The National Register. — London, England, 1815-10-01 00:00:00

OCT. 1, MELANCHOLY AFFAIR .AT LIVERPOOL THEATRE. La En POOL, SEPT. 27.—We are extremely concerned to state, that after the performance of Richard 11. to a crowded and respect able audience, attracted by the novelty of the play, and the splen did talents of Mr, Kean, at our Theatre, on Monday evening lest, a serious and melancholy state of confusion occurred, occasioned by a false Mann. which was followed by the most disastrous cruse. qnences. About the middle of the entertainment a scuffle was heard in the upper box-lobby, which caused several persons to rush fnrward to learn the reason, and at the same moment a cry of fr Fire" was supposed to come from that part of the house where-the noise originated. The word fire was repeated by several of the spectators, which spread universal terror and dismay throughout every part of the theatre. The gallery contained about 800 persons, who simultaueously pressed towards the passage leading to the stair case, which was instantly chinked ; it was there that a young wo man of the name of Edge, who had but a few hours before arrived in town, was overthrown by the crowd, and notwithstandieg the unno.t efforts of several persons to rescue her from her perilous si tuation, was literally trampled to death. In every other part of the house a similar degree of contusion prevailed in the panic-struck au dience, fitr the most part, rushing to every outlet in the utmost dis order. Providentialiy no more lives were lost ; several persons, however, rerei vet' severe contusions, and others were much bruised. but we are informed, they are in a hopeful way of recovery. In deed, considering the nature and extent of the alarm, it is some what surprising that the consequences were not more deplorable than those we have been under the painful necessity of recording, which, in some degree, may be attributed to the exertions of seve ral gentlemen who pieserved their presence of mind, and sticceeded in producing a partial degree of order in the lower parts of the house. It would not be doing justice to close this melancholy nar rative, without noticing the zealons endeavours of the acting ewe eager and several of thee performers to restore tranquillity. It will be seen by the s u bjoined minutes of evidence upon the Coroner's Inquest, that the person who was the cause of this tinfortimate af fair, is of respectable connexions, and had on the same day arrived in town from Ireland, and who, it appears, is in a state of mental derangement. The following is the substance of the evidence • given before the Coroner's Inquest held yesterday upon the body of Mary Edge, the female above mentioned : John Renshaw, receiver of the cheques of the loser boxes at the the are, deposed, that between ten and eleven o'clock that night, a Mr. G. came to the theatre, dressed in woman's clothes, accompa. nied by a Mr. Harison ; that they went into the box lobby, and de ponent followed them, su s pecti ng (ben t ; that he d es ired Mr. G. to go to some other part of the house, upon which he put his hand up and said, 44 I'm a man," and 'that he would knock deponent to pieces if he prevented him ; that Mr. G. and Mr. Harrison proceed ed to the upper lower boxes ; that a constable was sent for, and de ponent, the constable, and one of the box-keepers went to Mr. G. and Mr. Harrison, whom they found in the lobby of the upper lower boxes, making a great noise ; that they were desired to go away peaceably, but they refused to do PO ; that the constable laid hold of Mr. G. upon which he instantly called out loudly, 44 0 ! Ireland, Ireland, Ireland!'' that he was taken away, and he mutinied mak ing a noise till he trot into the square, when lie was put into a coach aud conveyed to Bridewell ; that Mr. Harrison had made hikescape, but was afterwards taken the same night about one o'clock, and se calved in Ilridewell; that he had changed his dress in the mean time ; that in consequence of Mr. G.'s calling. nit Ireland in the lobby, great limbers of persons Enslied to the ctttrat,ee of the boxes ; that they inquired of deponent if there was an alarm of lire ; he said `• No. it is a false ahem—its a Man dressed in ‘‘o(tian's elnaths,' upon which several re-turnt"l to the iwXl'•; ; that deponent dues not' r e c3ll. c( healing Mr. G. call out " !" Charles Paiker, lower box opener, dvpn , e.l, that between ten and eleven o'clock last night, Mr. (:. and r liartkon came to tire theatre, the tOrmer was die•iseil in woman's cloatlis, and stood a short distance fiont the latter, while he paid the admi: , ion money. That they passed deponent, and Mr. G. it•ked him for Mrs. Talbot', box; be said he had no such name, toil referred hint to 'Robert ile•ketli. That deponent communicated his suspicion.; to Mr. Ren shaw, as to Mr. G. being a than; th.it deponent occupied Mr. Ren shaw'oxitaation, while he and a 'nnstabte went after Mc. G. and Ns. Harrison. Tliat in a ger) . aliact time deponent heard a cry esT front the right of the tipper lower boxes, which lie mider.tooll t.e he an alarm of fire; in cot:segue-nee, number of per , ou4 the boxes. arm] r.epeated cries of " Fire!" came Irmo the andiezice. That when Mr. C. was brought back by the ronolhh . , he trroPPe 4 fur tippet ; that Mr. flanks directed bun to iv) to the gallery, to sea- tier what assistance he could there ; that he met several . petN , oll4 con ing down the gallery stairs applrentiv very notch hurt, and la great confusion; that a great number k.nl gone out before deponent reached. Robert He•keth's, lower box keeper, deposition, went to confirm the preceding. Peter Taylor, receiver at the ripper boxr4. deposed, that between ten anti eleven o'clock last Muhl, Mr. G. and Mr. Harrisow came tta deponent and wanted admittance—Mr. H. ' , Aid lie wanted a;lmit twice for him*!land a lady. Deponent told Mr. G. he was ant ut i ll woman's clothes, he said, wily do you say iso?" lie re, plied in terms that he was certain lie was a man. Deponent refitsca them admittance, and they left—that ill Khoo half an horn an alarm of tire was given from the ripper boxes, several personi cried out " Fire" and great numbers rushed forward iti a confoA4l ,tats•. Stewart Larkey deposed, that he was employed last night at the theatre, to assist in keeping order in the gallery; that between ten and eleven o'clock a general al erm of fire wits given. and Event tin... hers rushed ftom the gallery ; that he bumf the deerasel lying on the floor near the gallery door, and she held her hand ()tit, but he was not able to raise her up. front the great pressure of the people, until about five minutes, during which time milOrrs of person 4 pressed upon and passed over the deceased ; Ora When deponent raised her lip she appeared quite dead ; that he carried the de ceased to a fruit standing in the lobby of the gallery, where he left her ; that as deponent was afterwards carrying nut a lady. he sew the deceased lying upon the fruit standing, and lie was told she a' 4 quite dead ; that the deceased lies at hackie's public loose, near the theatre. Joseph Moody. of Newcastle. in Staffordshire, sadler, dello ed, that he and the deceased came from Chester to Liverpool ye.terdity. at which latter place they arrived about four O ' clock in the after noon ; that they went to the Theatre about eight Wel 'ek in the evening, they went into the gallery, a n d sat iiroi the tilt spat hot one; that between ten and eleven o'clock a t!reat vonfusion in the gallery, as he afterwards understood Ivion ar alat in Of having been given, and great numhers of per-4 , iis ;wiled torwaid to get out ; that the deceased ent up, and went tim arils the stairs, and as deponent was following her. he was knocked down, and he therefme lost sight of her; that he did not see t h e tleee ised avin, until he saw a female carried into a loom, which lie was told wit the scene room; and as he wished to know if it was the decease:l, lie got admittance, and lie found that it was deer. ed , and she was dead. The deceased was removed to Wale's public house. Thomas Atkinson, wailer at the Liverpool Arin , , deposed, that between ten and eleven o'clock yesterday morninz. a.:(1 lady, and another gentleman, came to their lion-c ; Mr. ing fir. ii for INlr- Kean ; deponent acquainted him with hi. IndA L/ that he went out, and returned and got lsreakl.st, anti took dims, r rib r•at five o'clock. with the lady and two gentlemen, and that they' drank a good deal of wine at dinner: that Mr. G. dressed himself in «'- man's clothes, and went out in a coach, saying he was going to the play ; that he appeared to Ire insane; that he got the clothes from the lady who came with him, and from the servants in the ; that between ten and eleven o'clock he left the inn, in a r.o.lch, with Mr. ilarrh.on, who had dined with ; that Mr. 11. 11.!thUIC.1 between twelve and one t•Vioek, and w.is taken a mai, - h sumo of the police G. did not return : and that )11. (;.% duet in the morning', was VPrV strange, lay mo, awl ;tan. cing. and swearing in the house- Mr. Kean depo•eil. that he had known Mr. O. cinre the ittimer of 18 1 4; that he k the brother of the wife of the Vitt. AlAjor rat Russ; clev•mvat dined with him, at Ilk (Mr. (;.%) hria.e, to 1)oblit, la•t :tomtits, ill a mpinv with !Aid Not Itary, Lard We.t_ meat's. and other% : that Air. G. rai+hell latintu,ly into depot:our.; r (Inn ) in %% 1 ;1161w:on yeorrilay InamiatT, (Itt , cf , (l in the Kil• kenny thei.tt ical noiforat ; that he talk«l very st it l and a ppe Are to be deranged in Isis mind ; that deponent, riot to l ea ve him with Nirs. Kean, took him with him to the Theatre to at te 1 .1 the reheat sal ; he was on the title, and left thy Thei:tre about t..” or eleven o'clock, and deponent did not see him :wain until he saw !sin, the Toys is hall to.:1,1). Vs Rh(' - 'dal D. an'. THE NATIONAL REGISTER.