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PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS. --
PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS. THE House of Commons opened its doors again on Thursday after the Whitsuntide recess; very few members, however, assembled, and everything betokened the near approach of a dissolution. The votes of supply are hurried through with extraordinary rapidity, and the chairman of the committee, Mr. Dodson, rattles away at such a rate, that it is scarcely possible, except for those who have the printed estimates before them, to follow him. After reading the clause, he says, all in one sentence, Those who are in favour of this vote say Aye those who are of a contrary opinion say No the Ayes have it." Thus, on one even- ing alone, seventy votes, varying from three millions to three thousand pounds, were passed with scarcely a discussion upon any one of them. Indeed, few members, except those more imme- diately cennected with the Government, attend; the majority are away in the country trying to secure their seats at the forthcoming election, which must necessarily take place next month. One would have thought that the birth of a second prince, securing the perpetuity of the Royal line by a new link, would have warmed the most worn-out members into something like en- thusiasm; but no, there was the same coldness, even in bringing this matter forward as in other business transactions. If Lord Palmerston had been in his place, the address of congratulation would have been better received, but that noble lord is still suffering from his late attack of gout, and indeed many persons speak ominously of the general state of his health. Sir G. Grey, who always leads the House in the noble Premier's absence, rose on Thursday, shortly after four o'clock, and said:—" The House, will perhaps allow me, before the ordinary business of the evening is proceeded with, to make a motion which I am sure will meet with general concur- rence, in consequence of the happy event which has taken place since the House last met. I have to propose that an humble address be presented to her Majesty, congratulating her Majesty upon the fact that the Princess of Wal-es has given birth I to another prince; and to assure her Majesty of our devoted loyalty and attachment to her person and family." Mr. Disraeli seconded the motion as briefly as possible, merely remarking that the event was not more gratifying to her Majesty than it was upon every ground, both public and private, to her Majesty's subjects. There was a faint attempt to heer, but it soon died away; indeed, the Members of the House of Commons seldom cheer much, except when the Speaker has to convey intelligence un- known previously, and this seldom happens now, for the press get hold of information almost as early as the Ministers themselves, and the M.P.'s have discussed the topic over their breakfast tables long before they attend to their Parliamentary duties in the afternoon. Speaking about Lord Palmerston, however, the Conservative organs assert that the Premier will retire from public life as soon as the pending appeal to the country is concluded. They add that his colleagues, anxious to avail themselves of the popularity attached to the noble lord's name, are exerting themselves to bring the Session to a close as early as possible, and express their belief that, in consequence of this retirement an attempt will be made to form a Ministry with Earl Russell as Premier and Mr. Gladstone as Leader of the House of Commons. The Liberal papers assert that these statements are at least premature, and are circulated solely with the idea of weakening the Ministerial majority. Be that as it may, I !Q¡ow that Lord Palmerston's health is' causing great anxiety amongst his friends. It is sa.id that Thursday he made an effort to reach the House, but was unable from weakness to take his seat on the Treasury Bench. Great uncertainty appears to exist as to the issue of the next general election. It is said, on the one hand, that the Derby party expect a victory; whilst, on the other, it is asserted that the Liberals were never stronger than they are at present. It might be interesting to some of my readers to give the present position of parties in the House of Commons as recorded by Dod. Looking through the whole of his list, and giving the independent members on the side they generally vote, I find that for England there are 263 Liberals returned against 236 Conservatives. For Scotland there are 38 Liberals and 15 Conservatives. For Ire- land there are 49 Liberals and 55 Conservatives. Making a total of 350 Liberals against 306 Con- servatives. Consequently, for Earl Derby's party to succeed, 26 more Conservatives must be re- turned to Parliament than there were at the last general election. I believe that many seats will be stoutly contested, and that there will be great anxiety as to the result. If rumour speaks true, we are to have an infusion of new blood into the House of Commons—that is to say, that a number of young gentlemen at present little known to fame, but whose abilities are reported to be of the highest character, will offer. themselves as candidates at the general election. Amongst these are, Lord Frederick Cavendish, son of the Duke of Devonshire, and brother of the present Under-Secretary for War {the Marquis of Hartington); the Hon. Arthur Stanley, second son of the Earl of Derby; Lord Arthur Clinton, son of the late and brother of the iresent Duke of Newcastle; Lord Edward St. k,r, second son of the Duke of Somerset; Mr. W. T-t. Gladstone, son of the Chancellor of the Excheq-a.ej. Let me, wever, describe a ceremony which took place m « House of Commons last week, not of ordinary ,,„ence. jt will be remembered that the Sergeant-aU durin tlle sitti f the House occupies the e.. below the w habited in old court dress knee brgec}les silk stockings, tightiit^g^ and waistcoa £ &c., of the most sombre Hacir,iie_ however> a sword hanging by his side, .0 bes use >r gUm^ in case any me not privileged should en C the threshold 0f the House. His prmcippj appear to the spectator to be connected, with t. huo-e mace wuch he carries over his shoulder as he°conducts tla Speaker to the chair, and places on the table during the time the Speaker sits. Upon the motici being carried that the House resolve itself inticrtommittee, the Sergeant-at-Arms who rushes up to he table, and puts the aforesaid mace in a place of cneealment, to be replaced when the Speaker shall rtume his seat. But this person- age is also the exectiveas well as the ceremonial officer of the Lower and if a member should offend against the prdleg-es of the House, he is given into the custod, of the Sergeant-at-Arms, "who when Mr. Speake^rlers it, can conduct the offender to a cell provldtl. br that purpose—which, by-the-bye, is a good, comfortable room-and keep him there confined. )f late years this has been seldom practised, bu^ the time of O'Connell it was not unfrequent. -Had almost forgotten the practice until last weeyjjen I saw the tall thin form of the present eant-at-Arms, Lord Charles Russell, with his jrht-fitting habili- ments, looking more kke^ skeleton than nature ever intended him, lvanee by slow steps towards the Speakei bowjng almost to the ground at every alters Btep until he reached the table, when, in soie tone, he said "Mr. Speaker—sir, in obeaieiK0 your com- mands issued on the 2nd insg., -L_e taken into custody two men, named Powew ghall and Henry Whitehead, charged witn n conspired with one George Morrisprocuring forged signatures to petitions to this House in favour of his Highness Azeem J ah; but I am sorry to record that with all my vigilance I have been unable to apprehend George Morris Mitchell, who had been the prime mover in the matter." The Sergeant-at-Arms then retired, walking backwards, and malting obeisances to the Speaker. Thus ended fares No. 1; but now Mr. Hennessy, who is one of tie busiest men in the House upon small matters, presented petitions from the peccant individuals then in custody, ex- pressing regret and contrition, and urging poverty and ignorance as a reason whereby they may be discharged without payment of fees. The hon. gentleman having put a motion to that effect, the Speaker rose and said,The motion before the House is that the two persons, named Powell Marshall and Henry Whitehead, now in the cus- tody of the Sergeant-at-Arms, be discharged with- out payment of fees. Those who are of that opinion say Aye;' tliose who are of a contrary opinion say1 No. I did not hear an exclamation either way, but the Speaker did, I suppose, for he immediately declared that the Ayes had it," and so farce No. 2 was got over. But, perhaps, my readers would like 10 know of what offence these men had been guilty. Weil, all of a sudden the people in the metrcpolis appeared to take a great interest in a real or. assumed Indian prince, named Azeem Jah." "Who is he, or what is he," was asked on all sideB ? Oh," was the reply, he is -a prince, who has suffered much from internal warfare: he has lost his lands, his wives, and treasures through the interference of the English Government." Petitions were sent from all parts of London in favour of an inquiry into this prince's rights. Metropolitan members, in face of a general election, must please their constituents, therefore these petitions were presented and the claims of the individual advocated. At length the officials had an inkling that these petitions were not genuine documents, and upon inquiry they found that they had all been got up by one man and his agents. The petition was prepared by the afore- said George Morris Mitchell, and he paid Id. for every signature, real or assumed, that hia agents could obtain. Thus thousands of names were appended to the petitions which had no existence, and others that were forgeries, and the House had well nigh been deceived by these got up docu- ments. It appears that the offence does not some under the criminal law, thus the only thing the House could do was to order the Sergeant-at-Arms to take the delinquents into custody, but as the principal had decamped it was thought unwise to punish those employed by him.
HORRIBLE MURDER AT PORTSMOUTH.
HORRIBLE MURDER AT PORTSMOUTH. An inquest was held on Wednesday at the Ports- mouth Police-court, before Mr. W. H. Garrington, the borough coroner, on the body of Maria Clements, the wife of a stoker in the navy, who was murdered under very revolting circumstances on Sunday night. On the same evening a man named John Hughes, a private in the 26th (Cameronian) Regiment, was com- mitted by the magistrates for trial at the next assizes for the murder of the unhappy woman. It appears from the evidence that this is one of the most revolting murders that has been committed in the county for some time. On Saturday evening the prisoner Hughes and other soldiers were at the Queen's Head beerhouse in Laadport, when the deceased, who was enceinte, entered the house and drank with the prisoner and his companions. The prisoner then asked the deceased and her two children to go home, and he accompanied them. On arriving at the deceased's house in Montagu-street, the pri. soner put the children to bed; but during the night the children, who are of very tender years, heard their mother scream and say, "The soldier won't." The soldiar (whom the children do not identify) said, "I will." Nothing more was heard, and the children fell asleep. On Monday morning they got up as usual and walked into a downstairs room, where they saw their mother lying on the floor. One of the children states that she went up to her and touched her, but she would not wake. The children screamed, which attracted the neighbours, and the deceased was then found lying on the floor dead. The legs were exposed in an indelicate manner, and the de- ceased's stockings were missing. It was also apparent that violence had been used by her murderer, and that he had committed another offence besides murder. There were five marks on the poor woman's faca which had evidently been caused by bites, the macks of teeth being very distinct. There were also similar marks on the neck. Mr. S. Bentham, surgeon, was shortly in attendance, but life had been extinct for some time. That gentleman, after a post- mortem examination, stated that death had been caused by strangulation, but he was not certain whether the injuries were inflicted by the mur- derer's hand or his teeth. The prisoner was apprehended at Clarence Barracks, Portsmouth, and on being searched a pair of stockings was found in his pocket, which have been identified by the de- ceased's husband. Evidence was also given which clearly identified the prisoner as the man who accom- panied the deceased to her house on Sunday night. The prisoner admits that he went a part of the way home with the deeeased, but denies that he entered the house, or that he knows anything of the murder. The jury returned a verdict of "Wilful Murder" against John Hughes.
IDREADFUL RAILWAY ACCIDENT…
DREADFUL RAILWAY ACCIDENT AT STAPLEHURST. Ten Persons Killed-Upwards of Twenty Wounded. The two fatal accidents on the Great Western Rail- way have been followed by one even more startling on the South-Eastern line, and from the character of the train to which the disaster occurred the intelligence will be read with unusually painful interest. The fast tidal train, timed to leave Folkestone at 2.30 p.m. en Friday, on the arrival of passengers from Boulogne, started, as usual, with about 110 passengers, and pro- ceeded nearly thirty miles on its journey, when at Staplehurst the accident occurred which has been productive of such lamentable consequences. At this point the railway crosses a stream which in winter is of formidable dimensions and of considerable depth, but in summer shrinks to the proportions of a riva- let On the bridge itself a plate had been loosened by'the platelayers, and the engine running over this was thrown off the rails. Though displaced from its proper track the locomotive adhered to the permanent way, but the train broke into two parts, and seven or eight of the carriages plunged into or through the stream, a fall of several feet. These vehicles were so crushed and shattered to pieces that together they did not occupy the space of two whole carriages; cushions and luggage were thrown out, into, and upon "•"he mud in all directions; and, as regards the occu- the*'8,? ^he sad story was only too truthfully told in o'elocfes.ram received in town shortly before four injured." Several killed at Staplehurst; many more traffic supeStenie manager, and Mr. Knight, the immediately left Loik°V?°eipt °t'&1S mf?rf spot in a special train,^ld^fPTOCef^0d aid as could be procured^ wlth the? SUCAha™dlcal was also summoned from As^d Tu^Srso on the sp as but too mxeh need for the services of one and aU. A glance at the condition of the train, and a hasty recognition the class to which its occupants belonged sho^d that it was no ordinary accident which had Qcci«n-ed The carriages that went down into the water were so twisted, flattened, and turned upon their si?ea that it was impossible to say whether the unfortunate travellers inside had been killed outright by the 0mck or suffocated as they lay in the water and mud. Tlogn of the passengers who escaped injury in the first stance behaved nobly towards their fellows in distress, there was no standing irresolute on the bank; every. thing that willing bands could do was done, and done at once; but, in spite of every effort, ten lives had been lost beyond recall, and over twenty mere or less injured. In the course of the evening successive trains brought to London those of the party whose condition fitted them to travel; but frequently it was evident that they themselves were scarcely conscious of the extent of the shock they had undergone. Onegentlemanhad sustained seriousinjuries about thehead. ihtwo or three instances members of aparty into which death had intruded came sadly and unaccompanied to town. One case of this kind was peculiarly affecting. A gentleman, evidently in acute pain, but in still greater distress of mind, carried half unconsciously, the bonnet worn by his wife on the journey that was so lamentably and, in her case, fatally interrupted. Among those brought to London by their friends in the course of the evening were Mr. Graham, who proceeded to the St. James's Hotel, suf- fering from injuries to the leg and face; Madame Gou- verneur, of York-house, Twickenham, contused and shaken Mr. Blow, Tavistock Hotel, severely injured about the head; Mr. J. P. Lord, of Bolton, Lancashire, and Mrs. Lord, taken to the Castle and Falcon, Alders- gate-street, Mrs. Lord having received severe injuries; and Mrs. Adams Hampson, who had received cuts on the head and face, this lady's husband being among the killed. Another lady, name unascertained, was taken to Guy's Hospital. The friends of those known to have been in the train were scarcely less to be pitied than the sufferers themselves. Both at London-bridge and Charing- cross stations large numbers of eager inquirers gathered, the news of the accident having attained immediate and almost universal circulation, owing, doubtless, to the circumstance that the railway acci- dents occurring previously had prepared the public to watoh for the next in the series of disasters that on these occasions follow each other with the fatal regu- larity of fires. .I Mr. Charles Dickens had a narrow escape. He was in the train, bat fortunately received no injuries whatever. The disaster, it is thought, would have been even greater had it not been for the unusual amount of break-power incorporated with the train. In addition to the ordinary leverage power exerted in the three guards' vans, there were patent breaks as well, of the kind known as Cremer's, an American in- vention, supposed to possess properties of peculiar value in arresting the progress of a train. With the exception of one of the guards, who re- ceived contusions, and of the engineer and fireman, who were shaken but not otherwise hurt, the company's servants escaped miraculously, so that in this case there will be no difficulties in the way of a searching inquiry, such as are commonly encountered when death has withdrawn one of the witnesses whose evidence might be most material. The police have taken into custody the foreman of the gang of plate- layers, responsible for the condition of the portion of the line at which the accident occurred. It will, of course, be matter for inquiry hereafter whether the plate was, in fact, improperly removed and the acci- dent thereby occasioned; whether the flag protecting the operations of the platelayers was sent back to a sufficient distance, and there placed so that it could ,be seen by the engine-driver. Another Account. The train in question left Folkestone at half-past two on Friday afternoon, with upwards of one hun- dred passengtirs, the majority of whom, it would ap- pear, were persons well to do in the world, coming from Paris, after pleasure toars, by way of Boulogne. Daly leaving Folkestone it ran its even course until it had passed Headeorn, and had arrived at what is generally known as the Stour Bridges," which are situated about a mile and a half from the station, and about an equal distance from Staplehurst, at which spot the accident happened. Here the line, as far as the eye can reach south and east, is perfectly level, and apparently as straight as an arrow, running on an embankment some four or five feet high. The bridge over which the carriages were thrown is about 140 feet long, and is supported by six stone piers. It spans what may be termed a rivulet in the summer, but during the rains of winter it becomes a formid- able current. At the present moment, however, it presents more the appearance of a deep muddy ditch, overgrown with weeds. The fall from the bridge to this ditch is about fifteen feet, the breadth of the ditch about fifty feet. It would appear that during the last few weeks the Stour Bridges have been under repair that is, new balks' or timber girders have been substituted for old ones without stopping the ordinary traffic of the line. Two of these bridges had been successfully completed; indeed, as far as the substitution of the timber was concerned, this also was completed; but it so happened that, just as the finishing touch was being given to this, which necessitated the removal of a portion of the rail, the hapless. train, travelling at good speed, appeared in the distance, and, to the con- sternation and horror of the unfortunate platelayers (the foreman of whom is now in custody), the train dashed into this small gap, and eight out of the four. teen carriages of which (inclusive of the break, lug- gage, and guard's vans) it consisted were precipitated over the bridge, carrying death and destruction in its fall. ThenensRed such a scene of agony and bewilder- ment as is happily but rarely witnessed. The engine and tender, together with the guard's van, leapt, as it were, over the vacant space, but the former then ran off the rails into a hedge, while the centre portion of the train, some eight carriages, toppled over the bridge, leaving the two end carriages of the train erect on the lines, thus forming by the coupling chains a support at either end, and presenting a rugged. and fearfuloutline of a semicircular form. One carriage crushed so upon the other that those unfortunate creatures who were un- dermost were either crushed or suffocated in the muddy stream. At the end of the bridge next to Sbaplehurst the engines and tender lay partly turned over against the hedge. Immediately behind the tender stood the break van, a few pacei; back, sus- pended as it were from the top of the bridge, with one end buried in the ditch. Below was a first-class car- riage. On the other end of the bridge stood upon the line the guard's and luggage vans, altogether unjured. A little in front were two second-class carriages, with one end resting on the bridge and the other in the ditch, in just the same position as the first-class. Be. tween these the six first. class carriages lay crushed and huddled together. From every one piercing cries were heard, and in more than one a wife lay dead by the side of her husband. Every effort was made to rescue the sufferers, bat it was not till fully two hours had elapsed that this was accomplished. The Inquest. A jury was empannelled at the Railway Hotel on Saturday afternoon, before Mr. Reve, the coroner, for the purpose of taking evidence of identification of the different bodies, to admit of their interment without unnecessary delay. The Rev. Mr. Moore having been elected foreman, and the jury severally sworn, they in company with Mr. Eborall, the traffic manager; Mr. Knight, the traffic superintendent; Mr. Harris, deputy superin- tendent and other railway officials, proceeded in a special train to the scene of the accident. Here they devoted some considerable time in minutely examining the presumed cause and the result of the accident, and were materially aided in the course of their investiga- tion by the officials present, who spared neither pains nor labour to give them the fullest possible informa- tion. The jury subsequently returned to the Staplehurst Station, and after viewing the bodies, which lay in an adjacent shed, returned to the inquest-room, when some preliminary evidence was taken, and an adjourn- ment took place until Monday. The following is a list of the killed :— Mrs. Amelia Rayner, aged thirty-seven, the wife of a Liverpool meroharit. Mrs. Bodenham, aged twenty-eight, the wife of a voung solicitor of Hereford, who, with the deceased lady, was on his way home after spending his honey- moon on the Continent, and who, although seated by her side at the time of the accident, escaped un- scathed. Mrs. Lydia Whitby, twenty-eight years of age, the wife of a merchant living in St. James's-square. Miss Caroline White, a lady forty-five years of age. Mrs. Faithful, the wife of an Indian judge, who at the present time is on his homeward voyage. A young and richly-attired lady, supposed to be a Misa Beaumont, on her way to London to be married. Mrs. Condliff, who was seatedóby the side of her husbanil when she was killed. Mr. Adam Hampson, a surgeon, forty-one years of age, of Bolton-le-Moors. Mr. James Dunn, warehouseman, of 333, City-road, and a French gentleman at present unidentified. Among those more or less severely injured are the following:— Major Francis; Mr. Condliff; Mr. and Mrs. Ralph, Ranelagh-street, Liverpool; Mr. Hunt, 20, Cannon- ireet West; Miss Alexander, Sunnyside, Liverpool; e Rev. Mr. Eland, Vicar of Bedminster, near Bristol;. Mrs. Eland, wife of the above; Miss Ealas, The Mall, Clifton; Miss Bertha Alleyne, Litfield- place, Clifton; Mr. Moss Defries, No. 147, Houns. ditch; Ms. Lloyd Rayner; Miss White Harmer and Miss Caroline Harmer Aclolphe Henri Roussell; Charles Landour, No. 4, Agai,, ,street, Strand; Miss Caroline- Harris, 51, FarrmgdoB street; Misa Sata Harrisj, aiece of tha above. The inquest was resumed on Monday, when Mr. Lawrence Mercer, the guard of the tidal train, was examined at great length, after which the Coroner Ul- timated that as they would have to, examine the plate- layers who were acting under the prisoner, tho super- intendent, and the signalman at Headeorn, to show the time at which the train passed that station, the Go- vernment inspector who had examined the spot where the accident happened, and some other witnesses, it would be desirable to adjourn, and after some discus- cussion the proceedings were further adjourned to Friday.. In the morning Henry Benge, the platelayer, who had been in custody since Friday evening, was brought up before Mr. Tooth, the magistrate, at Cranbrook, charged, under the General Railway Act with neglect of duty, and thereby causing the catastrophe. The proceedings were merely pro forma, and resulted in the remand of the prisoner. It is stated that two gen- tlemen have offered themselves as bail for Benge, who, it appears, bears a very good character, and has been for the last sixteen months a teetotaller.
APPALLING RAILWAY ACCIDENT.
APPALLING RAILWAY ACCIDENT. Ten Persons Killed. An aocident of the most frightful character took place on Wednesday at Rednal, a station on the Shrewsbury and Chester Railway. A large excursion train, consisting of thirty-two carriages, and drawn by two powerful engines, was proceeding from Liver- pool to Birmingham. The rails had been newly relaid, and a portion of them, we understand, had not been ballasted. On approaching that portion of the line the carriages began to oscillate fearfully, the train was proceeding at great speed, and the drivers, seeing the danger, attempted to draw up, but were unable to do so, and both engines dashed off the line, proceeding in opposite directions. The scene that ensued baffles all description-from 800 to 900 persons were in the train, and the shrieks, cries, and groans of the poor creatures were most heartrending. The engines and a great portion of the carriages were smashed to atoms. One of the stokers was killed, and one of the drivers seriously injured. When the mangled bodies of the passengers were got out it was found that seven men and women and two children were killed, and about fifty persons, including men, women, and children, were more or less injured, the greater portion of them very seriously. The bodies of the dead, who in most cases were fright- fully disfigured, were removed to the goods shed, while those who were injured were sent on to Shrewsbury. The news iu the meanwhile had flown like wildfire through the town, and when the train bearing the wounded passengers arrived at the station many thousands of persons had congregated there and in the vicinity, some to look after friends supposed to be among the list of killed or injured, while others were attracted thither in the hope of being useful to the sufferers. A large number of stretchers were at once got in requisition, and the great bulk of the sufferers were carried to the Salop Infirmary, but it was found that accommodation could not be had for the whole, and several were taken to hotels and private houses. Most of the medical men in the town at once went to the infirmary and offered their welcome services, and the regular staff of the infirmary were engaged during the whole of the night in dressing the wounds and otherwise alleviating the agonie3 of the sufferers. The accident is said to have been caused by some platelayers, who were repairing the line, having been unable before the accident to replace the keys they had withdrawn, allowing the rails to away and fro. The Great Western Railway Company on Friday announced that there were four bodies of persons, evidently proceeding to London, still lying unclaimed at the Redaal Station. A lady, 5 feet 2 inches, age about 25, round features, hair dark brown, white petticoat with deep needlework and four tucks, new cashmere boots, a plain wedding ring, a flat keeper ring, a dress ring with white stone. A man 5 feet 6 inches, age about 35, bald on top of the head, light brown hair, thin sandy whiskers, slight moustache and imperial; dress—black cloth trousers and vest, white shirt, and flannel waistcoat, elastic side boots found on him a common finger ring, a white handker- chief, knife, and small key, a silver watch, engraved on inside cover, on back, "J.Myers, Westminster-road, No. 3,541," two railway tickets, return halves Liverpool to Paddington. A little boy, 2ft. 9in. high, about two years and a half old, round features, light brown hair, grey eyes, white socks, elastic side boots, a white petticoat with needlework, and a second one plain, a white jean frock with black ribbon. The above are supposed to be husband, wife and child. And a girl, 4ft., age about eight years, light hair, light eyes, a pair of thick boots, (newly soled), black stockings, green frock, and light linsey, one red petticoat, with black stripes linsey. A telegram from Shrewsbury the same night says:—"The man, woman, and child have been identified as Charles Allen and family, seal engraver, of 9, Denmark-street, London. All bodies have now been identified." The papers received from the North contain some affecting details respecting the sufferers. Mrs. Shaw, daughter of Mr. Hedge, chartermaster, of Moseley Hole, was found lying beneath a huge piece of timber. With the aid of a bar the timber was raised, but when with difficulty the body was drawn oat, it was found to be fearfully shattered, bat lifeless. By her side was found the corpse of her daughter, a little girl, in such a fearfully bruised and broken condition that in very pity splinters were collected from the general wreck and cast upon the bodies of mother and child, to hide them from the harrowing gaze of husband the and father, who, kneeling beside them, exclaimed in agonising accents, 0 God, Thy will be done; but it is terrible-it is hard, hard to bear! Near by lay Mr. William Bond, lock manufacturer, of Wolver- hampton, whose leg was broken; he, however, begged the friends to heed him not; but to look to poor Tom. This was Mr. Thomas Siveter, brass caster, of Bell-street, Wolverhampton, with whom he hadbeen sittinginthesamecarriage. Hffhad beenfound amid the ruins of the fourth carriage by Mr. Cooper The only external injury he exhibited was a deep cut above the eyes, but he had been jammed about his loins and stomach, and it was .evident at once that he had sustained internal injuries that must prove fatal. Close by lay a passenger from London, with a broken limb, and suffering from a severe shock to the system, his two sisters crying piteously by his side. All round the scene was fearful; and the objects pitiful. Here a man, with the skin and part of the flesh of one of his cheeks hanging from his face, dashed past in search of his wife; while, there, a woman, pale, wounded, and her clothes almost torn from her body, was crying piteously in search of her husband. It was not tne least affecting part of the scene to see stout, hard-featured men, with buckets of warm water from the dismantled engine, washing gently the faces of women, and with gentle words seeking to dispel their terrors, or assuage their grief. On arriving at Shrews- bury, Mr. Owen telegraphed to a friend the condition of. Mr. Siveter, and requested that friend to accom- pany him by the train from Shrewsbury. Mrs. Siveter left by the 6.6 p.m. train; but her husband had breathed his last. He died conscious of his ap. proaching end, his resignation as to the future being disturbed but by thoughts of his family, expressed by frequent repetitions of, Oh, my poor children! of whom ho leaves six to lament his untimely loss. He was forty years of age, and had but comparatively re- cently entered upon a business that bade fair to be a very prosperous one. A painful sight was an infant crawling to the breast ox its dying mother. A youn^ man procured a bottle of brandy from a lady pas°- senger, and applied it to the lips of those who were suffering until the above store had become exhausted. Tasting it, one man, who seemed unconscious, revived, with an exclamation of, "Thank God! Amongst those who were the most injured, without being dead, was a gentleman living in Star-street, Clerkenwell. He said he had a wife and five children, whose ad- dresses he gave at the same time as he dictated a tele- gram to be sent to his wife, apprising her in cautious terms of his accident. At the same time he dictated his will, instructing his property to be equally divided. Both his legs had been taken off. An inquest was held on the bodies on Friday and Saturday, when the evidence of a number of witnesses was taken, and Captain Tyler, the Government in- spector, was examined, he having previously over- hauled and thoroughly inspected the engines of the excursion train preparatory to giving hia evidence. On the conclusion of hia. examination the Coroner j summed up, attributing the accident to thg "gross and negligent conduct of the railway officials." Having then read over all the evidence to the jury, and instructed them as to what constituted man- slaughter, the jury were locked up,.and after about an hour returned the following verdict:—"We find a ? verdict of Accidental Death. We find.that there was great blaine attached to the aSiciala- oi the Great I Western Railway Company in not providing sufficient break power before leaving Chester and in not pro- viding bstter carriages and engines in this excursion train. We consider that the enginemen were guilty of gross and culpable negligence in not attending to the signal put up by the platelayers, and we believe that the enginemen were going at too great a speed over a defective portion of the line between Babins Wood Bridge and the scene of the accident; and we thind that the platelayers are also guilty of gross ank culpable negligence in not properly and sufficiently packing the sleepers so as to make them secure enough to bear so heavy a train as the excursion train at the pace the train was then going." Mr. Grierson then said: I need scarcely say, on behalf of the directors, that this unfortunate accident will be a source of the deepest regret to them, and with regard to the verdict, which will of course be laid before them, I may state, particularly with respect to the first portion of it, that the directors are, if possible, more anxious than the public can be to provide for the safe and efficient working of the line, and that ever since the present beard has been in office, which has not been long, they have devoted the greatest amount of attention and anxiety to the subject, with the view of preventing such unfortunate occurrences as these, and they have authorised the construction of continuous breaks to the trains, which are the most efficient for the purpose of stopping them under ordinary circum- stances, and particularly in special cases such as the present. Some of them are already attached to the trains, and others are being constructed as early as possible. They have also authorised the ex- tension of the telegraph arrangements over the line, the application of the improved looking apparatus to the signals and points, and generally the most im- proved means calculated to ensure the safe and efficient working of the line, as shown to be desirable and ne- cessary by experience, and as recommended by Cap- tain Tyler and the other Government inspectors; but of course in a large system like the Great Western it requires time to carry these improvements out; but I can assure the jury, and through them the public, that everything will be done by the directors that is pos- sible to ensure safety and comfort on their lines. The proceedings then terminated.
A SUPPOSED BURGLAR SHOT BY…
A SUPPOSED BURGLAR SHOT BY A SURGEON. The Inquest. An inquest was held on the body at Mile-end Work- house, before Mr. John Humphreys, the Middlesex coroner. The first witness examined was Francis Keys, 11, Heath-street, Mile end, a me- chanic, who said that he knew the deceased, who was a painter. He was a married man. His wife and family used to live in Plymouth. He lived at No. 11, Sfcepney-causeway. He came to witness's house on Monday morning last, and they both went out drink- ing. He left witness's house at eleven o'clook, drunk. Witness ordered him out, but did not put him out. The back of witness's house was separated from Heath- house by tho garden wall, which was some 18 or 20 feet high. He had been keeping comoany with my sister. He lived with her at one tim* and she had a child by him. He used to visit her nearly every night. There was no quarrel that night. He did not express a wish to stay. He left by the front door. We turned k-im out because he was drunk. Mr. James Forbes Sergeant said: I am assistant to Mr. Dabenham, and I live in his house. I sleep in the front of the house. The first thing that attracted my attention was Mr. Debenham's coming into my room", and telling me that some one was in the garden. I jumped out of bed and followed him into his bedroom. I do not exactly know the hour; it was about twelve, or a little later. When I got into the bedroom Mr. Debenham was looking out of the window. I looked out a,nd saw a black mass, but could not be certain whether it was a man. Mr. Debenham said, "If you don't speak I will shoot you," or words to that effect. He gave quite time enough for an answer, and he then fired towards the man. Tke click of the pistol at first was quite clear and distinct. I heard it; it was quite loud. When the shot was fired Mr. Debenham said that he bad hit the man. I saw him lying on the ground. Whether he was dead or shamming to be dead I could net say; we had no means of knowing. Mr. Dsbenham was not dressed. He said that we had better go to the police. Neither of us went down to the man to see if he was shot; not until after the po. lice came. When I first saw the blaok mass it seemed as if the man was standing crouching against the wall. Mr. Debenham went for the police, and came back with four officers. I told them," He is just round that corner, if he be there." Mr. Robert Debenham, examined by Mr. Lewis, said that when he fired his pistol he did not for one moment think he was going to hit any man. He fired in the man's direction, but he thought he fired above him. Witness was awoke by the noise as if of a window being thrown up. When he looked out there was no one stirring, but he went back a yard or two, and the noise began again. After the shot witness examined the premises, and having satisfied himself that Mr. Sergeant would be safe, he gave him the revolver and went for the police. A pieoe was struck out of the wall. If the bullet had not struck the wall and re- bounded the man would not have been hit. His premises had been frequently attempted. He believed that, deceased was a burglar. The Coroner then summed up, and said that the homicide was not justifiable, or even exousable. The act of homicide was by law murder, if it was not re- duced by circumstances to the lesser crime of man- slaughter, or shown to be necessary and justifiable. If the deceased had been inside the house, loaded with plunder, and resisted capture, and in the melee had been killed, the homicide would be justifiable; but surely it would not be justifiable to kill a man, even if he were a felon, while he was outside a house, and the occupant safe within it. But in the present case there was no pretence whatever for supposing that deceased was a felon. No sufficient pains were taken to ascertain why the man was in the garden, although ample means were at hand. Mr. Debenhara had himself admitted that he intended to hit the man when he fired the shot; he only averred that he had no wish to kill him. The case, in point of law, clearly amounted to one of manslaughter. The court was then cleared. After half an hour's deliberation, the jury returned the following verdict" That on the night of June the 6th, the deceased was found dead in the garden of Heath-house, having been killed by a pistol shot, fired by one Robert Debenham; and that the said shot was fired only with the view of alarming the deceased." Tne verdict, which seemed to create some surprise in court, was received with a few hisses, which were promptly suppressed. The court was densely crowded throughout the pro- ceeding, a large number of gentlemen of the medical profossion being present.
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Dreadful Case ot Burning.-—A woman named Watson, residing in Collier-street, Southampton-street, Pentonvillo, was standing in front of the stove washing her children, when, owing to her crinoline over- hanging the fender, her clothing became ignited, and she was quickly enveloped in flames.. Her screams brought assistance, and the fire was_exting^uished; but the poor creature was so terribly burnt that she was obliged to be removed to the hospital, where she lies in a most precarious condition. Armstrong aT1,d report of tho Armstrong and Whitworth Committee (whose proceedings would appear interminable), which we have already noticed, was based upon the experiments with the field guns. That report, as we stated, some- what inclined towards the Whit worth principle, and was referred to tne consideration of three distinguished artillery officers^ The terms of the report of the com- mittee conveyed to the minds of the authorities to whom it was submitted a stronger bias in favour of the Whit worth gun than the framers of the report in- tended. The committee is still continuing its experi- ments mth the 70-pounders, and these will not be con- cluded for several weeks. They go far to alter even the modified opinion of the last report, and are sub- stantially m favour of Sir William Armstrong's sys- tem. JN o final decision could ever be expected from a competition between two systems only when so many inventors are in the field; but the experience gained will be of immense value, and will, with trials that are being carried on at Shoeburyness, within no lengthened period give data to the scientific men at the head of the manufacturing departments at Woolwich for pro- ducing a gun combining to the greatest degree the practical advantages obtained by a detailed labour and expense which no other country has yet attempted. We may also mention that Major Palliser's labours in the improvement of rifled ordnance have met with so much success that Sir Wj lliam Armstrong is consider- ing how far the system which he suggests is capable of practical adaptation.—The Owl.