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Explosions in Collieries.—On Monday, the re-
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THE ALLEGED DEATH FROM MILITARY FLOGGING AT HOONSLOW . Yesterday morning , at half-past nine o ' clock , tbt inquiry into the cause of the death of John Frederick ¦ White , private in the 7 th Hussars , were resumed at the George the Fourth , en the Hounsbtv Heath , before Mr . Waklej , the coroner for Middlesex . Mr . Mills officiated in his capacity as deputy coroner . The roost intense interest appeared to pemoa the proceedings . Some of the magistrates of the county , residing in the neighbourhood , were present , and many f the regimental authorities . "
In opening the adjourned inquest , Mr . Wafcley said that he had received a letter , which referred to the matter before them . It appeared to contain a statement of facts , and therefore he thought it should be read to the jury . What the result of the readingand ot the evidence lie might produce in consequence he ( the coroner ) did not know . The letter was then put in and read . Subjoined is a COBV * r » ,-With a view to the furtherance of the ends of justice , by searching investigation , I submit the followingcirWnistances to your consideration knowing that I cannot place them in better hands . On Menday morning last , at eight o ' clock , the 27 th instant , the son of Mr . Gomm . the newsman of Brentford , wasm Fleet-strtet with his papers , in his cart , coming home , towards
JBrantfonl , when a soldier of the 7 th Hussars , or Queen ' s O « va asked him to g ive him a lift , as he wanted to get to Hounslow in time for the inqaest . The boy told him to get into the cart , and hastened his speed , seeing the soldier was afraid he should be too late . On the road the soldier told young Gomm that about the commencement of . the inquest he waB told he might have a furlough for fire weeks , if he liked to go and see his friends , which ho accepted . When he arrived in Kent among his friends , and told them what he knew nosutthe flogging of White , his friends told him he ought to be at the inqaest to state what he knew to the jury , and they made a subscription to furnish him with money to defraying expenses , and he came to London from Sent on the Sunday by a van . During this conversation they had got to Kensington Barracks . Asoldier seeing this other soldier
in the cart , called out , saying , ' Well , how are you getting on at the inquest ! ' As they were coming into B tmmersmith . a Serjeant from Kensington barracks , on horseback , came after them at full speed , and called out to young Gomm , * Stop , I command yoa , or I Trill Immediately give you . both into custody . He { the Serjeant ) -after he had stopped the cart , inquired of persons passing by where the station house was , and was informed it was up the lane . He then ordered foaag Gomm to turnout of the road , and drive up to the station house , -which the bny did , but when they got near it , the Serjeant -told the soldier , if he would go quietly back to the barlacks , he would not fire him hi charge to the police : tut if he attempted to run away , he ( tlte Serjeant ) would
gallop over him . The boy was then permitted to come home with bis cart and papers . The Serjeant and soldier , he supposes , returned to Kensington Barracks , and I tare not heard anything further what became of the soldier , whether he is in prison or at large . I have just heard thesoldiers at the barrack called him by the same of Simmons . . Yours , « fcc , ( Signed ) " T . JTobminios " " O ! d Brentford , August 1 , 1846 . " To T . Wakley , Esq ., M . P . " The first , witness called was James Howe , a private in the 7 th Hussars . He left the barracks on Saturday last ty the permission of the commanding officer . He had « ave to go out of town .
Sid you see White flogged , or do you know anything about it ? So , sir . Were yon in the barracks at the time f I was not on parade , because I had no clothes . Witness was at the time a deserter , having gone away without leave from the regiment , to see his mother in K _> nt . The coroner to Mr . Norminton ( who was in the room , —Did you receive the account of this matter from the boy himself i . Mr . Sbrminton . —I had it from his father . '
John Gomm , tho newsboy , was then called . He said teat he saw the soldier in Fleet-street . ( The witness here identified the soldier Howe . ) Witness was proceeding with bis papers near Kensington , towards the stationlouse , when the Soldier met him andaelsed him to give lim a ride in the cart . A sergeant came up and ordered the man to stop or he would ride over him . The sol-¦ dier said he was going to the inqaest to state all he knew . Howe recalled . —Bid not see the man White . Had no clothes at the time of the flogging . Colonel Whyte entered the room shortly before the recall of Howe . The Colonel was attended by a considerable number of officers , and several of the surgeons connected with the regimental staff of the 7 th Hussars .
John Barley , lanee-serjeant , 7 th Hussars , being sworn , deposed that he made a complaint on the 1 st of Jane , against WAite the deceased . Witness made that complaint to William Russell , the Serjeant . White struck him ( witness ) on the breast with 3 poker . This took place at the barrack-room , in Hampton Court . Witness was at that time orderly Serjeant of the troop where the prisoner slept . At nine o ' clock witness went round to call the roll . This was the first roll call . " White answered to his name . Witness saw decease ! then . On going round the second time , on account of some of the men being absent , witness saw White wiili the poker in his hand . Witness ordered deceased to pui down the poker two or three times , but he ( deceased ) would not obey his ( witness ' s ) orders . Witness then
ordered the orderly corporal to get a file of men and confine him ( deceased . ) Immediately afterwards witnes > was struck with the poker . . Recovering himself witness ran eut of the room and called the Serjeant of the guard Deceased was then taken to the guard-rcom . Was laid up three days in consequence of thp treatment- White did not speaK one word to him ( witne ;) bsfore deceased strnck the blow . White was on friendly terjis with him ( witness . ) Did not know that White had the least ill will towards him . White was aot in the habit ef beinp so far intoxicated as not to know what he was about . Relieved White to he of an odd disposition , and he ( ivitliess ) had hearJ that he had quarrelled with Temple , one < of theserjeauts . White pleaded guilty at the Court mar tia ) , at which witness gave evidence .
The coroner here stated , specially addressing the Jury , Ihatit was the duty of the jury to understand most distinctly , at this stage of the proceedings , that there could tie no doubt as to the legality of ttie punishment inflicted by the sentence of the Court martial upon White . Bj the Act of Parliament and the Articles of War , it wasquite clear that if a private struck his superior officer , he was to he s-jljtCted to trial , and if found guilty , to be sentenced to the- iufliction of certain punishment . In this case itt was quite clear that the deceased did strike Darley , the lance Serjeant , while in the execution of hi ? duty . Eisworth ' s evidence was conclusive on this point . Deceased was , therefore , legally sentenced to the iufliction of 150 lashes , the Articles of War specifying that that number might be given .
Alexander Wrfcht , Serjeant in the 7 th , was next called . He deposed that he knew the handwriting of prlvatt-White ( deceased . ) Recognised in a letter which he held in his hand the handwriting of the deceased . The post mark upon it was JIuunslow . It was dated the 29 th of June , l&MJ . It was directed to Mr . Yf . T . White , Postoffice , Leeds .. By the Coroner . —Can yon read the letter?—Yes , Sir . The witness then read the letter of which the following is a copy : — "Barracks , Hounslow , June 25 , 1816 .
"Dear Brother , —I am really ashamed to write after so long a silence , but conscience pricking me for neglect to you and mother , compels me to say something added to the cause of necessity of sending you a letter from Tom , who wrote to me and of course requires an answer , and how to send it bothers me nvjst confoundedly . Be Hud enough to dispatch it when the mail leaves . He states to me that you received a letter before me , and I think yon might have sent me more , but I suppose you thought to punish me for not writing . If the direction is not right , please alter it for me . I am very uuwell , and have gone ' through a great deal of trouble since you beard from me l ast , and feel disgusted with the service , but yon need not tell mother so , for she would only fret . I hope you are all well by tins time . Cive xoy best love to sister and mother . I had formed a resolution to commit mischief , but , tlumk God , I linxe for the present altered my mind . I have not the confidence in myself 1
us * d to have . My star of dcstinj frowns at me , and every thing goes wrong . Your letters give me consolation generally , but I cannot resolve to read them always , for 1 am very near approaching to lunacy at times . I am an old man now to what I was , and uhat a fetv more years trill make of me I am afraid to guess at . Write to me soon , and give me a word how natters are going on at Leeds , for yon are the only person I correspond with now . I have not seen Londonjet , nor shall I unless I change my mind , every one of them are lust to me now . Again , I hope yon will keep quiet to mother that I am ill , for her sake . Give my respects to JIaehin , Wliitford , and Kipple . Ton must excuse my faults and forgive my feelings fur I cannot help them , my fate trills my proceedings , and I must go with the tide . My paper is short , and I must cut short my tale of woe , and lesume my most horrid and wretched duty of a soldier . God be with you , and prosper you , and in your prayers remember
"Your affectionate Brother , ( Signed ) "Fmdebick Jous White . " Wright ' s examination then closed . Mr . Clark then put the following questions to the hospital-serjeant Potter : — 1 st . When was it that White got up after the flogging I Answer . —He was flogged on the 15 th of June , and got np on the 20 th . He got up and walked about the ward , He did not seem to have much the matter with him ex-C . pt his back . 2 d . Did not White do worfc out of the hospital a few days after he was flogged ! Answer . —He could not say what day positively , but he remembered on the ensuiug Saturday White washed out the outhouse . He did this perfectly voluntarily . Witness offered to assist him , but lie ( deceased ) would not allow him to do so .
3 d . After the 25 th did he not go out with the other patients into the square ? Answer—To the best of witness ' s knowledge he did . The Coroner here intimated that there wa s a seriou , discrepancy iu the witness ' 8 statement , he had befuii : said it was a fortnight before he ( deceased ) got out . Serjeant Potter said that he had remembered the mistake and wished now to rectify it ,
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Mr . William Henrj Hughes second Cl . rk from the Jnd 8 . Ad « K » . Aa ^ . J ^ tfc «* to «" * J ^ £ Judge Advocate , Mr . Boiler , to attend atth » C ^ rt « Uh he original Court Martial , the approval f * ° f ~" ngs , and the confirmation of the sentence by his Grace he Commander-in-Chief . . „„„„ , „_ , limw i The Coroner -By whom is the document signed . Witness—By the Adjutant-General . The Coroner . -Read the proceedings . Mr . Hughes then read the whole of the papers , which were ver y lengthy * It appeared that at the trial White put in a document in mitigation of punishment , in which he attributed the violence of his couflutt towards Serjeant Daily to the ' drink he had taken , which deprived him of all controul over , himself , and obliterated from his memory all those feelings of respect which had , up to that time , always influenced his conduct . "
At this stage of the proceedings the Coroner commenced reading the depositions of the several witnesses . All the medical men interested in the inquiry being present . Alter signing his deposition , private Cook stated , in answer to inquiries by the Coroner , that on Friday morning last ( the 21 st ) , about a quarter past ten o ' clock , he was on muster parade , when he was called out by the Lieut .-Col . ( Whyte ) , who said to him , " How , Mr . Cook , I wish to speak to you with regard to tie testimony you gave at the last inquest . " The Lieutenant-Colonel then said he hadmade inquiries with regard to the trumpeters flogging in other cavalry regiments , and he was informed such was not the case . Upon which tho Lieutenant-Adjutant made a remark , " No , sir , and never was ; " upon which L ' eutenaiit-Colonel Whyte made answer , " Oh ,
yes , I find upon inquiry that such a case took placo about 15 years ago : " to which witness made answer that the 1 st Dragoon Guards flogged by trumpeters , and that he understood other regiments did the same . The Lieut-Colonel then said , " Such is not the ease ; you have as nearly committed perjury as d—n it . "— ( Sensation . )—He then turned towards a trumpeter—said I had called Luke Bust •« a boy" and Taylor " a boy . " WitncsB understood this to apply to his former evidence . He said , " You endeavoured to . throw a misconception over tbe whole affair . " He also said , " I find there has been less punishment in the 7 th Huisavs than any regiment in the service . " And that is what J stated in my evidence . This was all that passed . The , whole of the men were nn parade . The Colonel cpJled out another man from the ranks . Mattbeirson was "called out as well as he
( witness ) was . Lieut .-Colonel Whyte then said he was anxious to state why he had said anything upon Mat occasion . It was Matthew-son ' s conduct which had compelledhim tospeak upon the subject . The Coroner said that this was not the fit time . The Lieut .-Colonel , however , should have an opportunity to explain . ¦ When Private Skinner was called upon to sign his deposition he said , in answer to the Coroner , that Whyte , the deceased , complained to him that he had a burning pain in the chest in consequence of the punishment he had received upon his back . By the Coroner ( emphatically ) . —Have you even the shadow of a doubt upon your mind as to those being the words deceased used I Skinner . —I have not .
Private Cook corroborated the former , and substantiated the testimony he had previously given , adding that Dr . Warren had said to deceased in his presence , " Clieer up ; you may make a good soldier yet . " Whyte said i n his ( Cook ' s ) hearing that the " Lash was the cause of bis renewed illness . " Witness was a patient in the same ward . Private Matthewson reiterated tbe whole of his farmer statement , adding , that before he was flogged , indeed , before he was tried by court-martial , when examined , the Dr . ( Warren ) asked him whether he ( Matthewson ) had
any complaint to make , and he ( Matthewson ) said "No . " He was charged , convicted ,. and punished within five hours . ( Senratiou . ) Skinner , Hooper , and SI'Cloud , where in the hospital at the time the doctor came in . He believed also that Clark and Billings were present , The Colonel had released him from punishment since he was last before the inquest . He served two days short of the time he was ordered to be confined . He ( Matthewsou ) very frequently , while in the hospital , converged with deceased . They were fellow sufferers in the hospital , both of them having been flogged .
A long questioning of this witness then took place with reference to the dates of the entries in the medical book , and the statements of Matthewson on a former occasion , when considerable difficulty appeared in consequence of want of agreement in tbe evidence . 'On tbe Saturday after White came to the hospital he was well and cheerful ; but here some discrepancy occurred , for on that day it was stated in tbe medical book that the entry was" Patient complained of pain in the region of the heart . " The inquiry was then adjourned lor one hour and a half . Upon the return of the Jury to the inquest-room the Coroner intimated that the ladder was in the yard of the inn , if the jurymen were anxious to see it , and have the mode of tying explained by the farricr-maior .
The ladder , one of the broad-step kind , was fixed obliquely against a wall in the yard . The farrier-major then produced a large nail , which is inserted so as to fasten the ladder to the wall is then inserted on each side of the ladder , through which a strong rope is put , to which a nooze is attached , through which the hands are fastened . The feet are then fastened , n cloak being tirst laid upon the ladder for the prisoner of war to lean against . When the Jury had re-assembled , Lieutenant-Colonel Whyte said , that he wished to say one word to the Cormier respecting a matter which had just taken place . While the adjutant had been explaining tlie mode of punishment , one of the jurors ( a Mr . Drouet , he believed ) , said , addressing Ireland , tlte adju cant , "Many a man has been brought to the ladder through you . Sir . " He ( Lieutenant-Col . Whyte ) considered this a most improper and uncalled for remark , and not only uncourteous , but also unjust , even under any
circumstances . The Coroner . —It was an unfortunate remark , certainly . The question , however , is , was the man fixed on the ladder in the position described ! A Juror . —JIaithewson says he was not . Tke Coroner thought he might here say what he had perhaps better state , that , he did not find iu the Act of Parliament , or in the army regulations , any rules either as to the manner of flogging , the length of the bandies of the * ' cats , " the weight of the whip , the number of knots , nor anything referring to any instructions , either to the colonel , the medical officers , or the men . Hud Dr . Warren any written or printed regulations ? Dr . Warren . —There is none in the British army . — 'Laughter . )
Mr . Clark , solicitor . —We have nothing , Mr . Coroner , beyond what are called the " accustomed regulations . " The Coroner ( to Dr . Warren . )—Have you any instructions , Doctor ! Dr . Warren . —No , I have none . The Coroner . —Has Colonel Whyte any remark to make ! Lieut-Colonel Whyte . —No . Upon Blsworthy ' s evidence being read over to him he said in explanation of his former statement , that the commanding officer had recommended him for pvouautum , that
he was down for promotion when the regiment was in Ipswich . His name was on acard , and opposite his name W 3 S inserted , " Recommended by Lieutenant Colonel Whyte . " He , witness had besn " boated" in the regiment by ordor of the sergeant . They call it" boating , " but he ( witness ) called it flogging . He was sentenced to receive five dozen stripes . After this he was so ashamed that he could not look up . He , in consequence , deserted , but b y the advice of bis friends he returned again to tlui regiment . He was appointed to assist the cook of the room , but bocause he did not please the " cook , " he was ordered the five dozen .
The evidence of other parties were then read over , and Farrier Major Critton was examined . —He was present at the court martial , and on the parade in the riiingscliooJ , where he received information to flog deceased . He brought the five whips for flogging . He maile the whips , and usually keeps them locked in a box at the veterinary surgeon ' s shop . Two of them , he believed , were dark , and tbe others had light bandies . Never received any instructions as to tLe moiie of making them . They say that one or two of them arc thicker iu the lash than the others , but witni ss did not think they were any heavier . There bad not buvn any man punished with the dark-bandied " cats" these two years . Tho whip he commenced and finished with ho would identify . One only was used . [ The witness here identified the " cat" he used . ) The Coroner pointed out that some of the " cats" hail nine knots , others seven , and others six .
The Adjutant said that sometimes the knots became untied ; and then thuy are retiod , und some , perhaps , left undone , if they are not attended to . Hare you any instructions ? The Adjutant . —We have not , Mr . Clark . —We will shew you the practice shortly . The Coroner . —I hope not . There are 12 , !/ 50 knots in 159 lashes . The Adjutant . —Well , Sir , I do not make the law . I can't help Uiat . The Coroner . —Certainly not . Thu A > Ijutaut said it w ; is his duty to sec that the " cats " were all right before the men began tu flog—tiiiithe was sure of . The Coroner hero pointed out the peculiarity of the fact , that Hie majority of the kimts were double on the cat chosen as the one said to have bceu used in While ' s
case . The aajutantSdM they had got knotted bv accident , and thefarrier , Critton , said thatthcy had not been so tied by any man . He had not so tied them , and lie was certain they had never been out of his possession . Upon being again appealed tu , Critton « aid lie eouUl not swear which was the catliu h : n ! used to Hug the ileee . m-d Witness had seen old farriers ilog in Glasgow , and « lien he was first cuilcd upon to flog deceased , liu revived word from tho adjutant . Whether he was tostrikeheavy or light he did not knuw . He never Imew the doctors to iuteifere , they usually sfoo'l ju-t by at the time ., Jlv j , < ui seea mure severe punishment than in While ' s cast ' , wilh thy same number of lashes .
The CuioRur—LTuw do you account for that ? Witticss—Somu juen who aru fl- » hv slmw ; t so uiueh more Ihan others . Whitu was a span : man . Oy the Coroner—Aiv ^ ou not told where to strike ? Witness—So , I never was . Ductasoil and i : u n-eiy always very friendly , mid about a week before lw died , he
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( Critton ) had asked him ( White ) how he was , and he replied , he was getting better fast . During the last four years , he ( Critton ) had flogged three men ; The Coroner—You rise on your toes when you strike ? Witness—It is a palpable falsehood . The Coroner—Do joa strike hard—as hard as youcan ? —He did not . Ho did not consider the slow time he struck near so much punishment as in the infantry , where the infliction of the Rtripes are regulated by the beat of a drum . He ( Critton ) had never been flogged . The Coroner then read a letter from tbe brother of deceased , dated on the 1 st of August from Leeds , addressed to the former . It stated that deceased had evidenced symptons of insanity , and ' that his father wa « so before him .
The Lieutenant-Colonel then said ' that on the day before the parade for muster , when Cook stated I called him out , I then said to Matthewson in the office before Sergeant Wright , "Did the Coroner inquire whether you had been punished for any evidence at the inquest V Mathewson said "He ( the Coroner ) did . " I then said . " I beg you will dismiss from your mind all idea of punishment for any evidence given upon the inquest ; or any other man ; or that I will refer to it in nny way . " I then went on to say that he was a smart Intelligent soldier capable of anything . If jou conduct yourself well , I will always be a friend to you , if not I would punish you as I would do any other man . Your future station in tho regiment will entirely depend upon your future conduct . I w > H never refer to this . I thrn said I mean this for all of you . I inquired and found the man was under confinement , which I ordered to be done away with at once .
Mathewson , upon being questioned , admitted the foregoing to be true . Lieutenant-Colonel Whyte , in continuation , said that there was the greatest excitement the next day in the regiment 0 / this he was told by Adjutant Ireland . Ireland said the rumour was , that he , the Lieut .-Col ., had asked Mathewson the day before to take a seat , that I would make him a corporal immediately , and that when the adjutant knocked at the door , I asked Matthewson whether he had any objection to the adjutant being admitted while he was there . The men said that they wereaggreiveuat the conduct on my part in doing bo , and the adjutant assured ms . the greatest excitement exieted amongst the troops . Under these orircumstances I felt it would never do to talfc to / the * men privately , so I determined to address the men publicly ; In fact tbe men felt dissatisfied . I *> this toexpiaiu whyHold Hie men thiB matter while upon parade . ^ There was a feeling Retting abroad it wns necessary to allay .
Serjeant Wright entirely corroborated the statement of the commanding officer ! above given . Mathewson said that the statement was not true . Wright did not leave the office during any part of the conversation bstween the commanding-officer and Iraland . He thought the Lieut .- Colonel had taken advantage of his position . The seijeant was not in the room at all at the time . Of course he had not the means of proving it . The commandinfr-officer had said that ho would promote him ( Mathewson ) to a full Serjeant thai night . The Coroner . —Why didn't be , then f Mathewson . —Because I told him I would not accept it . I snid the sti ipes on my back could not be erased by the stripes I mkht have put on my arm .
Dr . Wilson was then called . He corroborated the evidence he had previously given with reference to the cause of death . With regard to the bowels , liver , and kidneys , the punishment inflicted was sufficient in this case to produce all the results here described . Such diseases as these are taking p lace in our hospitals . The secondary causes have been daily , develop ing themselves , briging out diseases of the heart and pleura . In this case the primary disease undoubtedly was the floggin . g By the Coroner . It has been strongly'insisted upon , you will remember , Mr . Wilson , by some of the witnesses , that the change for the better took place , and that the back was nearly healed . Dr . Wilson . —I do not think much of that . Frequently it is the case that patients under ' such circum . stances think themselves better , because the original disease appeared to be in a fair way of being cured . After that , disease of a further charcter appeared , and death ended die case .
Coroner . —Nov , Mr . Wilson , let me ask jou whether it is your decided , calm , and determined conviction , after all the attention you have given to the case , that John Frederick White died from tlie effects of the flog-Mr . Wilson . fMost emphatically . ) —Undoubtedly ,
. The coroner having called upon Dr . Hall personally , and invited others to put any questions to " Dr . Wilson , which they pleased , and no answer being returned , he ( the coroner ) declared the evidence to be complete . He then proceeded to charge the jury , which he did at great length . He said that in this ease endeavours had been vnnde to avoid an inquest . Ic was in evidence how the matter had reached him , and what hatl cnused the holding of the inquisition . As soon as ihe information had reached his office , he ( the coroner ) told the constable to inquire into the facts of the case . Dr ! Warren told him ( the constable ) that an inquest was not needed . Application bad also been made to the registrar for the registration of the death , as one of heart
disease . He , therefore , taking all the circumstances into consideration , must consider the whole matter to beconnectpd with rery singular circumstances . ' IJcvcr should he forget the countenances of the jurors , when they saw the body turned over upon the table . - After being re . moved from the coffin , you all appeared appalled at the Sight . The learned coroner Iben went on minutely to detail tlie whole serks of facts as developed during this protracted inquiry , making en passa nt a most pointed allusion to the fact of the matter being brought forward a few hours after the inquiry in Hounslow , twelve miles from London , in the House of Common s , where i t was statea that It had been satisfactorily shown that the man died from causes perfsctly natural . After a further extondedcharge , chiefly consisting of explanations with the
reftronce to the several examinations of the body of df ceased , had been delivered by tho worthy coroner , he then referred to tho law of the case , which he said had been surrounded by difficul ties now removed . He had no hesitation in saying the punishment was a legal punishment . The Articles of War , and the law in this case , ho must say , had been complied with , Whether the punishment was a low , cruel , and brutal punishment , or moral and humane , was not the question for them to decide ; but if the jury were of op inion that the deceased died from the effects of the blows he had received , and it was thought by themthat there had been one blow too mach struck , the punishment would have been illegal ; » 1 ! parties—those who inflicted such punishment , those who stood by , and all parties engaged , must be found guilty of manslaughter , if not of the higher crime ef murder . The grand question , then , for them to decide was , whether White hnd ( iied from natural causes , or
from the effects of the punishment . Who knew tbeforce of the shock to the human frame by the system of flogging : the skin so fine and sensitive , that the smallest prick of a needle gives acute pain indeed . So dangerous are the diseases of the skin , that even if injured to the smallest extent , the utmost clanger might be apprehended , as the history of the hospitals abundantly testify . The question in the present case was , "Has the w 6 und caused the death of Whit . ;? " And it was for them to decide whether such was the case or not ; and , iurttier , they must siy whether such disease or wounds , of which he died , were caused by the punishment he hatl received through the lash . He would leave the matter in their hands to return an impnrtial vtrdict . Tar was it from him to attempt to brand with a stvma the unfortunate individuals— -, for he called them unfortunate—who had to carry out suuh a law as the law of eorporal punishment . Riitlier let them cast thu stigma upon that monstrous and abominable law which permitted such a
practice , Thp Jury returned into Court < i quarter to one o ' clock , and ^ eHvcrciJ the following verdict;—' The Jury say that the said John White died from the fatal eiFect of a cruel and severe flogging which he received on the 15 th of June , 1846 , at the Cavalry-barracks , Heston . Th . 1 t the said flogging whs indicted under- u . Sentence passed upon him by a district Court martial , composed of officers of the 7 ih Hussars ; and that the snid Court , martial was authorised by law to pass that sentence upon him , That the llor , 'inc was so inflicted upon the back
ami neck , nnd tl \> it James Low Warren , the surgeon , and Colonel Whyte , the commanding officer of the . same reginient , were present at the flogging by which- the death of White was caused ; and in returning their verdict , the Jury cannot refrain expressing their horror and difcgust at tho existence of any law ainoufr the statutes of this realm which permits the revolting punishment of flogging on the British soldier , and the Jury implore every man in this kingdom tojoin hand and heart in praying the Legislature for the abolition of every la » v , order , or regulation , which permits this disgraceful punishment , which they consider is a slur upon humanity and the fair name of this
country . A ( ter a paus ' Mr . Wakley snid ho heartily concurred in tl .-e verdict . He hud felt it his duty to make somis inquiries of the deconscil ' s brotlurs of his ( tho deceased ' s ) state of ii . ind , and the information he then received , and the letter he hart reci-ivcd that day , strengthened him in t ic opinion that tlio deceased was in aii insane state of iniui-1 at the time he was punished . Thu Jury thon separated nt one o ' clock in tho morning . Outsidi ; the inqu-st room , during the retirement of tho ¦ Jury , the utmost excitement prevailed , even to the time the verdict was returned . The inquest room was filled fur .-i period of fifteen hours , during which the inquiry las-ted .
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THUNDEU STOKM ANI > HURUICAKB . Last Snturilny afternoon the metropolis and the metropolitan counties wore visited with one of the most awful tliumii-r am ! hail Hunus tdiit fins ncriuii / s ever been witnessed by their oldest inhabitant . iJuring the whole of the morning the heat of the ati » osi > h . ! re was very intense , and soon after noon the clouds lii-raino heavy and luuriiig , anil betokened thu np . modelling storm , but few cuiiM fancy that it would be of 6 ti Ititrful : t natui'u . At about h . ill ' -jwst three ft \ i <| iiunt penis of distant thunder wrre heiiril lo the Kouth-uwt , and every niouient thi-y sti . iMi . il in ; ip ] n'o : icli closer and closer to the mrtropuHs . Tin- lightning , which appi'aivd more like a sheet i-f ii < iiii « sre pra-rilc Hid penis of ihmidcr , flickered in sunvstinu , continuous :, mid with awful grandeur , aii ' l was followed by terrific peals of thunder . Tlnse weiv si con p-nied l > r a tlelugv ui' rain ami hail ofetlor : UQU 8
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g lie . Some were described to bo as large aswalnute The most certain proof of thesiza will be ihferred from their destructive effects and the amount of property de stroyed by them . ;
: BDCKINGIU 1 C PALACE . L > We are unable to state positively whatportion of Buckingham Palace has suffered from this terrific war of the elements , so general was the destruction . It appears that the royal picture-gallery is lighted by a skylight , con sisting of a centrepiece and sides . With the exception of a portion of the side pieceB , which is composed of engraved plate-glass , the remainder was the ordinary crown glass , but of such thickness that it was considered sufficient to resist the assault of any ordinary hailstorm . The liext portion of the Palace we have to refer to la the immense dome over the grand staircase , composed entirely of glass . Then follows the scarcely inferior gluss dome over the Ministry staircase , and ft variety of others . All Ihe 88 have been , so far as their frag ile covering was concerned , utterly destroyed , the ruthless torrent of hall and rain , irrespective alike of palaces or lmts , poured in with the force of a cataract , making the various staircases so many water / alls . The basement floor of the Palace was completely flooded .
The Picture Gallery , in which are some of . the most splendid productions of the old masters , was at one time in imminent danger , for when the large hail&tones , or rntber irregularly shaped pieces of ice , had removed all opposition to the ingress of the rain , the gallery was flooded to the depth of many inches , and the water assumed all the appearance of a natural current . No time was lost in . removing all those pictures that were liable to be injured , and we believe that in no single instance has damage been done to any one . The mote v&luabla pictures were ranged under the engraved plate glass , which successfully withstood the violence of the storm .
As soon as the rain had in some degree abated , active measures were taken to dear the various rooms and lobbies of the Palace from the water that had accumulated , and to achieve that object speedily , the services of the police stationed at the Palace were called into re . quisition , and a company of the Foot Guards were sent from the Wellington Barracks to assist ; their services were put to a severe test for more than an hour . Many thousand squares of glass are demolished , and at a rough calculation the loss in that article alone will he little short of £ 1 , 800 or ^ 2 , 000 , ¦ ¦ The parade in front of the palace , extending from the foot of Constitution-hill to James-street , Buckingham , gate , was one sheet of water , and » o deep as to render it impassable for pedestrians . ' * —¦> - ¦• -... !— ,.,...., .. ¦ ...
The deep barrel drain in . the Green . park burst from theimmense accumulation of water , and formed a , complete river to the ornamental water in the Inelosure of St . James ' s-park . Here the violence of the storm dismantled thu flower-beds , tore up tho paths , and so flooded the pastures , thatit became necessary for men to wade up to the middle to rescue the sheep that would otherwise have been drowned . The water accumulated to that depth in Bird-cage walk that it was rendered impassable to pedestrians , and almost so to vehicles . HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT .
At the Houses of Parliament fourteen men were engaged the whole of . Sunday , merely cut . ing out the pieceB of old glass left in the windows that were broken by the violence of the storm . The total number of squares demolished in the twe Houses of Parliament and Westminster Hall is upwards of . seven thousand . The Law Courts at Westminster were completely deluged with water , and the various windows broken . At Westminster Abbey very little , if any glass was broken , but the roof being under repair , the rain fell through in such bodies that several men were employed on Saturday night to bail it out , Upon inspecting- the theatre of Westminster hospital yesterday afternoon , the floor was found completely strewed wiih fragments of broken glass . The reading room of the same institution had likewise a num .
ber of squares of glass demolished , and the room laid under water . The Westminster School of Medicine in Dean-street , has suffered most severely from the storm . At MeBsrs . Cubitt ' s factory , Millbank , the damage done is considerable ; it is stated that from 12 , 000 to 14 , 000 squares of glass are demolished , independent of the damage that must ofneuessity have been caused by the rain / ailing' 3 nio the premises . Messrs . BroadwOod ' s pianoforte manufactory , in Horeeferry-road , Westminster , Is likewise extensively damaged ; one of the workmen stated that he believed nearly 8 , 000 squares of glass were broken . All th'S glass f the immense skylight belonging- to the recently-built Lecture Theatre attached to the city of Westminster Institution , in Great Smith-street , was , we regret to learn , destroyed by the storm .
THE WESTERN EXCHANGE . The greater portion of the conservatory at the Pantheon is utterly destroyed . The Western Exchange , Old Bond-street , was inundated ; the skylight , extending the whole length of the building , being broken in , the water poured into the exchange in a torrent . In the Burlington-arcade the damage was most extensive ; there are thirty-eight skylights , each containing seventy-two squares of glass , out of which there are scarcel j one dozen left entire . The Lowther-arcade also suffered severely , the shopkeepers having a great portion of their stock destroyed—it being customary for them to place their goods on the outside—the rain descending through the skylightsrenderada great portion of them valueless . Inthe Regent-street Quadrant all the skylights were demolished and persons who had taken shelter were glad to seek quarters . T he damage in tlmse places alone mufet be very considerable ; the total amount enormous , as there is scarcely a dwelling that has not suffered more or loss from the effects of this , thecreatest hail storm that has
visited the metropolis for years . Stm » EY ZOOLOOICAl OABDENS . Mr . Tyler , the proprietor of this place of amusement will be a severe sufferer , as the mischief done to his property is very considerable . The conservatory , in which the cam ! porous animals are kept , has sustained such in . jury that to repair the glass will at least cost £ 200 . This building is 100 feet in diameter , and its doomed roof , which is 300 feet in circumferenee , is covered with glass , and its sides are secured with the same material , leaving a space of about eight feet between the latter and the dens of the animals . This space , when the storm had subaided , was found covered with broken glaes to the depth of two or three inches , and scarcely a whole pane was discernable in the roof .
When the storm was at its very hig hest a singular incident occurred in this building . A noble lioness , which had been noticed for some time to be in young , beeamo most uneasy , and roared terrifically ; but i t was at first considered that this was produced by fear , as the other animals were more or less acttd on by the appearance of the vivid flashes of lightning . In a short time she gave birth to a cub lion . The keepers attended to heras well as they could , and the youthful addition to Mr . Tylei ' s stock of animals was taken care of . It is feared , however , that it will not live , as its birth washastened by the fears of its mother . The monkeyihouse , which was also seriously damaged , presented an extraordinary scene during tli « 6 torm ; its inmates were so dreadfully alarmed by tho lightning , that many of them covered their eyes , to prevent them seeing the flashes .
YADXHALL GARDENS . The injury done to these Gardens wns comparatively trifling , and will be repaired by an outlay of perhaps £ 30 , The Catholic chapel , in the London . road , had a great number of squares of gloss destroyed , as had also Newington church .
THE BOnODGH ANP LAMBETH . On the surrey side of the river , the devastation conse . quenfc upon the sudden inroads made by the innuz of waters from the sewers , is most extensive , and the loss of property which will thereby be occasioned is at the present moment incalculable . The floods , arising from tho clicked state of the sewers , actually deluded the lower portions of the premises situate in Bankside , the space intervening between the Thames and Upper and Lower Stamford-street , the York-road , and even up to Charlottefitrcct , ana the entire district well known as Lambeth Marsh . Iu Princess-street , Cnnterbuvy-street , Lower Hatfield-strest , and nil the avenues abutting upon the Thames , the lower portions of the domiciles were so flooded that Hie ordinary customary utensils became afloat , and the increased rising of the waters necessarily excited the utmost alarm amongst the inmates .
FLEET-STREET AND ITS NEIQUBOURUOOD . In no part of the metropolis did the eft'ticts of the storm display itself with greater force than in Fleet-street and its neig hbourhood ! In less than ten minutes after it commenced , this great , public thoroughfare was a complete viver of rain ; Ruch was its intensity thatatone time it seemed to have put a stop to the ordinary traffic with which this busy locality usually abounds , for neither omnibus , cab , nor human being were to be sten in the Street . The hail-storm was peculiarly severe , nnd such wns its violence , that the hailstones , which were in many instances tin inch in dinmctvr , broke the skylights attached to tlie houses of several of the trademen in the district , and created tlie greatest consternation .
'fiie cellars of tlie houses in Fleet-street , Farringdonstrect , the Old Biiiloy , ic , were completely inundated from the overflowing of the sewers , and in many instances the greatest injury to property took plnce . But ono of the . most extraordinary results arising from tho effuets of the storm was exhibited in the neighbourhood of Blackfritirs * bridge ; for very soon after it took place portions of hedstends , chests of drawers , clicU ' oiuerp , ( fcc ,, wcro seen vnu-rgiiiK from tho mouth of the great sewer which empties itself into the Thanips , close to the 1-ridpe , and which is butter known by the title of the Flprt-ditcli .
Intimation of the circumstance was quickly communicated to thu ollicers ol thu Thames-police , who very soon took up thrir position iu boats in front ot thu sewer ; uicl neie ocuii | iie < l until a late hour on Saturday night ' im convoying froir the sewer portions of articles such asi those we have just mentioned . The several articles were supposed to be the property of the furniture brokers and others whoso houses were destroyed or injured ill the neighbourhood of Saffron-kill , In the Strand , also , considerable injury wns done to the windows of many houses owing to thu hail storm , CLEItKENW £ LL .
The neighbourhood o ? Islington and tho tipper part of Ckrkcinvcll , from t !; eir tlevinvtl position , svui ; vevl HUle damage , thu rain biMn < r carried off almost as rnpiilly as it fill ; but the 'ievasta'ion was pr iportionatcly great in the lower pans »[ ' Ulcrkvuwdl , mul thu vkiufiy ol ' tho open part of tho old I'lvet-iHich . Thu immenso Hood that poured from iniHitiie . nbli' lesser sewers into this great drain , comiihlely lillml it uj > . mitl the water htgan U ) rise rapidly in thu street * ) ivitijC between ltruek-hili , formerly Mutiou-hill , Suttvon-bill , a <« l Uie uyuur cuduf
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the new line of street leading from Farring don-street . In Bull ' s Hcad-court . of Peter-street , it rose nearly ten feet high , and rushed with fearful violence through the sheds and stables immediately over the old . . Fleet-ditcb , sweeping horses , cattle , and furniture of every description into the turbid flood ;' That back part of two old homes in Round . court , Brook-hill , were carried away by the inundation , and with them a quantity of furniture , dry casks , and timber ; the entire mass of debris accumulated at a part of the Fleet ditch , In the waste grounc" near Peter-street ,
where the old arch commences , was soon broken up by the force of the obstructed water , and brought down with it soins old sheds and stables . Some decayed buildings and walls at the back of Lower Bowling-street were also carried away . The scene of desclation and distress which this neighbourhood presented on the subsidence ot the flood was truly pitiable . All the poor peopleand there are not any but poor in this neighbourhoodhad their miserable feeds ann'bedding completely saturated , and their scanty furniture either swept away or Injured by the water , which they were endeavouring to bale out of their wretched rooms and cellars .
The kitchens and cellars of several bouses in Farringdon-street were inundated , and in some parts of the new street—on the sites of the old houses , the water was so deep that a party of juveniles , from the purlieus of Saffrou . hill , were seen indulging In the luxury of a publio swimming-bath . Mr . Simpson , Hie linendraper , of Parringdon-street , had , it is stated , goods to the amount of £ 3 , 080 injured or destroyed . At Mr . Lamplough ' s , chemist , corner of New Farringdon-street , the destruction of property wa « very great . The neighbourhood of King's-cross and Bagniggewells-road were so completely inundated , that the accumulated water from Pentonville rushed with such impetuogity into the row of tenements nearly opposite the
police station , from the lownesc of their situation , am . ing from the elevation of the rotd , as to drive the iu mates into the attics ; and a baker , having in the morning received some saclcB of flour from the miller , had been completely spoiled . Draymen were observed riding upon the shafts of tb « ir ! drays , while their powerful horses were wading knee deep through the torrent . The hailstones were like , irregular lumps of ice , and , where they lodged , boys were seen collecting them in vessel for the gratification of parties who could not afford the luxury of . ice from the confectioner's . Indeed , so tremendous were it » effects in this locality , that boys were floating : on . articles , of furniture from the various tenements so filled with water . -. ¦ - ....
THE BOTANIC GARDENS , CHELSEA , The vicinity of this neighbourhood has been visited by one of the most awful thunder-storms ever witnessed ; I ( the Curator ) think my own loss has been some thousands of squares of glass , but at present I am not able to estimate the damage . The losses of florists in the neighbourhood have been very great , the hailstones being as large as walnuts . A Steamer Strdck bi a Thuhdeb . bolt . —At the Nine-elma Railway Hotel , Mr . House , the proprietor , had a great number of his windows broken , some of the squares worth fifteen and eig hteen shillings each . The terminus at Nine Elms sustained immense damage—a great portion of the glass roof having been demolished . The nursery grounds and hot-houses within six and oight miles on each side the Metropolis presented a fearful scene of devastation , young trees being torn up by the roots , and many cottages unroofed . In Fulham and Chelsea hailstones were picked up two inches in
circumference ; but the most providential escape from death occurred in the case of the Citizen steamer B , Captain Stanley , which was proceeding down the river at halfpast , five o'clock . When just off the Red House , at Battersea , a dreadful peal of thunder , followed by a stream of lightning , passed round the vessel and splintered the larboard paddle-box , carrying away a portion of the wood work also . Captain Stanley had only one minute before descended from his station on the box , an 4 was standing at the companion : among the paBsen . gers on deck ( eight in number ) was Mr . Byan , the director of Cremorne Gardens ; and a Mr . Sbarwood , a commercial traveller , who each were standing against the box . By the instinct of self-preservation , Mr . Byan threw himself on the deck at the i nstant , and the electric fluid pasBed over him and exhausted itself on the vessel in the manner related . Though tbe occurrence di& not occupy six seconds , the shock to the vessel was so great that the engineers and servants who were below rushed on deck , under the impression the vessel was sinking .
In the neighbourhood ot firempton , Kensington , Hammersmith , and other of the western suburbs , the hailstones were not quite so large as in other places . Shortly after four o ' clock , at the instant that a terrific peal of thunder burst over Kensington , a ball of nre was observed to descend on the house No . 21 , Lower Phillimore street , the corner of the road leading to Campden-hill , and it wai afterwords found that & stack of chimnies had been shuttered , and several of the chimney pots shirered to pieces . During the fury of the storm one of Messrs . Barclay and Perkins ' s drays was discharging at the Ited Lion , Greenwich-road , when the horses took fright , ran off towards London , and were iritfi difficulty stopped , after capsizing part of the freight . Thousands of squares of glass have been broken at private "houses ,
and at the Deptford and Greenwich Railway Terminus . The market gardens at IiewishDm , Lee , and .-Woolwich road have suffered immensely , not only from the hail , which at Lewisham fell in flakes an inch long , bnt from the flooding of the growing crops . Throughout the whole district of Blackheath hundred the hailstones fully averaged the size of large hazel nuts . The quantities of sand and gravel which have been washed from the Kentish hills into Greenwich and vicinity is astonishing , leaving the high roads bare , and presenting nothing but a surface of bright and broken granite . On . the Eltham road a man with a scythe in his hand was struck by the electric fluid , and fell insensibly to the ground , The poor follow , however , luckily recovered so as to be able to pro cecd home . Throughout the county of Kent the damage
was very extensive . The body of clouds charged witli electric fluid , after passing over the metropolis and the part of Surrey nearest the west eud of London , slowh travelled into Kent . Passing Woolwich about five o ' clock in the afternoon , its violence was manifested at Flumstcad , where the lightning appeared uncommonly powerful . In the midst of tho storm the electric fluid stvvie \< one of the chimnies belonging to a house in the occupation of Mr . George Kimbar , stone mason and marblt cutter , next door to tbe Piume of Feathers , opposite tbe church at the village of Flumstead . Mr . Bin £ ham , the landlord of the Plume of Feathers , states that he was standing in front of his bar , serving customers , at the time when the flash of lightning , or rather tlie stream cl
fire , appeared . So fierce was the flame , and so appalling the reports arising from it , that he was for a few minutes unconscious where he was , or what he did . The next moment he heard the crash of the falling brick work , and upon looking out of the window , after his stupor was iu some measure subsided , he saw a volume of dust proceed , ing from the roof of the premises in Mr . Kimber ' s occupation . At the time of the occurrence a servant girl in his employ was sitting , with an infant in her lap , ueai the door . She was so affrighted that she nearly swooned , and it tvas with no small difficulty thnt she could he persuaded she was safe . This being eff > cted , she shortly nftsnvanJs was led into the house , where slie soon recovered . About the same time several trees near the spot were struck by the lightning .
Three horses , travelling on the road towards Dartford Fair were struck blind , and some trifling damage was done to the cropping standing in sheaves , from the effect of the hail and rain , At Erith , Crayford , and Dartford , the storm was very severe , and at Chatham it is said to hare been excessively violent . In the midst of this visitation and loss of property it is gratifying to state that the hop-bine has much improved since the storm , one ot the largest growers in the west of the country having dis > covered upon an examination of the crops , that although on Friday last they were covered with fly and lice , the
thunder and lightning bus cleared the majority of the arms from these destructive vermin , In Bromley and the immediate neighbourhood , very much damage has been done to tho several nurseries by the hail , several thousand of panes of glass being demolished . One of the hailstones , or rather pieces ofi . ee , which fell at thclattev place , "when measured was found to be of an nngulnr shape , and upwards ot three inches iu circumference , the greatest width at the top being one iuch and a half . So fur us can be ascertain ^ , no lives have becu lost in thu range of locality previously described .
In the neighbourhood of Reading . Oxford , Newbury , Farringdon , Cirrnccster , Wantage , ifcc , the storm was ot a most awful description , nnd the damage dune to vegetation generally is incalculable . At Giruncester two sheep anfl an ox were killed by tho electric fluid , und at Wantage two sheep and a valuable horse were struck dead by tho same powerful iigBi . cy . At Oxford the cleutric fluid aid grent d .. mago to building property , hot-houses ami gardens . The roof of the house of Mr . Dudley , situate near the river , was struck by tlie lightning , and a part of the stone work fell to the ground , nnd when taken up it emitted a strong sulphurous smell . At Litcomb , near Wantage , the lightning entered tho roof of a cottage , shattered a bedstead , and threw a child that tha mothur
hail just laid in bed on the floor , but unhurt . At Hig h , worth , tho servant of a Mr . Boyne got under a tree , with his horse , for shelter ; the horse was killed , but the man miraculously vseaped with a sli ght scorching of the forehead . At lIen ! ey-on-Th ;\ mes tho flashes were awfully vivid stud forked . The house of Mr . Musgvovo wns struck by lightning . Mr . Musgrovc and a portion of his family were at tho moment standing in a passage through which the bell wires imssed , and were all stvuck to thtgviHivul , hut Usippily without serious injury ; the uiinuujo tohishothonses , plants , &c ., contiguous to tho dwulling-housos , is very considerable . Some pnrts of Hampshire , » tc ., were also visited by tho above storm , ami serious duuingc was sustained bv «« i uketvio fluid .
The warring elements , which some of our content porarics have justly described , in scriptural language , as being " no respecter of lii-rsons , " did not leave unscathed the ollice where the Xorlhcrn Star is printed . About four o'clock in the afternoon , the whole of the niiiehiiKTy used lor printing this pnpor was rendered inupevsuive from ttie influx of tlic torrent—tlie machine and ciiinposing room being completely inundated . The hail , or masses of ice , descended with such violence upon the sUy-lkh ts as to demolish upn-iirrts of 150 squnvus of K lass . ii ' urtumitely , the last cilitiou Of our ptvpor had buenprinted a few minutes previous to tlie commencement of the storm , whereby we were enabled to obviati ; the great disappointment which would othrrwiso have been exuaiciHxdi
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port of Sir Henry T . De La Beclie and ( Lyon Playlair , of the Museum of Economic Geology , on the cases and explosions in colleries , was printed in a Parliamentary paper . It seems that in Iftucust last the Government , moved by the many cniimitons accidents in coal mines , and the obvious inefficiency of means then devised far their prerentfed , deputed Professor Faraday and Mr . Lyeuto invettigate and report on tbe explosion in the Easwell Cilliery . It was represented to the Government tha the public were still very imperfectly informed as to the conditions under which firedamp was generate ! , and that the nature and composition of the expl sive gases themselves had not been examined wit the aids
which modern science could bring to sue investiga * tions . Hence the request to Sit Henry T . De La Beche and Dr . Lyon Playfair on the sifcject , and the presentation of their report . Gases eyalved from beds of coals may be viewed as the result a the continued decomposition of the vegetable matter from which coal is derived ; a decomposition whtih may be regarded as still in progress under favourable conditions . Omitting the mineral substances , which when burnt are known as ashes , coal is essentially composed of carbon , oxygen , hydrogen , andl nitrogen , nnd the quality of the coal depends upon tie relative proportion of these ingredients . \ Vlien 1 % proporfc 0 ii of-the carbon to the oxygen and hydAgen does not exceed about 7 o per cent ., the coal io ^ common term is called " bituminous ; " when thi carbon
imounts to about So or 90 per cent ., it i ^ tevmed " anthracite , " or stone coal , or , in other words , the most advanced state of decomposition of the criminal vegetable matter bears the latter name . In 1835 a select committee of the House of Commons was appointed to inquire on the subject of explosions in mines , and made a report , without recommending 'inv remedial measures ; there then existed , as now , a difficulty in obtaining accurate . informantion respecting the number of lives lost from colliery explosions . The committee were enabled to ascertain that during the 25 years preceding their inauiries 3 , 070 persons had perished from colliery explosions , Hiid they considered this number much underrated . During the Jast 10 years the rate of loss of life has
certainly not diminished , and the experience of " the pasfcyear , " it is stated in the report , "has shown that considerably move than 100 persons have been known to have perished . " Not the least important part of the report has reference to the safety-lamp of Sir II , Davy , and in the "foolhardiness and carelessness" of colliers . There are suggestions on both subjects which will , no doubt , meet the attention they deserve . It is suggested b y the report that proper persons , as superintendents , should be appointed . ' Careful investi gations ( the report concludes ) iuto the causes of explosions in colleries , only part of which arrest public attention by their magnitude , appear to have led to the very general conclusion that the condition of our collieries is most unequal . While in some localities there is so little to improve , that it becomes subject of regret that such examples should not more generally be followed ; in others it becomes a matter of surprise how the works can be
permitted to remain in so derVutiye a state , seeing that the owners themselves suffer much loss thereby . Under SUell a , state of things , and considering the number of valuable lives annually ! o .= t by colliery explosions the continued risk to which so many aro daily exposed , the national injury sustained by the imprudent and careless moik of extracting coal in many localities , ono often felt oppressively also by the piirf . ies cm-aged iu colliery speculations , " and that the workings for coals must be adjusted to local conditions , wearoled to consider that these evils might bo at least mitigated by the careful and judicious inspection of convenient districts by competeut persons the nece-sary funds to be raised from such districts by a . very slight impost , not even exceeding one lartliingon eaclt ton of coal raised in it , and we believe that the cause of Immunity and the intcrasts of the Goalownerc , would be alike benefited by a well considered legislative measure of this kind . "— Time ? ,
Fall of Twm Houses in IIolboun * . —At a quarter past eleven o ' clock i > n Sunday nicht an alarming occurrence happened in Middle Row , Holborn Dais , Two houses , numbered 22 and 23 . fronting liolboni , almost suddenly fell in with a loud crash , and aheap of thick dust that obseuml the locality for some minutes . Happily , just before they fell in , a poliei 1 - oonsliiblo was p : iss » g by , ami hearing the noise of the breaking of window-panes , looked towards tlie houses and saw them tottering and bulging-. He warned tho pitssers-by of tho ituiieiidiiis danger , and whilst so doing , the inmates ot tho houses , to the number of ten or twelve , alarmed by the noise nillun , rushed out and escaped . It is believed that
no person lias been fatally injured . Tlie houses fell in , Iraviii K the party walla oftlioso adjoining tliem as clean as if they had been cut through by some tnrchaiiical contrivanci ! . Some attribute the extrr * ordinary casualty to the giving way of a sewer " caused by the rain of Saturday , others to tho foundation ot this houses having been rendered insecure bv the enlargement of a baking room , now being cxecute . i b y a baker whose shop opens into Mktttto Row . opposite almost to Staples-Inn Buildings . The accident eavsed tho greatest nttVidit and confusion to the nei ghbours in the vicmity , * aiul at midiiiuht tho premises wcrejso much thronged as to render tie premises almo ^ unapproachable ) .
Mr . Rice , the celebrated " Jim Crow , " hrs been deprived of spc i ! i nnd th « s use of his limbs , by a stroke of pimiUis . —Dcuonport Telegraph .
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DISCLOSURE OF THE MURDER OF TWn . PERSONS . U An intense excitement has been occasioned thia week in the town of Barnard gastle , and throughout thj county of Durham , generall y > by certain revelations mad » by a young wpraarepanieiifcHunipliery , who gajg that the was the witness of two murders committed on the bankg of the river Tees lase year . The following is a brief narrative of the facts : — Lwtyear , in the early part of August , a , young mn named Yatea , who is a tailor in Barnard Castle , and a girl named Raine , with whom he was intimatel y ac . ^ uainted , were missed . So tiding could he heard of them until nearly a fortnight after , when the bod y of the ^
former was found on the brink of the River Tees , a few railes from the to * ri . Some marks of violence were abOHt his head , and his pockets were empty , but at the inquest not the slig htest evidence was adduced to Bhow that he had been unfairly dealt by . A few dajs after , wards the body of the young woman also was found in the river ; another inquest was held , and a verdict of "Found drowned" returned . It appeared that on the night when these unhappy individuals met their death , heavy rains had fallen in the neighbourhood , by which the river was much swollen , and its course made ^ rapid , hence the bodies were carried a considerable distance from the place where it has since been discovered thej were last seen , A few weeks ago rumours wer « freely circulated in tha
district , to the effct that these persons had been mur dered , and that three young men belonging to the tows were thefr murderers , Nothing definite was known , however , until Tuesday last , when it was ascertained that a female named Humphrey , 21 or 22 years of age , had gone to a parish constable , and " eased her mind , " and had subsequently made such statements to a rural officer to whom she referred , as to lead to a charge of murder being preferred against three men , named Brecon , Bar . ker , and Raine ( the saine name as one of the victims . ) Her statements were substantially these : —She says , that on the night of the 9 th of August the m » n Yates , and the young woman Raine , were together , near the passage where she lived , in Bridge Gate , and she entered into conversation with them . Whilst doing « o , Brecon , Bar .
ker , and Raine came up , and it was agreed that they should all take a walk as far ae the bridge . It was then very dark and wet , near the hour of midnight , and' when they wern at the bridge the rapid flow of the river made a more than usual noise . After standing at the bridge a short time the wliple party proceeded down . the "Yorkshire side of the river to a place called the Tram . road , end , which is nearly 150 yards from any dwelling house . Whilst there one of the men questioned Tates about bis money , and Barker asked him if he was going to appear against him at York relative to a coat which he was charged with stealing , He said be was , on which Barker struck him several times . She could not gay on what part of the person , it was so dark , but she heard Yates say , " Don't knock my eyes out , " or something to that effect . After this the other ttye men fell upon Yates , treated him in a ruffianly manner , and robbed him . They then lifted him off bis feet , and tlrew him over the
tow low-tramwell Into the deep . pool beloiv . She ( Hum . phrey ) was horrified and speechle » s , but the yowng woman Raine vehemently abused them , and threatened she would inform the police . She made her way towards the bridge in company with the party , still continuing to threaten than wilt exposure , and -when they came to the recess on the bridge , they seized both Raine and her ( Humphrey , ) and said they would throw them both over , if they would not swear not to disclose the fearful event of that night . Raine persisted in telling , when in ft few seconds they threw ber into the foaming stream below , and then made her ( Humphrey ) swear that she would not reveal what had passed , adding that if she violated this oath , God would strike her down dead . She . was then allowed to go . She says that her misery since that time has bees great , and not being able to endure it any longer , she resolved on Monday to make the declaration to the officers of justice . ~ ¦ ¦ '
Barker has been since apprehended , Brecon is already in prison en another charge , and Raine had not ( up to Wednesday ) been secured . Yateg was a young man of low stature and slender form . The accused are tall and strong . The local magistrates are making full inquiry into this extraordinary case , and it is expeeted that other particular a will Bpeedily be thought to light . It would appear that tbe charge against Barker was for having stolen a coat , belonging to Captain Bainbridge , of Cotherstone , whilst he was acting as under-bailiff in he captain ' s house ; and that Yates , wbo it has already been stated , it a tailor , had been repairing this coat for Barker , and whilst doing so , had seen tbe name , '' Cap . tain Bainbridge , " inside it . His evidence would , there , fore , havs been material ; and probably this was the first inducement , if the girl ' s story be true , to tht commission of this horrible crime . 1
Untitled Article
« .- ¦ THp NQRTHEJIN STAR August ^ 1846
Explosions In Collieries.—On Monday, The Re-
Explosions in Collieries . —On Monday , the re-
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Aug. 8, 1846, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1378/page/6/
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