September 17 .
Inoltre Viepovh were all straggling persons, whom he had picked up on the
M A N S I N -H O U S E .
A Frenchman named Alphonse Alleaume •was intro­
duced to the Lord Mayor by a lady o f rank, who
stated that she resided in the neighbourhood o f the place
in which the foreigner had been making such inquiries
as showed that he was an utter stranger, without friends or
means o f living. From the parties who represented his con­
dition to her, and afterwards from himself, she heard such
gtatenjents as were calculated to excite surpri-e and compas­
sion, and she thought that, under all the circumstances, an
application to the Lord Mayor would be the most advisable
courfeeof proceeding to render service to a person who had
been absurdly accused and unjustly punished, although in
another country.
The Lord Mayor intimated that a statement to the French
Ambassador would be likely to meet with attention, but had
no objection to be informed o f the particulars and to add
whatever influence he might possess towards the abatement of
any « 'il to which an unfortunate foreigner might be sub­
jected.
The lady tlien stated the circumstances. Monsieur A l­
leaume, although not educated in practical science, applied a
considerable portion of his time to the study o f mechanics,
and constructed a machine for iilteringand clarifying water.
This machine he took with him from Paris to Brussels,
with the intention o f making a pecuniary speculation
of his s k ill; but, strange as it might appear, the
police o f that town mistook it for an infernal ma­
chine, having reference to the opposite element, and appre­
hended the owner as the diabolical agent o f conspirators
against the Throne of France. The inventor o f the improved
plan o f making muddy water bright was then cast into prison,
and his machine underwent examination, when it was found
that there was no sympathy whatever between its powers and
those which by explosion dealt destruction around. After a
confinement of two months the matter o f accusation came on
before the Court o f Appeal, and the supposed infernal agent
was acquitted. H e was, however, soon after his acquittal or­
dered on board a vessel bound for England, and without
passport or ceremony of any kind he was brought off to Lon­
don, where he was landed without money, friends, or ac­
quaintances, and, in fact, just as if he had been dropped from
the clouds.
The Lord Mayor asked whether the machine was o f so
coBiplicated a kind as to be likely to be mistaken for such an
engine as would blow peoole to atoms ?
Monsieur Alleaum e said it was o f sim ple construction, and
whatever ignorant persons m ight have supposed could not
have been thought capable o f doing mischief by men o f scien­
tific acquirements.
The Lord Mayor—It was merely for clarifying water.
Monsieur Alleaume said it was most decidedly and palpably
for no other purpose. There was a general acknowledgment
of the injustice o f the punishment, which might just as well
have been inflicted upon him upon a charge o f witchcraft.
The Lord Mayor desired to know whether Monsieur A l­
leaume had been ever accused o f disloyalty or disaffection
towards the K ing o f the French ?
Monsieur Alleaume said he apprehended that some suspi­
cion might have arisen from the fact that a very near relative
of his had been captain in the body guard of Charles X ., and
that others o f his family had been formerly in favour with the
French Government in the reign o f that King, but there was
no other reason on earth for attributing to him any feeling o f
disaffection. H e could not at all account for the persecution
to which he had been subjected, but he was informed that he
had been denounced by the French Government upon ap­
pealing, after his acquittal upon the absurd accusation, to the
Belgian authorities for indemnification for the severe losses he
had sustained.
The Lord Mayor asked what pecuniary losses Monsieur
Alleaume complained o f having sustained ?
The lady said that M. Alleaume had informed her that
he had taken money from Paris to Brussels for the purpose
of enabling him to carry into effect his plan for filtering water
upon a most extensive scale, and that money had been ex­
pended in feeing lawyers, and making other necessary pre­
parations, to meet the astounding charge o f being the in­
ventor o f a new diabolical, infernal, blowing-up engine of
de.-truction. She was sure that the King of Belgium would
be astonished when he heard the facts o f tlie case, as he pro­
bably would through the medium o f the newspapers.
The Lord Mayor—And did he receive any indemnification
for his losses ?
The lady replied that she understood from him that the
Minister o f the Interior o f Brussels, or some other authority,
had assured him that heshould be indemnified; but allfurther
application was useless, and be was shipped and landed in
England under the denunciation which those who were in­
terested about him supposed would at least have been re­
called. There was one circumstance which w ould make an
odd impression upon English ears. The Attorney-General
called upon M. Alleaume in prison, and insisted that he
should give an explanation o f the filtering machine.
M, Alleaume said that upon a representation o f all the
facts o f the transactions he had been assured o f indemnifica­
tion ; but there was no sincerity in the promisers. The Attor­
ney-General had required from him a minute explanation of
the properties o f the machine. H e gave i t ; and although he
had gone to considerable expense in feeing lawyers he
ffeaded for himself in the Court. His complete acquittal,
lowever, did not carry with it the immunities and privileges
which might reasonably be expected, for he was acmally ba­
nished, and banished too with the assurance that he could find
no asylum in France.
The Lady—I took the liberty to introduce this unfortunate
gentleman to your Lordship, in the hope that his case might
be made known to those authorities in Belgium who would
feel an interest in concealing or palliating the errors, inten­
tional or unintentional, of the police authorities there. H e is
most anxious for a public investigation—most solemnly de­
nies that he had any object except the scientific aim which he
describes—and is here without assistance from any human
being. H e says that he has every reason to believe that his
invention, being in the hands o f others, will be copied, and he
appears to be an object of real compassion.
M, Alleaume said he had been informed that his plan of
filtering was under consideration while he was on board the
ship in which he came to this country, and that it was actually
to be adopted.
The Lord Mayor said that the circumstances just detailed
were extremely mysterious. H e could not for the life o f him
see how a machine made for filtering water could on a sudden
be converted into so terrific a species o f firearms; but he
supposed it was by some infernal machine o f the kind “ the
Tiiames was set on fire.’’ (A laugh.) His Lordship ad­
vised M.Alleaume to approach the King o f Belgium through
the medium o f his Majesty’s Ministers, and respectfully re­
present the case. A better opportunity could not be atlbrded
tlian presented itself at the present moment, when his Ma­
jesty happened to be ia the dominions of his niece, in which
he had so long resided, and where the complaints of the op­
pressed might reach him through the most pure channel of
communication.
The Frenchman, who is a young man o f extremely mild
and unassuming manners, expressed himself in terms of the
wannest gratitude to the Lord Mayor and the lady w ho in­
troduced him to his Lordship, at.d stated that he should fol­
low the advice so benevolently given.
B O W -S T R E E T .
T h e O m n i b u s N u i s a n c e . — Benjamin Matthews, the con­
ductor of an omnibus, was on Wednesday brought up under
the following circumstances:—
Mr. George Evans, o f Tennant Lodge, Hammersmith, said
that on Tuesday night, about a quarter before nine, he got into
the omnibus o f the defendant at Kensington. The omnibus was
from Turnham Green to the Bank. On reaching Soaierset
House the defendant dismissed all the passengers, and said he
should not go any further. Complainant then refused to pay
any more than sixpence, as he should have another sixpence
to pay to get to the Bank. 1 he defendant immediately col­
lared him, took off his hat, and would have used him very
roughly had not some gentlemen interposed, and procured the
assistance of the police.
The defendant said the last omnibus never went further
than Somerset House, and when the complainant and the
other passengers got in he told them that was his distance.
The complainant declared that the defendant never men­
tioned Somerset House, nor was he aware o f the omnibus
stopping there. Another gentleman would also have ap­
peared had he not taken his place by one of the coaches
this day.
‘Sir F. Roe said he would allow the defendant time to pro­
duce witnesses from Kensington to prove that he had told the
passengers his destination.
The defendant said he could not produce any, for they
THE WEEKLY
road.
Sir F , Roe said the places o f destination painted on the
carriage were those by which the public must be guided.
I f an omnibus purporied to go to a certain place it must
do so.
The case was then directed to stand over.
B O W -S T R E E T .
John Callaghan, the late collector o f parish rates for St.
Paul’s, Covent-garden, was brought up for final examination.
Mr. Mousley, who was accompanied by a vast number of
the parish authorities, attended for the prosecution ; and Mr.
Baines, a solicitor, appeared on behalf o ’ the prisoner.
Out o f a great number of cases o f embezzlement only two
were brought forward. B y the first, it appeared that on the
13th o f November, 1837, at which time the prisoner was
filling the situation of collector o f the rates o f the parish, he
entered in the book which he kept the sum o f 2?. 10s., which
he had received from Mr. Darley, a parishioner, of Maiden-
lane, and in the other instance he entered the sum o f 31. 2s. as
having been received from Mr. Evans, another parishioner,
o f Southampton-street, Strand. These entries, with others,
were verified by Mr. Corder, who had been at that time
vestry clerk o f St. Paul’s, Covent-garden, and at present the
clerk o f the guardians o f the poor lor the Strand Union.
Mr. Darley then produced a receipt which was signed by
the prisoner, and dated the 13th o f November, 1834, for the
.,
sum of 51 and not for 2 i , lO s . Another receipt was pro­
duced by Mr. Evans, dated the 27th o f October, 1834, and
signed by the prisoner, for 6/. 4s., instead o f 31. 2s., as had
been entered on the books.
Mr. Corder said that the deficiencies which appeared on the
books were sufficiently proved, but wlietlier the prisoner had
accounted for the two sumsmentioned could only be proved
by going through alon g series o f accounts.
Mr. Mousley asked whether it was not the duty o f the col­
lector to pay over toth« sub-committee all monies which had
been received witlna forteen days.
Mr. Corder— It certainly was, and I always considered that
the prisoner had done so.
Mr. Baines then proceeded to argue against the committal
o f the prisoner, on the ground that he should have been pro­
secuted under the local Act, as had been originally intended,
and not under the general Act for embezzlement, and that the
parish authorities should have detected the deficiencies in the
accounts at the time they occurred, and not now institute pro­
ceedings under the general law, as they were guilty o f an
oversight for which they were responsible.
Mr. Minshull said he had long since made up his mind to
commit the prisoner on the two charges of embezzlement, and
much as he admired the zeal evinced by Mr. Baines, he would
not alter his opinion.
The prisoner was then fully committed for trial.
M ARYLEBONE.
A p p r e h e n s io n and C o m m it t a l o f a F
T eller . — O utrageous A s s a u l t s . —On Wednesday a
man, about 35 years o f age, named James Cook, who was
formerly a schoolmaster, was brought before Mr. Rawlinson
and Lord Montford, charged with obtaining 2s. 6d. from
Elizabeth Farraday under false pretences, and with the fol­
lowing assaults
Complainant having been sworn stated that her husband
was a policeman in the D division, and she resided at No.
67, Lisson-grove. Having been informed by a person whom
she knew that the prisoner, who lived at No. 40, Nutford-
place, was in the habit o f telling fortunes, she thought she
should like to have a little conversation with him, and accord­
ingly on the previous afternoon she repaired to his residence,
and having knocked at the door it was opened ^ y a woman,
whom she had since understood to be his wife, and who, on
her asking for Mr. Cook, told her to ring the bell. She did
so, when the prisoner came down stairs, and, on her acquaint­
ing him with the nature of her business, asked her to walk up.
She then followed him into the first floor back room, where
lie, having first put a chair for her, sat him elf down in
another, and then, glancing over some hieroglyphics and
mysterious figures, inquired lier age. She said 35 or ihere-
ahoiits ; and he then asked her if she knew the “ year of
the Lord. ’ She replied she did not, but had the date
at home. She then went home to know, and on returning
gave him the exact time she was born, which was the 6th of
January, 1802. H e wrote it on a card, and, having consulted
some books which lay by his side, asked if she was married ?
To find out il he would tell the truth, she said “ No.” He
then inquired what she was doing; she replied, “ Looking out
for work.” He asked her if she could take a cook’s situation,
and she answered timt she was not qualified, but thought of
taking in a little washing. The prisoner then, having glanced
over some books before him, said she’d better not go to ser­
vice, as she would have no luck; but in regard to washing, if
she was unremitting in her exertions to gain a connection, she
would, in the course o f three months, have constant employ ;
that she had had very good luck for the last seven years ; she
had refused the off’er o f marriage made by a fair man, but a
dark man, a widower, with two children, was now making
love to her; that her father, about eight years ago, was, by
accident, nearly drowned (which, curious enough, was a fact);
and that she would, after 41 years, be very fortunate, but
would never rise above her present station in life. Witness
then asked him his charge, which he said was 2s. 6d., wliich
she paid him, and then he let her out. On reaching the street
she met Inspeclor Tedman, wlio asked her where she had
been. She then told him, and, with a policeman, he went
into the l^ouse, and took the prisoner into custody.
In cross-examination by Mr. W'^ontner, who attended for
tlie prisoner, the complainant said that she went to the pri­
soner’s by desire o f Mr. Tedman.
Inspector Tedman stated that several inhabitants having
made complaints to him o f the prisoner he requested Mrs.
Farraday ttr go to him, as she had stated, having first given
her a marked half-crown. On her coming out he, with
D avey, a police constable, went into the prisoner’s room, and
told him he was an officer, and had come to take him as an
impostor, before a magistrate, adding, “ Y ou’ve just ob­
tained 2s. 6d. from a young woman for telling her fortune.”
He said very well, and witness then leant over to the mantel­
piece to take some cards, when the prisoner struck him vio­
lently and kicked him in the stomach till the blood flowed
profusely from his mouth and he was nearly choaked by if,
Davey interfered, wlien the prisoner caught hold of his mid­
dle finger, and bit it nearly asunder. At length, after a des­
perate struggle, the prisoner was secured. Witness had been
obliged to be bled, and had been ¡very ill ever since. On
some cards found on the prisoner was written, “ Mr.Cook, 40,
Nutford-place, Edgeware-road ; nativities cast and questions
answered. Please to ring the bell.”
Davey, the constable, who had his right hand, on wliich
the bite was inflicted, in a sling, corroborated his inspector’s
statement, and added that on the prisoner he found the marked
half-crown.
Mr. Wontner argued that tlie case of fortune-telling had
not been made out.
Mr. Rawlinson said he thought it had. Tlie half-crown
confirmed the vvomaa’s statement, and the pri-oner was there­
fore committed to the House o f Correction for three months,
and at the expiration oflfiat period was liable to be dealt witli
for the assau ts.
W O R S H IP -S T R E E T .
D e s t i t u t i o n o f o n e o f t h e F o r e i g n L e g i o n .— On
Tuesday last Edward Mills, a ¡young man, about twenty
years o f age, was placed at the bar, before Mr. Broughton,
having been found in the act of breaking a gas lamp, for the
purpose o f being taken into custody.
It appeared from the evidence o f police constable Henry
James, G 41, that he was on duty in Castle-street, Bethnal-
green, about half-past seven o’clock that morning, when he
observed the prisoner, who was at a short distance before
him, fake up a stone which he wilfully flung at a gas lamp.
H e missed it, when he took up another stone, with which he
aimed at the glass and broke it. Witness instantly took him
into custody. On his way to the station-house the prisoner
said that he had been three days without anything to eat, and
that he broke the glass in order that he might be taken into
custody, as he could get no emplcyment, and had no place of
residence.
The prisoner, who was without either shoes or stockings,
enlisted about three years ago in the Portuguese service,
where he remained about three years. Some time ago he left
thefregiment. Since his return to England he had endeavoured
to obtain employment, but without success.
Mr. Broughton asked him why he did not enter the British
army }
The prisoner replied that he had offered to enlist in the
East India Company’s sen ice ; but they refused to take him,
in consequence o f an injury he had in his foot.
Mr. Broughton then told the prisoner that he should send
London Weekly Post, London, Middlesex, UK
September 17, 1837, Page 7
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POST.
him to the House of Correction for six weeks, where he would
receive the best medical attention.
The prisoner was ordered to be provided with food; but
he stated that they had given him some victuals at the station-
house.
On being removed from the bar he burst into tears,
T O W N -H A L L .
T h e L a t e L o r d N e l s o n ’s J e w i e l s . —On Thursday, as
the business of the day was about to finish, a well-dressed
aged man, accompanied by a gentleman, the friend o f Sir
Thomas Hardy, made the following most interesting appli­
cation :—
The old man stated his name to be Thomas Allen, 73 years
o f age, born at Burnham Thorpe, in the county of Norfolk,
and held a situation in the kitchen o f Greenwich Hospital ;
that he accompanied the late Admiral Lord Nelson through
the whole o f his career o f glory, was at the boarding of the
Spanish Admiral’s ship, the San Josef, and at Teneriffe held
up the wounded arm o f the Gallant Admiral while it was being
amputated, had been in 15 general engagements and 40 skir­
mishes ; the veteran then proceeded to say that, in consequence
o f a rumour that the jew els of the late Admiral Lord Nelson
were deposited in tiie Tovvn-hall, Southwark, having reached
the ears o f Admiral Sir Thomas Hardy, Governor of Green­
wich Hospital, he was deputed by him to ascertain whether
there was any foundation for the report, and if so to request
permission to view the same.
Several relics o f the late Admiral’s being actually in safe
keeping at the hall the old man and his friend were allowed
to inspect them, and they pronounced them to be the pro­
perty of the late Admiral, but only worn by him on ordinary
occasions. The principal articles are the inrignia o f a Turkish
Order, presented by the Grand Seignior, the star o f the Order
o f the Bath, and several inferior orders o f merit, &c. The
parties then, having obtained the object o f their mission, took
their departure, to report progress.
How these relics of the illustrious warrior came to be placed
iu their present situation, we can state, was owing to the late
Alderman Joshua Jonathan Smith, into whose hands the pro­
perty came as trustee, and afterwards executor to the late
Lady Hamilton, being perpetual alderman o f the Town Hall,
and by him deposited there for safety.
N O N -IN T E R F E R E N C E O F T H E N E W P O L IC E IN
CASES O F A SS A U L T .
Numerous complaints have lately been made against the
officers of the new police for refusing to take into custody per­
sons who had committed violent assaults, merely because they
were not present, and did not see the assaults committed. At
the late Middlesex Sessions a cause o f assault was tried, where
a respectable female wa^ struck a violent blow by a fellow,
which broke the bridge of her nose aad otherwise severely
injured her. She stated that immediately after the assault
was committed a policeman came up, but refused to take
ortune-
charge of her cowardly assailant, stating that it was contrary
to the regulations o f the force, he not having witnessed the as­
sault, from the effect,however, o f whicli he could see that she was
then suffering. The Chairman ( Mr. Sergeant Adams) said he
was aware that in so doing the policeman had merely acted
according to the instructions he had received from his supe-i
riors, and which might be very good, as a general regulation,
but still he thought there ought to be some exceptions to the
rule. For instance, supposing a policeman saw a man lying
on the ground, who had been beaten perhaps until he was
three-parts dead, and covered with blood, was it not nio^t
ridiculous to suppose that it was not the duty of the policeman
to take the assailant into custody, whether he saw the assault
committed or aot ? He should feel it his duty to call the at­
tention o f the Commissoners o f the Police to the subject.
Mr. Charles Phillips observed that the late Recorder (Mr-
Newman-Knowlys), who was a very sound criminal lawyer,
had, over and over again, given it as his opinion that a police­
man or other constable had no right to take persons into cus­
tody for an assault unless he was present at the time, and saw
the assault committed, for he, not having witnessed the .com­
mencement of the affray, could not possibly tell who was the
original aggressor.
Tlie Chairman said that, according to that decision, a man
might be assaulted and nearly murdered in the streets, and bis
assailant walk quietly away, without any one daring to pre­
vent him. H e (the Chairman) was of a very diff’erent opinion,
and thouuhtthat in all cases o f violent assault every man (as
in cases of felony), on complaint being made to him, became
an officer, and had a right to take the offender into custody.
This opinion o f the Chairman appeared to excite no little
astonishment among the policemen who were in Court.
D E S T R U C T IV E F I R E IN T H E S T R A N D —T H R E E
L IV E S LOST.
Thursday morning, shortly after four o’clock, a fire was
discovered by ¡lolice constable Rodman, No. 43 F, in the
lower part of the premises o f Messrs. Harris and Samuel,
dealers in curiosities, and India rubber manufactory. No, 48,
Strand, opposite Agar-street. H e immediately alarmed the
inmates; after which further assistance arrived, and the en­
gines were sent for.
In the space of a quarter o f an hour the whole o f the rear o f
the premises was in ablaze, and three houses in Off-alley were
similarly situated. In the second floor rooms slept Mr.
Harris,'two o f his children, and two female servants, who, on
being alarmed by the policemen, endeavoured, it is supposed,
to make their way down stairs into the Strand, but in conse­
quence of the rapid extension of the flames and dense smoke,
they were compelled (with the exception o f one servant girl
anti child, who forced her way into the street, nobody knows
how) to retreat to the front sleeping room o f Mr. Harris,
where the female who has perislied was seen and heard cry­
ing out at the window for I.elp, and Tozer,the Chandos-street
engineer of the London Fire Establishment, called out to her
to throw the child out first, and drop herself afterwards ; but
she seemed to be totally unconscious of what he said, and, un­
fortunately, in a few seconds afterwards, the flames reached
the room, and she was, together with the child she had hither­
to held in her arms, lost sight of.
The engines by tliis time had mustered upwards o f a dozen
in number, and the West of England, and County, together
with three of the brigade, were directing their powerful streams
for a considerable time in endeavouring to subdue the flames
where the deceased persons had been last seen, but, notwith­
standing every exertion, it was found utterly impossible, from
tlie rapidity of destruction, to place a scaling-ladder against
llie front of the house to rent er the least assistance; and,
within half an hour after the commencement o f the fire, the
whole front fell out into the Strand, when the scorched bodies
were visible to the naked eye. Under the directions o f Mr.
Sujjerinteiident Braidwood, Girard and Fogo, o f the London
Establishment, proceeded to remove the bodies, which, with
the exception of that of Mr. Harris, presented awful specta­
cles. The servant girl, about sixteen years o f age, was found
with the daughter o f Mr. Harris, about three years old, lying
on her right arm, the child’s legs burnt comj^etely otf, and
the lower part ofthe body of the servant aim pletely destroyed.
Mr. Harris was found in the front, with his right leg burnt
oil; but the other parts of his body uninjured.
No accurate account can be obtained as to the origin of
the catastrophe ; but it is supposed to have broken out in the
manufactory behind the house, and the probability is at the
the lower part, from the circumstance o f the smoke having,
in the early part of the discovery, been found escaping at the
street door.
It seems that when Mr. Harris appeared at the window the
escape ladder, which is composed o f four or five sectional
ladders, was promptly raised with great exertions, but this
was no sooner done than it was found to have been put
up the wrong way, and to be of no use. In the meanwhile,
the house being composed o f wood, and one o f the lemainiiig
few existing in the Strand o f the ancient mode o f structure of
houses in London, the destructive element progressed with
the most extraordinary rapidity, and had reached the floor
where the unfortunate individuals were, and who were implor­
ing the assistance o f the populace.
It is stated that there were three females and a boy.in Mr.
Harris’s house, who made their escape over the top o f the
neighbouring houses. The houses on each side are much in­
jured, and at the back several have received serious injury.
The floorings ofthe house where the fire commenced remain ;
though the roof hangs over in a very dangerous state, being
ready to fall every instant. The destruction o f property of
the unfortunate occupier is stated to bii uf great value. Mr.
Harris was o f the Hebrew persuasion, and Mrs. Harris is at
Brighton.
The brother o f Mrs. Harris, Mr. Samuels, who lived with
them, and attended to one part of their busiaess, has gone to
Brighton to break in as gentle a manner as possible to his be­
reaved sister the dreadful intelligence o f the sad visitation.
The fire was not got completelv under until near seven
o’clock, when the greater number of the engines were taken
aWay, two or three being kept on the spot in case o f any fresh
outbreak.
IN Q U E S T ON T H E B O D IE S .
In the evening, at 7 o’clock, a highly-respectableand nume­
rous jury was empanoelled before Mr. Higgs, the Coruuer for
Westminster, in the chapel attached to St. Martin’s workhouse,
for the purpose o f instituting an inquiry into the circumstances
attending the respective deaths o f M’r. Henry Harris, aged
—, india-rubber manufacturer (late occupier of the house No.
48, Strand, which was destroyed by fire yesterday morning);
of Esther Harris, aged 5^ years, his daughter ; and o f Eliza­
beth Winder, aged 17, a servant, who lost their lives in the
lamentable conflagration.
Thejury having been sworn, proceeded to view the bodies
o f the unfortunate individuals, which presented a very dis­
tressing appearance, the features being scarcely discernible,
while the flesh o f each was almost entirely charred.
T hejury having returned, received the following evidence;
Robert Tozer, one of the fire brirade at the London Fire
Establishment station-house, Chandos-street, Covent-garden,
deposed that about four o’clock that morning he was called by
a jxiliceman, who stated that the house No. 48, Strand, was on
fire. H e instantly proceeded there with the engine. H e found
the street door open, which had been forced by the policeman.
The lower part o f the house was in flames, and there was a
female at the second floor window. Witness asked her to
jump out, stating that he would catch her. She refused to do
so. They had the ladders with them, which they raised-to the
first floor, but the fire drove them back.
By the jury—N o one escaped by the door. A fire escape
was brought, but which was put up the wrong way. The
brirade have nothing to do with the fire escapes.
Evidence continued—They have examined the premises to
ascertain the source o f the fire, which appeared to have com­
menced in the shop. They found the bodies of Mr. Harris,
his danijhter, and the servant girl in the second floor. They
were all huddled together under a window, and were exposed
when the wall fell.
An observation having been made by a juror, that the So­
ciety for the Protection of Life by Fire ought to have com­
petent persons to be ready in cases of fire,
Mr. Spring, the secretary to that institution, who was pre­
sent, observed that the Society was not able, from want o f
funds, to accomplish that object.
Paul Gerard, another fireman, said that they have sufficient
length o f ladder to reach to the second floor. He took the
bodies out through the next house. He placed the body o f
Mr. Harris in a blanket. H e found the child’s arms clasped
round the servant.
By the Jury—There was no one to direct the raising o fth e
fire escape. There were ten or twelve attempting to raise it,
and they were occupied about ten minutes in raising it.
There were no party walls on either side.
Police Constable George Rodman, T 43, said that he saw
smoke coming through the keyhole o f the. house door and
through the windows of the second floor, which were open,
where he saw a man and a woman who called to him for his
assistance. H e burst the door open to go to rescue them, bat
he was driven back by the flames. He then sprang his rattle
and went for the engines. He afterwards ran for tlie fire-
escape, but when he brought it there was no one at the win­
dows, as the flames were issuing out of them.
Mr. Spring here said, in compliance with the wish o f the
jury, that they have exhibited the fire-escapes to several o f
the police force. The society is established upon voluntary
contributions, and when there are sufficient it i« the intention
to have persons located where there are fire-escaj>es. Had
the persons have had a knowledge o f the applicatión o f the
escape he had no doubt but that the lives would have been
saved.
A gentleman present, who stated that he was a member o f
the deceased’s family, observed that the deceased was a sub­
scriber to the institution.
Ed. Nocton, porter at the Lowther Arcade, said that he ac­
companied the last witness. The fire raged most on the left
side of the shop when the door was burst open, immediately
upon which the fire spread. He next observed a man and
woman at each window of the two-pair. The man had h»
foot outside, but owing to the smoke he fell back.
Anna Ford, servant to the deceased, said that she slept in
the second-floor back. She went to bed about half-past ele­
ven o’clock. She left all Mr, Samuel’s family up.* About
four o’clock Elizabeth t^’indor, who slept with witness,
awoke her, and said there was a fire. They both
got up, and knocked at her master’s (Mr. Harris’s)
door, which was locked. She broke open the door, when
they found him running about the room, calling out
“ Escape.” Elizabeth VVindor entered. Witness took hold
of a bahy, which was saved. The deceased, Esther Harris,
ran to witness, who, finding the flames ascending, left her.
Witness ran upstairs with the baby to Mr. Samuel’s room,
whose family had escaped by the roof of the house, in their
night clothes.
By the jury—The gas on Mr, Samuel’s side o f the
shop, which was on the lefi side near Mr. Bew ley’s, was
lighted when she went to bed. (It was here explained that
Mr. Samuels occupied half of the shop.) The gas on her
master's side was out. The gas lias escaped for some time
from the pipe.
Dennis Napoleon Lavalelte Ely, in the employ o f Mr.
Samuels, who is a lapidary, deposed that he went to bed
about 12. He left Mr. Samuels up in the back kitchen, which
is his manufactory. When he heard the cry of fire he rushed
down stairs and .saw Mr. Harris’s side o f the shop on fire.
Mr. Samuels’ did not appear to be on fire. He made bia
escape through the yard, and got over the wall by a ladder.
Bv thejury — His mas'er’s gas pipes were always in good
order. Mr. Harris was always complaining of the escape o f
gas. When it was defective he sent for the gas fitter.
Mr. Samuels was next examined, but not sworn.— He stated
that after he had left his manufactory in the back kitchen,
which was about 12 o’clock, he went intothe front kitchen, and
had his supper, and, as he is accu.stomed to do, read for an
hour and a half. He turned off the gas previous to going to
his bedroom, and he retired to his bed about two o’clock.
When he escaped, his sister and Miss Moss, who was on a visit
to her, accompanied him, Mrs. Harris left town a few days
ago. Mr. Harris went to bed about ten o’clock.
This being the evidence, the coroner summed up, when the
jury returned a verdict of “ Accidental death by fire ; but
how the fire originated there was no evidence,”
A l a r m i n g F i r e i n t h e C i t y .— B e t w e e n o n e
and two o’clock on Friday morning a fire broke out in a back
room of the house o f Mr. Perkins, I.awrence-lane, Uheap-
side. The watchman, who first discovered the fire, alarmed
the inmates, and having sprung his rattle further assistance ar­
rived, and a few minutes afterwards the Watlingand Far-
ringdon streets engines and firemen arrived, when the fire
was extinguished, but not until great damage had been done
to the stock in the room, consisting of several boxes of
French lace.
F i r e a t T u r n h a m G r e e n ,— T ue.ssclay m o r n ­
ing, between twelve and one o'clock, a fire broke out in the
workshops o f i\Ir. Whitlock, coaclmiaker, Turnham (I’reen.
The policeman on duty discovered the fire and alarmed the
inmates. The Brentford, .\cton, and Hammersmith engines
promjitly arrived, with two from Booth's distillery at Brent­
ford. Though there was a good supply o f water all exer­
tions could not suppress the fury o f the flsmes—the fire com­
municated to the show-shop and dwelling-house. The pre­
mises, with the stock, are consumed, .Mr. Whitlock is on a
shooting excurston in the country. It is not known whether
he is insured.
S a f e t y L a m p .— A m odification has b e e n
given to the D avy lamp in France. It consists chiefly in
making the lamp, instead o f the whole cylinder, the half, the
part cutaway being supplied by a reflector, by which means
near double the light is at the disposal o f the miner to throw
on any particular spot.
M e la n c h o ly A ttem p t a t Suicide by a
Y o u n g G e n t l e m a n . —On Friday, between eleven and twelve
o’clock, a young gentleman named Edwards, who has for the
last eighteen months resided with a female in Gran by-street,
Waterloo-road, was found in the outhouse with a frightful
wound in his throat and a razor lying by hi' side. A surgeon
was instantly in attendance, who sewed wp the wound, and
he was shortly afterwards removed home in a hackney-coach.
The unhappy youth has been in the habit of receiving acf^k.'^
every Thursday for 51., through the twopenny post, fronimis
mother (a highly-respectable widow, residing near the
London Hospital). On the above morning a letter cam%a»
usual, without the check, informing him that his d is g r a ^ q l
conduct had caused the death o f an only sister, and invjitink
him to attend the funeral. He remained in very low s g r i ^
during the remainder o f the day. The feelings of the
can be better imagined than described.
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