The Express.
London, England, 1865-12-20 00:00:00

SHOCKING DEATH BY PIRA

INQUEST.—(THIS DAY.)
held by Mr. l e
This morning an inquiry was
Richards. the deputy-coroner. at the Prince of Wales
Tavern, High-road, Tottenham, tonohiog the death by fire t
of Mary Higdon, aged 47 years. 10
Alexander Higdeu, a turner„ Rein at North-road, Tot- st
tenham, said that the deceased was his wife. Oa Sunday I
witless returned from church at half-past 8 o'clock, and Le
found his wife who was given to drinking beer, seated 82
opposite the fire, wearing a light muslin dress. All at
gi
coca she rushed from her seat oat into the garden, crying
out, " I am on fire !"
Joseph H. Taylor, a neighbour, said that he saw the de. if
ceased rush to the door in a mass of flame. The last wit- lf
Dees followed his ife into the garden, and he ,
then stood lookieg w
at her while ehe was shrieking
and covered with flamer. He appeared as if he was
paralysed. While witness was getting some rake sod
water, a young man ran to the deceased and pulled her
down upon the ground. The water and sacks were then
thrown over her and the fire was extinguished, She was
then named to her room sod a doctor was sent for.
Mr. W. B. Poole. 11.11.C.5., said that the deceased was
dreadfully buret about the upper part of her head, and she
expired in 48 hours.
The Coroner having lammed up, the jury returned •
verdict of " Aocidental death by fire."

METROPOLITAN BUTCHERS' MEAT Snow.—(THIS
Dar.)—This morning the butchers of the metropolis made
their display of meat intended for Christmas consumption,
and on no previous year has its excellence of quality
been serpaseed. Among the Oity purveyors, the shops of Mr.
Gems., of Cannon.street, and Mr. Bannister, of Kiog street,
are crammed with splendid beef and mutton. Mr. Com-
fort, of Farringdon-street, exhibits meat of fine perfection ;
and in Holborn and Oxford-street, there is a fine display
of highly fed meat. Mr. Petheridge, of Barton-crescent,
attracts public notice by exhibiting the Duke of
Sutherland's prize oz. The shore in Fobert's-place en d
Swallow-passage, Regeot-street, keep the inhabitants of
•Hanovevequare in good heart by a show of meat of rich and
rare quality, and the celebrated Giblets, of Bond-
street, and Mews. Slater, of Kensington, have
amply provided for that locality. The Pimlico
and Westminster butchers give ample proof of
their ability to snit the fastidious in Belgravia, and the
suburban meat purveyors are alive to the times. St.
George's, Whitechapel, and the City dead meat markets
have a large supply in store. Poultry is unusually plenti-
f el, and is sold at a reduced price. The butchers will cut
up carcases to-morrow, and make sale during the rest of
this week.
Szatous FIRES.—About 2 o'clock this morning a
fire broke out io the premises of Mr. Edward Killwick,
upholsterer, No. 204, Highatreet, Poplar, and six rooms
and shop were completely gutted. Another fire happened
in the premises belonging to Mews. Johnson, Smith, and
Co., situate opposite Ch. ist's Church, Stratford. The wing
was entirely consumed. Another fire occurred in the
premises of Mr. Wilkins, oilman and lamp manufac-
turer, No. 4, Great Portland-street, Marylebone. The
shop was burned through.
THE CASE OF HOMICIDE BY A JOCHEY.—An
inquest was held yesterday, at Richmond, on the body of
Robert Roberta, the men who was recently killed by •
jockey at Mr. Watson's training stables, Belongs, Rich-
mond, Yorkshire. From the fats which transpired at
the inquiry, it appeared that the deceased requested
Lawrence, the jockey, to go and fill a boiler, and, as it
was alleged, this request was refused. Lawrence running
away, Roberts pursued him, and Lawrence took the
fork from the place where it was Mowing and threw i
at deceased. It entered his right eve, and caused death in
a very short time. Lurrence admitted having thrown the
fork, but asserts that he never intended to hit his victim.
The jury, after a short deliberation, returned a verdict of
manslaughter. The greatest sympathy is felt in Richmond
for the prisoner. There is no doubt that he has been
subjected to a system of abuse at the hands of deceased.
The chief constable of the Gateshead force was preust
during the inquest, watching the case on behalf of the

prisoner.
SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST THEIFER OF A
LUNATIC ASYLuIL—A. coroner's inquiry Ens eld yesterday
into thecircumstances attending thedsath of James Redman,
an inmate of the Rainbill Asylum who
a d
last week under
suspicions circumstanoss. body was covered
bruises, and several of his ribs were broken. It appeared
also that Thompson, one of the warders, bad openly stated
that he had used violence to the deceased. The coroner
said thy cue was of such a serious nature that he must go
further with it, and accordingly the inquiry was adjourned
until Wednesday next. In the meantime, Thompson re-
mains in custody.
ANOTHER ASSAULT IN A RAILWAY CARRIAGE.—
At Stamford petty sessions on Saturday, before the mayor,
Mr. Paradise, sad Mr. Chapman, acne Tait, a potato
merchant, of Grained, was charged with assaulting a
young lady, named Scott, aged fifteen years, and also with
a violation of the bye-laws of the Midland Railway Com- .
pan). It appeared that when miming through a lengthy I
tunnel at Stamford, there being no light in the 000tpart-
meat, the defendant put his arm round the young lady,
who was sitting neat to him, anl leant his bead on her
shoulder ; she screamed out and rushed to the door, where- '
upon a geotlemen named Cole took her under his protec-
tiro. On emerging from the tunnel Mr. Cole remonstrated
with the defendant in strong lantnage, when Tait s
Mr. Cole on the face, seized him by the collar and tore his
shirt. The magistrates fined the defendant 40a., and 40a.
coats for the assault on the young lady, end 21/e. and teats
for breach of the company byedaws—altogether upwards
of 61. The assault oa Mr. Cole was Sot committed an the

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