The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1868-09-01 00:00:00

THE ACCIDENT TO THE IRISH MAIL.

TRII INQUIST.

The inquiry into the late appalling railway acoideni
mar Abrrgsle,beten on Monday,before Mr. Evan Pierce,
the coroner for Denbighshire, who is an old gentleman,
and on the occasion he exhibited • singular amount of
petulance. obstinacy, and vacillation. N., soonvr was
the court opened than he began to talk about an
adjournment, suggesting amid general diner, Wed-
nesday week as a time more "comfortable" for every-
boy. Finding this proposal/wowed great objections, he
retreated from his position with extraordinary eel,r:ty,
and with the usual absurd assurance that all he desired
WOO that "everybody should be comfortable," adding
that ho wqpid fix for the adjournment till the next
Wedneadayrif that would make all "somfortable."
From two o'clock tx seven it WU a series of ludicrous
squtbbles and mianal, rstan lbws. The coroner was by
I turns paternal and abusive. The jury as they et el
round in a eiroll to be sworn in. were allineni-hed in
this fashion, "Now, gentlemen, he quick ; den't waste
time gentlemen in kisming the book. 11. y! Mr. Jones
what are you about that you are net ready? Come,
come. Mr. EVIIIII, let us show these English gentlemen
that we can be quick." With duo, running admoni-
tions to the jury wore mixed appeals to the public.
"Now, my good friends, I really can't allow you to
talk; this here is a solemn inquiry ; if you want to
COLlTerde, now do, gentlemen, co into the market-pi/Lm.
Policeman, keep the door shut; turn out those gentle.
men who won't held their tongues I Now, Mr. Griffiths
(a juror), wasting time again," Act, Sta. After the oaths
had been administered, the coroner dismissed the jury
for a quarter of an hour to refresh theuis‘lves, after
they viewed the remains. Before they returned the
reroute came running into the ball, by himself, tnlking
at a great rate (but suldreenn.: himself ho nobody in
particular), about something that the police had done
tliondh it , I,

. „

i /a

iu

y bitou. i
,i,un to tt.,e.
II -t •.
prospect Of the 'wittily being aosameneed ; but it wee
soon diseovered that the witness was giving evidence
upon the notes thst were in the handwriting of one of
his colleagues, and then a &tram of friendly admonition
and fatherly caution desoended on him froni the
coroner. 'Now, Mr. Jones, Mr. Jones, I'm astonished ;
you're sworn to speak the truth; stink to the feats,
men- I will say I never sew • Inure oreditsblu pe*
ourtent examination, but don't be troubling these
untlemen by saying anything that is not true." Over
tho question of granting the orders for burial • still
more pitiable scene of irresolution Was exhibited by the
coroner, who et led got into • pinioned dispute with
Sir II dwards, and sharp words paused between them.
The friends end relations were naturally anxicos thst
the interment should proceed without dilay, but the
coroner seemed unwilling to great the certificates.
First he solonsnly promised to give the certificates
immediately, then withdrew the prouder, then made it
again, then hinted that Thursday would be quite soon
enough, "as the bodies woald keep," then proposed
to adjourn the court at once in order that the
certificates might be made out, and finally refusing to
issue one of them until the evidence of Dr. Jones had
boon taken. This having been done, ho agreed to give
the certificates, and an adjournment took plane.