcrehantin the Citv , expired in _Charing-cross Hospital from injuries he had received by being thrown from an omnibus . It appears that about four weeks since Mr . Mordaunt was proceeding down the Strand seated on thefrontse . it of an omnibus , when , from some unexplained cause , one of the fore-wiieels oftlie Ycliiclccame off , and deceased was precipitated to the ground with great violence . Assistance being procured , the unfortunate gentleman was conveyed to Charing-cr » ss Hospital , where it was ascertained that ono of his legs had been severely fractured . Every attention was paid to him bv the surgeons ofthe establishment , and for some time he appeared to be going on well , and hopes were entertained ofhis recovery ; but on Sunday Jast an unexpected change took place , which terminated in death , as before stated . Mr . Mordaunt was about thirtyseven years of age .

      Fatal Accident to a _Laht . —Coroseii ' s Inquest . —On Monday afternoon , Mr . Mills , deputy-coroner for West Middlesex , and a jury of 13 inhabitant householders , assembled iu the drawing-room of Feltbam-lodgc , near Uounslow , to inquire into thc circumstances connected with the melancholy death of Mrs . Georgiana Charlotte Theobald , aged 29 , a widow lady , lately resident as above , and well known in the sporting world , who was killed by being thrown from her horse on Friday last . —Mary Taplin stated , that she was the wife of a labourer living at Foltham , and washed for the deceased . On Friday night last , about 8 o clock , she was sent for to attend upon deceased , whom she found iu bed insensible . Two medical gentlemen from Hampton were present ,

      aud also a gentleman named . Brittle . Deceased ' s teeth were quite clinched . Her hair was cut off , and leeches applied , but she never spoke or recovered her senses , and died at 5 minutes before 8 o ' clock on Saturday morning . The lower part of her skull was pronounced by the doctors to bo fractured . Deceased vomited twice within an hour of her death . Deceased went out on horseback , accompanied by Mr . Brittle , and attended by her groom . —Mary Cox , nurse to Miss Theobald ( deceased ' s daughter , aged G years ) , stated , that on Friday afternoon , between 3 and - o ' clock , deceased left the house on horseback , foi' tho purpose of going to Twickenham on business . Mr . Brittle , who was also on horseback , wont with her , and they were followed by deceased ' s groom . About 8 o clock in the evening deceased was brought home

      in a chaise cart , accompanied by two _SUl'gCOllS tl'Olll Hampton . She was quite insensible , 'lhe horse which deceased rode on Friday was named Woodbine , and was her favorite horse . It knew her well , and used to lick her hand when she went into the stable , which she did daily . Deceased when out hunting about two years ago , met with an accident , by which her shoulder was put out . —William Higgs , groom to the deceased , said , that he followed his mistress and Air . Brittle to Twickenham , on returning whence deceased ordered him to proceed home and hasten the dinner . " Up to that time no accident had happened to her . The horse she redo was very quiet , and one she had always ridden while he had been in

      her service ( 14 months ) . — lh . imiis Lunn , a _labouring man , stated , that about half-past six o ' clock oh Friday evening last , deceased came up to the gate leading to a held belonging to Mr . Humphries , farmer , at _Haiiwortli _, about two miles from _Fcltliam , and asked witness , who was in Mr . Humphries ' service , if she might ride round the field , saying that the road was so hard she could not exercise her horse . Witness replied , " Yes . " A gentleman on horseback was with the deceased , who stopped at the gate , and said to her , " Just give a gallop round . " Deceased then started off , and was coming back , when , about half-way , her horse fell down , and ¦¦ the deceased was pitched about a yard before it , hilling on her head , Witness went up and found tho pummel of the

      saddle off , which he picked up . Thc deceased seemed lifeless . There was no one near the horse when it fell . —Mr . George Henry Brittle , merchant , of Ko . 119 , Woo'd-street , Cheapside , stated that lie went with the deceased to Twickenham on Friday . When she went into the field it was f ' u * the purpose of cantering . She always cantered when she could liiid a bit of turf . Where the horse fell was about 100 yards from witness , and it was at tiie time going at the rato of li miles an hour . After i ' _-iiling , the animal struggled for about ten yards to regain its footing , but it eould not . Witness could not account

      for the accident in any other way than by the horso crossing it ' s logs . On the accident occurring , witness despatched the last witness on 'his own horse to Hampton , for medical , aid , and on two surgeons arriving on the ground and sceiiu ; deceased , ' thoy pronounced the caso hopehws . He had seen a horse fall with the deceased lady while hunting , and she always retained her seat , which , no doubt , slur-would have been able to have done on Friday ,-but for the breaking of the saddle , as described . —Tliere belli " no further evidence , tlic jury , having commented on the melancholy features of tho case , " returned a verdict of "Accidental death . "

      Acciiiext i . v the Railway Tuxxkl at Livem'Ool . —A workman in tho employment of the Grand Junction Railway Company met hi .- ; death in the tunnel on Saturday last . His namo was James _Is'ixon- _, hnd he was fifty-five years old . At the ir . quest , John Woodward , a platc-laycr , who said that about a quarter past ten o ' clock -j- , * , Saturdav morning \ ii _senfcjhe decen _^ , _vyag _j & nltUeJaJvei _* . '' -7 M . v » nenel to sand the mils , astiiev _wcievery _' wd ! _l'Oitr trains went down between the time he was sent and a quarter to twelvo o ' clock , at which time witness saw him dead . William Holland , thc superintendent ofthe engine station at Edge-hill , said , that about a quarter to eleven o ' clock he went down the tunnel in a pilot-waggon ; and when about a quarter of a mile down he felt a slight obstruction on the rails , and heard a noise like the breaking of a piece of wood . He put the break on and stopped the waggon as yon as " C 0 llil '> § _oi _° " _- ' < "d looked along the lino a _^ d _/ j'oni the brightness of the rails he saw

      they were de * * ' 1 " * * - ' Ilt l ! o ' Vil to _Lime-slreef . , and sent a man to _e _wmim the rails . William Jubilee Norton , a porter « . -, t tllc * _-. fttl ° n _"i Lime-street , said he was sent up the . " »" _* t ] . J *} 8 - * witness to sec lor something that wa _,. _PP 0 Scd to _«» u P *> u the rails . He "o * a li » ht for that ;> pP ? so , and about . 1 quarter of a miie from Edge-lull , i 7 -ound the deceased lying across the down rails with o 7 _> e foot on one rail and his right hand upon the ether _nr-i _* . Ho was quite dead and cold , liis right hand was cou _-ldotoly crushed , and his left jaw was broken . There was also a wound upon the forehead , and another _upt'ii the back part of the head . At the inquest on Tuesday , Dr . Arnott , the surgeon , stated that iie had found death had been caused by a fracture of the breast hone , the result of external violence . Ko further evidence was offered , and tho jury found a verdict accordingly * . There is very little doubt that he was knocked down by one of the trains , and instantaneously kilicd . I

      Malicious _Ixjuckt on thk Sheffield Railway . —Af half-past seven o ' clock on Saturday evening a train left the Slielfield station , _consisting of three passenger carriages , containing between sixty and seventy passengers , a parcel van , and eleven luggage wasgons , to join the down train irom-London , due at Masbro ' at eight o ' clock , and _^ with which it was to proceed forward to Leeds . The parcel van and waggons were p laced next the engine and tender , and the passenger carriages at the tail ofthe train . When the train arrived at the Holmes station the engine-driver , in conformity with his orders , Blackened his speed , as in passing from the Sheffield and Rotherham line there is a very sharp curve round the corner of the station . The tram was not proceeding at a greater speed than

      ten or twelve miles an hour , and had not passed the station more than fifty or sixty yards , when itwas suddenly stopped by some obstacle , and the engine and lender , with the force of the shock , were lifted ofi thc rails and thrown on their broadsides across the up and down lines . The engine-driver , a man named John Ldwards , and the foreman , named Hugh Tissmgton _, were thrown a distance of ten or twelve yards , aud lay insensible for somo minute 3 ; three of the luggage waggons and thc parcel van were thrown off the line , and the guard , John Dueker , who waseated on the last carriage but one , with his back to the engine , was thrown with great violence unon

      the rooi ot the carriage 111 front of hhn , and fortunately escaped injury |) y catching hold of the rails on the top ot the carnage . Two of tho waggons were smashed to pieces , and a third rendered almost useloss by the concussion . The shock was felt severely hy the whole of the _passei-pcrs _, who _WCI'C _tlll'OWll Ol ' f their seats . but providentially , from being at so great a _distanco Irom the engines , none of them received any injury beyond the shock trad a few sVightlmiiMS . I he guard immed iately _ilfemomitcd , and found th .. enjiinenian andstnkop _«* rcci » in , ns well as thev could , to n lu _*( if ! C |«) ftorn . 1 ho _jHissensera _, as soon as _possinie * goti . in . ol the carriages , nnil search was ' thou made to ascertain the cause ofthe accident , when it

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      was found that a set of points used for putting waggons on a side-hue , had been wedged open by some miscreant with an iron " chair" and a piece of limestone , so that it was impossible for a train to have _proceeded without being thrown off tho line , 'i he two men who were injured were as soon as _possibio conveyed to Sheffield , and surgical aid procured , and , I am happy to add , that it was found tliat they had not received any greater injury than several severe concu . s 8 ious from the violence of their fall , and that theyari * now fast recovering . The engine was so much damaged as to be entirely unfit for work , thc wheels being driven into the fire-box , and thc driving wheels so injured that they would not move . Tho passengers were compelled to walk to the Hasbro' station . A

      number of men were immediatel y set to work , and bysix o ' clock on Sunday morning the engine and wa _ggons were cleared off the line , so as to allow the trains to pass without obstruction . Tho report of this accident has naturally caused great excitement in the neighbourhood , as itis onl y . 1 few months since that , within a short distance ofthe same place , and at two distinct times , several large wooden sleepers and largo pieces of iron were laid across the rails , and it was only through tho vigilance of the company ' s servants that the trains escaped being thrown off the line on both occasions . Tho Midland Company , anxious for the public safety , yesterday ( Tuesday ) niorning issued placards offering a reward of one hundred guineas to any person who sliall produce evidence to cause tho conviction ofthe perpetrators ofthis _villanuus act .

      Swtoseo Suicide of a Gehma . v Ji . w . —On Tuesday night , Mr . Joseph Payne held an inquest at thc Rose and Ball Tavern , St . Bennet ' s-liill , Thamesstrcct , on the body of Solon Uyanis _. aged ltfty-one , a lishnionger , of Middlesex-street , Whitechapel . ilr . Joseph Kiscb , of Circus-place , _Fiiisbiiry-square , said , that lie had attended the deceased professionally for some time , and that about seven weeks ago ho ' was called to him by his family in consequence of strange delusions the deceased was labouring undo . -Amongst other things he fancied that a conspiracy had been formed amongst his friends and _neighbours to deprive him of his property , and that they had made an imago

      which was always haunting him day and night . There was no doubt deceased was labouring under monomania . It appeared irom other evidence that the deceased left his house about four o ' clock on the morning of Friday hist , unknown to his family , and nothing was afterwards heard or seen of liilli until seven o clock that morning , when his body was found in the causeway at St . Paul ' _s-wharf , Upper Thamesstreet , where it liad been left by tlio receding tide . After a few remarks by the coroner , who stated that this was thc fourth inquest he had held upon a case of suicide within tweuty-four hours , the jury returned a verdict of " Found drowned . "

      Lamentably _Dustbuctive Fun * . —On Sunday last , about a quarter past ono o ' clock a . m ., the _pniicc-constablc nt Duuuinw descried iihirgc lire in the direction of _Wa-thani , and immediately communicating with superintendent lledin , the large engine was piepared and moved to the Saracen ' s Head , to bo ready for thc horses ; and very shortly afterwards Mr . Isaac Livermore _, froni Ohl-Park-farm , Great Wulthain , on whose premises the _conilagration was raging , arrived on horseback , in breathless haste . The engine was immediately conveyed to the farm , ou reaching which , however , it was found that the whole of the outbuildings were enveloped in _llauics , aud that exertions were almost useless , except for the preservation oi the dwelling-house , In a very short time lhe devouring clement had laid low the two huge barns , thestablcs , cart-sheds , pigsties , henhouse , and erauarv ,

      destroying also a ii umber of valuable implements . Thero was only one horse in the stable , which was fortunately suved . Tlic wheat bam was filled with a most beautiful crop , considered Ilie best Air . Livermore ever had there , and worth i . 500 . Thc barley barn , in which the fire was first discovered by the looker , was also quite full ; it was spacious enough for a waggon and horses to turn in it , and said to be one of the largest , if not the largest in Essex . The estates belong to Guy ' s Hospital , and the buildings , valued at . £ 1 , 000 , were uninsured , the governor . ' * of the hospital setting their losses iu sueh cases against thc heavy sum it would require to protect their property . The crops and implements were fully insured in the Essex Economic , upon whom will devolve a loss of about _£ G 00 . There appears to bo every reason to fear that this lire , which has consumed the produce of nearly 100 acres , was tiie work of au incendiary .

      _Sekiouh Loss of Life . —On lucsday afternoon ( week ) last the son ot Mr . Dickson , proprietor ofthe Loudon and Brampton waggon , met with his death in the following most awful manner * . —The unfortunate sufferer was driving dawn William-hill , Hertfordshire , followed by Mr . Sergeant ' s Bedford waggon . It was said that Dickson wns boasting of tlic style in which his horses cuuld come down thc hill without being checked by hiin ; thoy began to trot , and soon he lost all power over thorn—ho went to the head oftlie lenders , but he could not stop tliem until thoy ran foul of a public-house on the way-side ; he was crushed against the wall , one shaft having run into liis bowels ; every assistance that the place could render him was given , but he , however , after a sliort period of the most _agonising sv . _li ' erlng , ceased to exist . We hear one of the horses also was killed , but how true this is we cannot confidently assert . — Bedford News .

      Awful _Exclosios at _Wgolwicu , _—Seyss Mbm blow . * * ' ur . —Royal Arsknal , Woolwich , _Surr . 17 . — Ono of tho most frightful accidents that bas ever occurred happened this niorning in the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich . A few minutes before ton o ' cloek a Joud explosion was heard iu thc Laboratory Department , at a building known as No . 1 Breaking-up Shed . Assistance w _: is immediately at hand , the men rushing from various parts of tho department to the spot . As soon as ingress could be obtained , a fearful spectacle presented itself . Immediately _behind the door , crowded together in a confused heap , . Jay the scorched bodies of five 111011 and two boys . They were immediately removed _ta an

      adjacent shod on stretchers . The building being on five , thc alarm bell was rung , * iiid die engines Irom the different departments , with tho Royal Sappers and Miners and Royal Artillery , were speedily on the spot . The flames , by the exertions of tho men , wore soon , subdued , their _l'avagss being confined to tllo buildings , the roof of which had boon _alreait _^ blown off , nnd some slight damage done to the roof of an adjacent _buViil-, ing . It would appear , from what has been _gl _^ vied in other parts of thc same depiiriment ( for lVo one of tlw * uiiibrtimaro brings mthc _devot-- ; _, _^ _jjj-,, r j , ag escaped to lurmsh _w- - tion that the men ¦ A 1 M . I b < l \ 'S W- . _ .,.. ¦ _•* . _**• " ¦" . ' .. , _'MllnrnW- - \ _uuja * ' _Vmm * '

      _™ .. u m . the time ti _»»^ ' - '" ~ : _, _^ &\ _tsa - ? r _^ _^ _^ ' _™* _¦!*¦•' - .. ; 0 i ° • • ' , th . at ° " » « MB'gMi . _{ j seven .. _ ., . il'tillliiU ) ' . _" _' ... _viduals to instant destruction ! Tiie names 0 ? the persons who lim . s lost their lives nvo John Crake ( master ) , an aged man , and one of the oldest servants in the department , * Henry ISultci . an aged man , with a large famil y , and his son , _Hcnrv Butters , a young married 111 , 111 ; Robert lJlll _* ba"C and Michael _Purtill . Four of these were what ' is called laboratory men . In _addition to those , two boys named Leonard and Henley _lo .- . t their lives Purtill was a labourer belonging to the storekeepers ' department , and was engaged at thc time in ioadii _*" rockets . A man named _Wiilinm Raid , who _w- * s engaged with lum at tho same time , had . 1 verv

      narrow escape . It would appear that _n-h _.-n the lata ! occurrence took place , the ' unfortunate _pcrj-oiis made a simultaneous rush towards the door . Unfortunately the doors opened inwards , nnd to _tliiscircum-Btniice some of tlio chief oflicers of the establishment attribute their destruction . By the side of tho door out of which they had vainly endeavoured to es-eaw their blackened corpses were found . The writer visited thein shortly afterwards , and they presented a fvatiul proof nf the _drandful _aaent towhidi thev had been exposed . Their clothes , and even Iheir boots , were either wholly or partially consumed , their bodies literally roasted , and thc flesh in manv cases

      deeply incised : every vestige of bar was consumed off tlieir heads , aud their features so disfigured as to render their identification almost impossible . As soon as the fire was subdued a party of tho Royal Sappers und Miners , under tho command of Colonel Barney , U . K ., ono of the heads of thc department . , and Lieutenant and Adjutant Webb , K . E ., proceeded to pull down tlic remaining parts of the shed , many ofwhich were in a dangerous state . The remains of a dog were discovered in one corner of the building . It was the opinion of a medical gentleman , who viewed the bodies with the writer , that death look place from suffocation by carbonic acid gas .

      The Muiider of Mn . Thomas Peacop , sear Rock Fiuutv . — _Appheiiknsios of the Suwoskd ¦ . . lcnnEUEiis . — _LivKnvooi ., _Tuebbay . — Yesterday morning considerable excitement was occasioned on the other suk of thc Mersey by a rumour , which was rapidly circulated , to the effect that four of the murderers of the late Mr . Thomas Peacop , corn and Hour _c . ealcr , had been apprehended , and that one of the fellows had turned approver . On inquiry wc ascertained that the report ivas not unfounded , and that the arrest of Michael Burns in Dublin , and the information he had given to the authorities , had led to the apprehension of three of his supposed confederates—Pat . TiiHent , Kobert Lynch , and Win . jVowlflii . Tallent , who ia a thick-set elderl y man , was arrested at the New __ Ferry , by officers ' Xewtou and Tivy . Lynch , who is also a stout fellow , about 3 G years of

      age , was employed m driving a main near Rock Ferry , and was arrested by Superintendent _M'llarg aiid Mr . Palmer , the head constable of the hundred ol Wirrall . A dangerous weapon was found in his house . _Nowlan , who i _** a tall and robust man of forty , was employed at the Birkenhead Gas Works , and was apprehended by Mr . Boughcy _, the Bridewell-keeper ; and Mr . Palmer also arrested Burns , the approver , who is an athletic man of abuut a similar ago . The four are natives of Ireland ; and with tho exception of Burns , who recently went over to Dublin , they have all been working at and iu the neig hbourhood of Birkenhead ever since the perpetration of the dreadful crime with which thoy stand charged . It will i ; s recollected that on tllC evening _I'flhc / Jlstof J ) crf mh ( . _'rl < i . _- * t , _ilfr . Peacop was on his return from his shop , in Rocli Ferry-lane , to liis residence near thc New Ferry turnpike-gate , in the 1 /

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      township of Hig her IMiingion . when hewas _a _^ ed by three or four men and robbed , and so . sourer / beaten aboutthe head that he died on tho morn ing of Saturday , the 4 th of February , im coronet jury returned a verdict of wilful muidor _tigainst some party or parties _«>•! , '" "" J immediately after , by directions of her most gracious Majesty , a reward of £ 100 was ofifcrcd by Government , in addition to another reward oi similar amount offered on the spot , for such evidence as might lead to the discovery o the _perpetrator or perpetrators of the crime ; and a tree pardon wa » also offered lo anv accomplice , not being tne person who gave the mortal blow , who should » ivc such information and evidence as should lead to the _sflino result . A Welshman , of the name of John Jones , who * was near tlie spot on the night of the occurrence , wa » subsequently arrested , and , after a ionj ; examination , discharged , there _noi being the _Blijrhtust evidence t » connect " him with tlie fatal transaction . From that

      time until within the hist fortnight all attempts tounravel the mysterious circuin- * t » nces of the _casa utterly failed , but a clue to Burns bavin ? been then obtained , his apprehension followed , and subsequently the arrest of the three other _parti-ns . On Monday the prisoners underwent an _raiiniinatiun at the Birkenhead Police Court , and _nyain on Tuesday , when they were remanded for further examination on Wednesday . This day ( Wednesday ) the further examination " of the prisoners was proceeded with _, when Burns made thc following statement : —He sa . M ho had been to Chester to look fur work , and that , he was returning to Birkenhead on the afterno ; n of tho last day of the old year when he met the prisoner Tallant , who asked him ( Burn . **) to _yo along with

      hun ( iallant ) to Rock retry , and thev would ge tsome money , from the baker ( meaning Mr . Peacop ) , and desired him to sou Lyuci _* . It . . vns then agreed that he ( Burns ) and the other prisoners should all meet together at the _tull-giuc at Ruck Ferry at halfpast eight o ' clock , lie and Lynch walked to the * place together , Lynch saying Nowlan had gone before , and Tuilant , living in that neig hbourhood , had gone home previously . At the time appointed all met at the toll-gate , which is almost directly opposite Mr . Peacop ' B place of business . The prisoners then posted themselves in various parts of the road , but not . far from each other , Nowlan _bcimrplaci d to watch thc shoo door to sec when the baker ( as the iU ceased was calUA by ( lie nriaoncrg ) left ; and when lie came up to _Talluut

      he was to whistle , when all were to make to thc spot . They waited about half an hour or more , until about half-past nine , when he ( Burn .-. ) heard ihe whistle , and on going to the place found Lynch and Nowlan fighting with thc baker . The latter then made n struggle across the road , when Lynch knocked him down with a whip he had in hi-. ' hand . Burns described the whip to be the same instrument as tho * stick loaded with lead found in ihe house of Lynch . He said there were two of _llirui _bcloiiirin _*! to Lynch , but the other had more lead at _ll . eiiid , am ! was in the possession of Nowlan that night . After Lynch had knocked tlic baker down he _$ _tri-g * led _* .. ii his right sido to rise , when Nowlan struck him on the head with ono of the whips , lie fell , and Nowiim * . Im w himself upon

      hiin , and took tw : n ' y-five or twet . ty-si . \* _shillings out ot Ilia pocket . When tie baker wan down , another person came up the road from Inwards Rock Ferry . Now ' _au struck at the man and hit him , br . t could not toll whether he fell or not . as lit * ( I urns ) ran _nff towards Birkenhead ; hecrossi d _i-v er the road intothe * _llelds _, and came part of the way along ihe iie'd- ; . llo then waited opposite a _public-ln-usi-at the lower end of Back Chester-street , where in about twenty minutes he was joined by Nowian , uho said he had got four or five and twenty shillings , and gave him ( _Ijiirnsj a luiifcrown . _Subsequently tie received another lialf-a-ei'own from i \' o « lan . The prisoners were again remanded , and for their gicater security thoy were removed iu the cvc . _iing under escort to Chester Castie .

      _Suddbx Death n thk Street . —On Wednesday _iifternoon , about three o ' clock , a _w-unan was ol served to stagger and fail , in _Bear-yiri . _Lincoln ' s-inn . She was immediately raised from the ground , and belti : r found in a slate of ii ; sen-ib ' : lity , she w : ls at once conveyed to King ' s _Collcii . i * _Ho-pual , wlerosho was promptly attunded by Dr . Guy , the ho « d physician ofthe institution . That _gi'iiilomnu , however , after trying iin : usual remedies fir restoring animation , pronounced lifo to be quite e ctinct . Thodeceased , it was slated , most prnhab _' y -nired from a sudden affection ofthe heart . Thc od . ' a * p _-ars tobe that of a person of the middle a _^ e and siiu _tire , and is dressed in a dark gown and sin-v . I and straw bonnet . The body remains at thc above institution , awaiting identification .

      Three Pkrso . ns Duowxkp . —On Sunday last T \ T ,- s . Graham , the wife of one of thu _Jlg _iitkcfpers at tho Plymouth Breakwater Lighthouse , went with Iicbson , a lad about six years of age , to vi .-it Sir . Graham , 011 the Breakwater . Alrmt seven in t ' . ic evening thoy left in » waterman ' s boat , wi'li 110 intention of returning to Plymouth . On Mond * . y movning Sir . Findlater , the fiiremsiU ofthe wi ;!' . ' - , shortly after landing , discovered thc body ofthe lad , with a . basket under his ami , on the norlhcrti side of tho Ureakwatcr , near tlw jelty . This _disci-. vciy was th « first'intimation which Mr . Graham hud of his loss . The boat , which was rather crank built , _wai in charge of a man named Ward , and , as no account has been . heard of her , it is supposed that she went down in a squall , w ' . th the boatman and Mrs . Graham and lier son , soon after leaving tlie Breakwater . The darkness would prevent _j-cikoiis on hoard the shipping in the Sound from seeing such a catastrophe .

      _Veakfullt Violent Dkatu of a _Motjikk a _* _si > _Uai'IMiar IilKTlI . —A _friuhllid aeehluiif , from tho upsetlm : ; ofa vehicle , oecurrat in _dkeiSi-Id , oil Friday evening last , hy which one poor woman lust her life —* one liad her wrist broken—one had _Jii-i * hi ;? _ilislneated —a poor girl had her face so _ilisfignrorl as _sraretly to appear human—and , indeed , tlie _whoie oi' tlie orcup : ml *» ol llio _carriage , nine iu numbo _? _^ _woi'i * Iiiorc or less seriously maimed . The mclaueliflly v _* tr !! w . ' i < _' _* . q frimspiruil on the inquest over the body of _Ar-i-i . _- . Wilson , which was liul . tl before Mr . Umlser , at tiio houso of Mr . _lloylav _iu , of _Wood-inne , farmer , _Staumnston , on _Moii'lnv eveninsr last . _Deceased was tiie wifo Of IlJ _£ William \ Vilson , of _Hall-cai- _I'i-iee . _ShiUlolJ , Joii _* , cr . anil thc unfortunate couple had iuvitiil a few

      ¦ _Yietids to iietoui _^ _auy tliem i _* *> tho tiintrsl of one of ihuir _UV . Udveu ,. The timo _fixtd ou was _L-Yulay _evevinsr , it tlio UniUiriaii Cluipol , Stunnigtuii—ihe Kev . _1 _' eter V . V _^ ht , a _Uiii'ari'tu _mii . ister , _-. vj . _'O keeps _a- _^ . school nt _irjln _icir-lil _, not bch- _'f _aVls to '' 7 ' . _^ ., ' . . ' , , " _,, q _serrieo _( wvli'V in the th _. y , st ao , grant- a uisiftncO f ' _"om _hornct _\ fi _~ i Uii »» U'i ? _ftl ) _UWi _yA _^ ' _.- ' _AUvjvidltrt us n n _»' :. _^ : iwv . r '; _Vig . , ' . ' ' . <« slid took ROU 1 C S . _' - ' > t inn , where thev hailed Until * hm- _' , . . . .. ,, • = — refreshment , after which they Mart ..-.. _- _^ ' _^ _. _auoii _f-S o ' clock . Their route Iny through _Ucyjililij - ll _i _... _'¦'"**'•> _«^ _sU-cp , _roii _^ li , and dangerous mad , which , bring little ' _fretjueiitc-l , was thickly studded il . ron ; jl _* out wiih largo _Iirojiciii-g stones . _JUe'inis _Wi . _' swi _, a _brnilii-r-iu . lair of the _deceased , was _lcailin-. ; the horse , and nine . _'crso ; :. _* : , _clii-.-fly wunicn , and _ehiiOrcn , were iu a _lijjlit s _*> _i-: _* u , - curt ,

      II ! _IlillCll tlio corpse of die dra

      forty yards , and then _llmm-u into the r . md wiih gient violence . When the i _*<« rse bad proceeded about J CO yards tho _carriage upsui , <" asll ; j its _cceupuntx mi to lhe _stoi'cy road . Mrs . Wilsiu unf . _'tiuiali-ly fell under tin .- c _;* n ' _- « <> , awl lilt-re leniainei till ihe female pnriiun oi the puny were able to remove it , when the lias lafetn up insensible , and conveyed to the nearest bouse —\ j ; :., that of ilr . lioyhinil , at Stauuington Wood-lar . c . There flic remained inseiisitile till Saturday evtiiin * _, ' , nbtn . ht dud . —aad ivbcn the attendant females were _layiup o : t tho body , tbey discovered that the unhappy woman had given birth to a six months' child , wliich also lay dead byits mother ' . *! corpse . Ko bkuiit ! being . _lituched to _ai . y purlics , the jui _* j returned a verdict of Accidental Death .

      Bnadforn Lvwrmarv.—Tliis Charitable And ...

      BnADFORn _Lvwrmarv . —Tliis charitable and useful institution is rendered almost _usde-u * _for-v-tnt of funds . An effort is being nmdo by the Odd Fellows to collect small donations from the working classes and shopkeepers . Strange that _Enuifo _.-d , the emporium of the worsted trade , where streets of warehousing aro springing up , some of them built to rival the most splendid mansions of our nubility , aid wealth amassed is as by magic , c . iiun-t _su'iport _r-r , & solitary charitablo institution , without an _appiaL being made to the working classes . Mill-lords , who on the public rostrum could shed tears of sympathy for the sufferings of the people , _willnotgivca solitaiy £ 1 to preserve this noble and useful institution .

      THE _JJEM'HORlf AND BeADFOHD _CCLLltliS are still " out , " and thankfully acknowled ge lhe following subscriptions raised for thc support of thuse brave fellows who have stood the test bf twenty-two weeks _Mrii-e , aud are still as determined as at fir- ' , thuu | t-h the _i-o-. itost should last as _lor . g again : —Itory district , 3 fo . 6 , Iodg « , £ 2 ; from Darwen colliers , £ 10 ; from D r _. _ieii sph . n is . 4 s . Oil . ; Ihuikin Park , £ 1 i _; s . ; Bnckhum _spmi . _ws , £ 3 2 s . Baeup , £ l 10 s . ; C . B . T _.. £ 1 ; A . P . T ., il ; Ifcixciidcn , £ 4 ; Brook-side , £ ' 1 Is . 3 d . ; Frie . _ids-, lis . ; _Enheldipitmer 8 , 5 s . ; Duckwcr h Hall . Ii ., Jolm Leach _, -s . _tid . ; Park _Plfashur , gs . 4 _cl . ; Ann Haworth , l _? . ; ltobert Ifarkwood . 28 . Little i „ awr district , £ 1 ls . _Dd . : Garbut colliers , £ 1 Is . ; Aspull district , £ 1 ; Da . No . b Ui , e , 2 ,. Cd . ; I ) o . No . 12 Lodg-, 2 s . fid . ; Do . K , _* . L _I-oiJue , 3 s . ; Do . No . 9 Lod _; cc , 5 s . ; Hulton district , XI ; hwmslmw , £ 2 ; Padiham , 7 s . ; _Kimzdua _lli-ook . . Gd . - p . n . n ., £ i-, Dear , ci- . urch _, IDs . ; _Eckei'slev district , _ICie turner , printer , Manchester , 3 s . ; _iVitud ?! 3 _« id .

      _lispoiiTj-i , Great _Victobv of the Circassians ovEit tub lvwsiAK 8 .-A G .. „ , ir . n journal _nmiounw . a ran . - "• _liiiiiry fiction between thc Russians a _„ d cirra 9 . . in .. 3 uW . the c ,,, l of August , _AworaiilK tu tliis _acfcuilllt . till ) lliiRs . aiii lost several colours and a great number <» f Pieces of cannon , and have loft a _gi- , imn-kr _t-rpi ! - sonera m the hands of U » _Circasskus , iu . d mnoui ; _otlai * _Uunt _U _oronzoff , the co _iawauder-in . _chit-i ; himself ,

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Sept. 20, 1845, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns4_20091845/page/5/