The Express.
London, England, 1855-03-22 00:00:00

'OIII[BIIIILE

SOUTH WALES CIRCUIT.-SwAmi, MARCH 20.

MOWN 0091M-11/31033 Ma. MORI= CIVAIPION.
Williams Honk*, described as a haulier, aged 21, ws.
Misted for feloniously killing and slaying one David
Meredith. The prisoner bore the marks of extensive sad
none iejuries by fire, his head and hands being enveloped
with bandages.
Mr. Orme, Q.C., and Mr. D. T. Evans conducted the
peeesetien ; Mr. Giffud defended the prisoner.
This sees was remarkable u an endeavour, under the
imperfect state of the law as it now exists, to protect the
lives of millers and others working in pod-pits, by pueials•
moat of negligence, and with the purpose of indming
greater care and caution amongst the workmen than they
mends, at present. it appeared by the evidence that the
prisoner was a haulier, in the employ of Yuan. Wayne,
the proprietors of the Cerra-bath Colliery, near Menial*,
and the Moused was a miner working in that colliery. On
hewer occasions uplosions of firedamp had marred *
the ease pit, and it clearly appeared that the IreaSUSINIS VII
in a very unsatisfactory and insufficient state. Oa the
of the Bth of February list the fireman, ea Ow =
the under-ground workings, found that a eseele loam
they of fire damp had accumulated at a spot alba " Hoy-
bias's beadles," and he set up a mandril, which we a well-
** denoting danger, to notify to the men who
rvirloalildisaiddue muse have to work there that day that they
must be cautious. Previous to his dmeendiog the pit fa
the morning, the fireman and a cutter severally warmed Me
prisoner that, as he would have to work in the dimple.
quarter, he must use a Davy lamp, and be careful not to
take of the case or bead of the lamp. A lamp was given to
him, and he made one journey for trams to the spot, is
Hopkins's heaths', where the colliers were at work, with-
oat meideas. On his second journey for trams, just as he
mashed the furthest stall in the dangerous heading, the ipti
took fin, sad ea explosion followed, which killed am
Thomas Morgan (a boy who accompanied the prisms, to
open and shut the doors used for ventilation), sad the fie-
mooed David Meredith, and severely burned several rakers,
es well ea the prisoner himself. One of the witnesses swore
oe having seen the fire flash from the direction of the psi-
mates lamp, and another proved an admission by the pei-
some that he fired it whilst a policeman gave a state-
ment made by the prisoner, that " if he were to die that
minute he could not say mth, the gar Iced teem his own
lamp or from that of Thome who moseepanied
him, and who was killed by Me e i The prisoner'.
lamp-top was found, after iM ampledio, ram jacket
pocket, without the lamp, hem gbh\ an idiors woo
offered that the prisoner's lamp wee impede=
wire sheath, which ensures safety, at the time of the
He stated that he dropped the lamp in making hie way se
the bottom of the shah. The lamps of all the other puma
working at or near the spot were found to be emend In
proper °audition. was en the deems&
was men with his clothes Evidence on fire, and giv that
that he died from the
isjeries he received in the explosion.
The jury, without the semsaing of the judge, .classed
a verdict of "Not Guilty," moompenying it with severe
°ensure nem the proprietors of the colliery for their
culpable negligence In -not providing sufficient ventilation,
but permitting men to work from day to day in a highly
dangerous, and explosive, and unhealthy atmosphere of
fire-damp.
His lordship tally concurred both in the finding of the
awcyand the seneares passed upon the owners of the colliery,
nd expressed an opinion that it should not be left entirely
to the poor workmen to take care of themselves, but that
legislative provides, Should be made to compel colliery
owners to preside ample security for the valuables lives
engaged in their service. His lordship added that he **-
ti oly approved of the institution of this hediament ;it
would have a pod effect on the workmen though it had act
seeeseded; it would infers them that whin, is the per-
fonsams of their lawful deity, they ommitted ea aet of
minded negligees. whereby dm* enased, they meld U-
lna Mk to punishment m *avionics el the °Sam
The primer ma then *dieted es the eerener's inquisi-
tion for the reeetimghter of Thomas Morgan, at the same
time and prime.
Mr. D. T. Evans with whom was Mr. N. Weed, m
advice of the learned judge, and with the emearesaM el
the prosecutor, said that after the result of the itinot=
Ike would offer no evidence for the prosecution. •
of Not Guilty was therefore taken, sad the pabseer was
discharged.