The Express.
London, England, 1862-09-02 00:00:00

TWO CHILDREN BURNT TO DEATH.

A shocking occurrence took place on Saturday
afternoon, in a brickyard in Hurst-road, in the borough of
Ashton-under-Lyne, by which two young children have lost
their lives, and another lies in a most precarious state. The
case is rendered still more melitacholy, as there is little
doubt the catastrophe was caused by the wickedness or
maliciousness of a boy six years of age. It seems that Mr.
Richard Parkington, brickmaker, residing in the above
road, and having a brickyard opposite his dwelling-house,
bas a small cabin in his brickyard in which a watchman sits
at night to watch the bricks as they are being burnt
—a precaution rendered necessary in consequence of
the trade outrages which have so frequently been com-
mitted in this district latterly. Between two and
three o'clock on Saturday afternoon three of the children of
Mr. Parkington, namely, Jane, aged seven years, having ahoy
seven months old in her arms, and James, aged three years
in November nest, were playing in the cabin, and they had
not been there long before Thomas, another child, rive years
old, ran to tell his mother that the cabin was on tire. The
screams of the poor children were terrific. The fire, which
had been caused by some shavings becoming ignited, wee
woe extinguished, and the children rescued from the flames.
All the children were found to have been droulfuily
burnt. James died in about ten minutes, and Enoch
gradually sunk, and died about nine o'clock. The eldest
girl lies in a most precarious state, there being very slight
hopes of her recovery. The inquest on the bodies of the two
children was held yesterday, before Mr. Frederick Price.
deputy coroner. In addition to the evidence establishing
the truth of the above statement, John Farkingtoe, aged
eight years, a brother of the deceased children, was examined
but not sworn. He stated that he was attending to the
bricks and making up the fires. He went home for a piece
of bread and butter, and as soon as he could get back he saw
Bobby Piercy (a boy six years of age, son of one of the
brick-makers working for his father). He was lighting a
piece of newspaper at the kiln, about twelve yards from
the cabin. He called out when he was lightiog it, " John,
we ere going to have a fire in the cabin." He then ran
to the cabin door and threw the lighted paper amongst
the shavings, after which he ran towards his father's.
The witness stated that he did not see any of the
other children with a light, and that he was cer-
tain he saw Piercy throw the lighted paper in the cabin.
The boy Piercy was called before the jury. He came in
crying, but nothing could be made of him, except that he
said it was another boy who had lighted the shavings. The
mother of the decemed children said that the girl Jane
had been quite sensible on Sunday, and also that day, and
the had several times stated that Piercy set the
, shavings on fire. In answer to the coroner, the mother
said she had refused to let this child play with her children
• because he was so wicked, but his mother and her were
friendly. The coroner summed up to the effect that little
reliance could be placed on the children's statements, and
that if the fire was wilfully caused by Piercy he was not of
age to be accountable for his actions, and a verdict of " Ac-
cidental death " was returned.

THE PRESTON GUILD. - ACCIDENT AT THE
REVIEW.

This celebrated festival was opened with much
insoil ceremony yesterday morning. Never did the
handsome town of Preston show itself to greater advantage,
and never did its " proud people" promenade with greater
show. Festoom and banners were thrown across the street
every here and there, and liege floated on housetops, church
steeples, and every prominent building, imparting much
beauty to the lively scene.
About 10 o'clock, the Mayor, Mr. It. T. Parker, thealder-
men, the councillorsAnd the offloers of the Guild attended at
the Grammar School, Cross-street. The Mayor then formally
opened the Guild-book, and the Guild having been pro-
claimed by the Town Clerk in due form, and other legal
business transacted, the civic procession was formed, and
marched through Winkley-square, Chapel-street, Fisher-
gate and Church-street, to the perish church, where all the
pewholdera were seated. The service was commenced at
11 o'clock, mid the Guild sermon was preached by the
Rev. J. O. Parr, vicar. As in time of old, the Guild was
also opened with much pomp by the Roman catholies, at St.
Augustine's chapel, where high mass was celebrated by the
Right Rev. Dr. Goes. Bishop of Liverpool, who also preached
toe crowded cougregatiou.
The admirers of athletic sports also celebrated the opening
of the Guild, by holding their contest on the Marsh. In
addition to prizes amounting to 1051., four elegant Guild
belts were given to successful competitors. The sports will
last the whole of to-day (Tuesday).
The next object of interest was the review of volunteers,
which took place of the Marsh, and was attended by 5,689
artillery and rifle volunteers, from Preston, Blackburn,
Kirkham, Burnley, Bury, Wigan, Southport, Bolton, Old-
ham, St. Helens, Liverpool, Roll, and Clitheroe. The
rifle volunteers numbered 2,517, and the artillery volun-
teers 3,172. About three o'clock the reviewing officer,
General Sir Yorke Scarlett, accompanied by a staff, arrived
on the ground amid the cheers of the assembly, which was
very large, and at once proceeded to his duties. Imme-
diately afterwards, however, the west end of a large stand,
adjoining the Grand Stand, fell in with a loud crash, pre-
cipitating about 100 persons of both sexes on to the ground.
Fortunately no life was lost, and while several were bruised
and slightly injured, we were told that there were no broken
limbs. The Grand Stand, apeble of accommodating nearly
15,000 persons, was thronged by a brilliant assembly.

EXECUTION or JAMBS WALSH.—LIIIERICK, MON-
DAY.—WaIsh was executed at ten minutes before 9 o'clock
this morning, at the county gaol, for the murder of Mr.
Fitzgerald, at Kilmallock. There were over 2,000 persons
present The culprit did not address the spectators. After
the bolt was drawn the miserable man struggled violently
for some minutes. The crowd dispersed quietly.

- -
FOROENY BY A CLEROYMAN.—On Saturday after-
neon the Rev. Thomas Cartwright, curate of St. Mary's
Church, Nottingham, was brought before the mayor and
the local bench of magistrates, at the police-court, charged
with uttering a forged bill of exchange, on the 4th of August,
1862, with intent to defraud. Mr. A. Wells prosecuted, and
Mr. Maples defended the prisoner. Mr. Henry Hudston,
bill discounter, Nottingham, deposed that on the 4th of
August last the prisoner milled upon him at
his office and asked Lim to discount a bill of exchange.
The bill now produced was the earns, and was as follows :
"W. Nottingham, July 31, 1562. Two months after date
pay to my order the sum of twenty pounds, value received.
To Mr. Pater Drummouil, Stirling.—Thomas Cartwright.
Accepted, payable at the bank of Messrs. Roberts and Co.,
London.—Peter Drummond." &Wormed, "Thomas Cart-
wright" awl " Henry 1ita1430." Prisoner told withers that
Mr. Peter Drummond was the proprietor of a periodical
called the Britist Messenger, and the money was for lite-
rary services. He had at the time a copy of the periodical,
I which he showed to witness in corroboration of his state-
ment. Wben the prisoner produzed a bill witness observed
1 that it was endorsed on the wrong corner, and at his
I direction it was endorsed in the proper place. From in-
formation he had received he believed the bill to be a forgery.
Mr. Superintendent Raynor said that on Friday evening,
about six o'elock, he want to the prisoner's house with a
warrant for his apprehension. The prisoner asked what it
was for, and witness said it was for uttering a forged bill
of exchange. Prisoner asked to look at the bill, but wit-
ness refused, stating that he would read it over to him. Pri-
soner then asked wbo was preferring the charge, and wit-
: nese mid he did not know. He then took him into custody.
Mr. Wells, on behalf of the prosecution, asked for a
i remand for a week in order to produce Mr. Drummond ;
this the bench granted. The prisoner appeared very de•
jected, holding his handkerchief before his face to hide
it as much as possible from the gam of the spectators.
I The prisoner was ordained by the Bishop of Lincoln on
I
Trinity Sunday last, being licensed to the curacy of St.
Mary's, Nottingham. A year previous to his ordination
he conducted divine service in s populous part of the town
in connexion with the church of England, as a probation
previous to his being ordained. Immediately preceding this
be was superintendent minister for the Nottingham district
of the New Connexion Methodists, but seceded from that
body iu order to enter the established church. Previous to
this charge be was always considered an active and zealous
I man, and was highly respected. The prisoner was removed
!to the House of Correction. It is said that a number of
other forged balls are in circulation.