The Express.
London, England, 1862-12-27 00:00:00

ANOTHER ACCOUNT.

A sensation which it is almost impossible to desale has
been created throughout the whole of this district From
the official investigation made by Mr. Sampson Low, the
secretary of the Royal Society, it appears that Conductor
Clark was called about half-paid 11 o'clock by several per.
sons who came running, and informed him that the 11-e
bad broken out He immediately started with his
escape, and reached the scene in one minute and a half. He
then found the fire coming out of the front shop, and the
shutters down. He backed his escape to reach the second
floor, as a man implored him to do so to save his three
children, stating that they were the only children in the
house. Having adjusted the escape, three or four men
robed up, and Clark had to climb over their balks, and
once he fell. The conductor rushed into the room with
the fire burning around him, and between them they
saved two children apparently suffocated. Clark next dashed
through the flames and by nearly losing his own life
managed to save another child, but in so doing he was
terribly burnt over the hands. These children were ap-
parently between the ages of one and five years. By this
time the house was fully on fire, when Mr. Inspector Spencer
arrived and also conductor Robinson, with the Soho
escape, just as Clark was bringing down the third child.
The crowd seemed for the most part partially tipsy, whilst
some ware so drunk that they caused the greatest confusion.
All the available force was placed round the burning build-
ing, but unfortunately, whether the tomcod's had gone out
or bad not been called, one thing is clear, that whilst the
"snorting steam-monster" was puffing away, not
the least supply of the New River Company's
water could be obtained for ten minutes, and during the
interval the flames made fearful progress, and the whole of
the lower and upper part of the house was in flames. At
this conjuncture a scene that defies description ensued. A
man, his wife, and other branches of his faro'ly came up,
inquiring where his six children had been taken to.
No one, of course, knew anything beyond the
fast hut three children bad been sand. Water
at length having been obtained the engines were set
to work, and Shand and Mason's land steamer did wonders
in a comparatively short space of time, eventually sub-
I du'ug the fire. A search was then made of the upper
floor of the building, and in the top room were discovered
the bodies of the six unfortunate children. They were not
much burned, death having evidently been caus:d by suffo-
cation. The names of the poor creatures were—Samuel Spen-
cer, aged 14; Sarah Anu Spencer, aged 12 ; Emily Spencer,
aged 10 ; Joel Walter, aged 8 ; Edward Spencer, aged 7 ;
sod Alfred Spencer, aged 3 years. The parents of the
children, it seemed, upon hearing the breaking of the
shutters, rushed down to see the came. They found the
place on fire, and were unable to ascend again to save their
chodren.

Captain Shaw, in his official report, describes the damage
as follows :—" No. 6, Portland-street, St. James's, Mr.
Chard, jeweller, ground-floor burned out, and upper part of
home very seriously damaged by fire ; sic lives lost. No. 5,
ditto, if. L. Keyes, let out io tenements, frost scorched and
ceiling damaged by water ; contents insured in the Sun Office.
No. 7, ditto, Mr. Webb, engineer, ainiilar &swage ; insurri in
the County Ftrwoffice. No. 1 opposite, Mr. Smith, harness-
maker, front of premises damaged by fire, insured in the
County Fire-office. House of Mr. George Saunders,
butcher, similar damage to the premises and the contents.
So much damage (says the gallant captain) was canoed by •
Winger pulling the abutters down."

MARLBOROUGH.STREET POLICE-COURT.
William Henry Jennings, furniture dealer, of 2, Hollen.
street, Soho, was charged before Mr. Knox, at the M►rl-
borocgh-street Police Court, by Inspector Gasper with re-
sisting Policeeergeent Allen, 20 C, at a house on fire in
Portland-street, Soho, the previous night.
Mr. Edward Lewis, of Great Marlborough-street, de-
fended; and Mr. Staples, foreman of the C d,ariet,
attended to watch the case on the part of the London Fire
Establishment.

Sergeant Allen, 20 C, said—Last night I was at a fire at
C Portland-street, and saw prisoner trying to pull down the
shop shutters. I told him the danger he was likely to
muse. As he refused to go I threw him in the carriage-
way and then burst open the door. Seven or
sight of the inmates rushed out of the passage
where there was no fire. I then went up and brought
down two persons, and then entered the house
again, and from the first floor brought down a second child.
While at the door with the child eaw prisoner spring the bar,
and two shutters fell, the fire that time being principally
confined to the shop. I seized the prisoner and haodc I him
over to a constable. I then went up to the landing, but
could go no further. In consequence of the draught caused
the fire went right through the house.
By Mr. Knoz—&: lives were lost.
By Mr. Lewis—l don't know the prisoner, and that he
has rendered assistance at fires. I don't know it was a friend
of the prisoner's who saved some lives.
Mr. Lewis—All the sergeant has said is perfectly true,
tit.

Inspector Draper—Mr. Staples is present, your worship,
if you would like to hear him.
11r. Knox—There is no nonentity.
11r. Lewis—l am sure everyone most admit that great
'edit ie due to the sergeant for his conduct throughout.
'a babel( of the prisoner. all I can my is, that he has assisted
. a great many fires, and that all he did was to attempt to
•in an entrance that he might be of assistance. All I can
y will not alter the unfortunate state of things, ►nd it is
ulch be regretted under the truly painful circumstances,
lien the police were in the execution of their arduous duty,
bet the prisoner did nut at once desist and go away.
'bat she prisoner did he did with a good ioten-
ion, end with that remark I will leave thecase in your
orthip's hands.

Mr. Knox—l am prepared to take that view of the case,
,1 to believe that the prisoner was actuated by good in.
ration, and that in acting as he thought for the best hehas
"woe ¢ large share in causing the death of those unfortunate
bildren last night. Any person who opposes the antbori
.yes, whether the police or the military, in the execution of
'heir duty, does a moat improper thing, however good his
ntettiona may be ; and I should not be doing my duty if I
id not mark my sense of the prisoner's conduct. The real
Punishment, however, to him must be the regret he will
`eel to his death that in what he did last night he was
l4rgely concereed in the death of those who perished.
51r. Knox then sued the prisoner 5/. or one month, for
•betructiog the police is the execution of their duty, and

said—Mr. Duper, I should way much like the ear-
geant's conduct to be represented to the Oommissioaers of
Polio'. It is beyond all praise. It is more like the
heroism of a soldier on the field of battle. Be risked his
life for others, and no one who beard the feeling manner
in which he detailed his conduct, could fail to admire it.

THE POLICE COURTS.
(THIS DAY.)

WORSHIMIREEL
BTARIUNO.

Frederick Deitz and Frederick Become, respectable-look-
ing persons, and described as butchers, were charged
before Mr. Leigh with the following serious assault :
George Murphy, whose bead wan bandaged, stated that he
was a porter and lived in Chambers-street, Whitechapel, and
on the previous night, while returning home in company
with one David Lynch, they overtook the prisoners, against
one of whom he believed his companion acmdentally pushed.
Deitz instantly struck him (witness) down and kept him
there u he lay on his backluntil a police-constable came up,
and relearned him ; subsequently he found that he was
bleeding from the head.
Lynch, who is a labourer, gave a similar account of the
matter, adding that he perceived something glitter-
ing in the right band of Deita—that Flat vine struck him
three or four times on the heed, although he raised his bands
to ward the blows off, and then knocked him down by a blow
on the chest. After the prisoners were in custody be maw
blood flowing from a cut in his wrist, and there were like-
wise two wounds on his bead.

Barnard, 191 H, said that on hearing cries of " Po"es !"
and hastening to the spot be found the four persona in
question engaged as described by the prosecutors; he caught
hold of Herrin.), who directly struck him on the head with
his fist. He did not, however, release his prisoner, but with
the other hand dragged Delta from Murphy, as he was on
the ground. Not any knife or sharp instrument was found
upon either prisoner.
Medical evidence was given of the injuries inflicted, from
which it appeared that on the heed of Mr-phy there was an
incised wound reaching nes-ly to the bone, and that it most
have been mused by • sharp hurt' ament, such as a small-
Waded knife ; another and similar wound, bat not so deep,
ems near it ; and Lynch had two wounds on the hr ad also.
The prisoners denied hav:ng poxesaion of knives, and
declared the injuries were caused by the fist or the fail.
Mr. Leigh ordered their committal to the Central Cri-
minal Court on • charge of wounding, but consented to
accept bail in heavy sureties, which were quickly produced.

SHARE LISTS.-(THIS DAY.)

Two o'Ctsoar.

There is only a limited amount of business going
forward in the railway market to-day, preparations
for the forthcoming fortnightly settlement engag-
ing chief attention. The general tendency is rather
unfavourable. Great Northern stock has receded
per cent., and Midland, South Eastern, and Great
Eastern, 4. Lancashire and Yorkshire has improved
4. The other principal stocks are without venation.
London and North Western stock is now quoted
964 to 1 ; Great Western, 674 to I ; Midland,
1284 to ; Lancashire and Yorkshire, 1081 to
; Caledonian, 1154 to ; South Eastern,
88 to ; Great Eastern, 464 to ; Great
Northern, 124 to 125 ; and London and South
Western, 101 to 102.
Indian railway stocks are firm, especially East In-
dian and Great Indian Peninsular. Antwerp and
Rotterdam, Sambre and Meuse, and San Paulo are
inquired for.
OILDINANT MARJO! AID STOW%
ex re I Itaaw•Te. I fir" Prim. atritti