The Express.
London, England, 1846-09-19 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 19, 1846.

dreadful havoc, extending from the kitchen and the shop to
the two upper floors of the budil.ng. As soon as n supply of
water could be obtained the firemen set to work vigorously.
but upwards of two hours were spent before they euecteded
in extinguishing the flames, and not before the whole of the
stock in trade was consumed. The police had a difficult
task to keep the many thousand spectators out of the way of
danger.
FIRE. IN THE GROVE, BOUTHWARK.—Last night,
shortly before 11 o'clock, a fire t roke out upon the exte.osive
and old established oil, mustard, and saw-mills, situate in
the Grove, Guildford-street, Southwark, the property of
Meters. Saddler' Firth, and Ross. The first discovery was
made by some of the inhabitants of Little Guildford-street
perceiving smoke issuing trom the mill, a building about 70
feet long, and near 40 wide, filled with articles of the most
inflammable character. An instant alarm was spread, but so
rapidly did the flames extend, that before any assistance
could be obtained; the whole of the building became com-
pletely enveloped, and as the fire broke through the several
windows and roof, it roared like a number of furnaces in full
operation. The light thrown out was so great, that the
neighbourhood far round was completely illuminated. In a
short time numerous engines were on the spot. For some
time, however, an abundant supply of water could not be
obtained, and the large flakes of fire tha• were wafted over
the surrounding factories csused the most lively apprehen-
sions for their safety. At one period the destruciion of the
saltpetre works of Mr. Hawes, sod the enaineering works of
Messrs. East and Amos appeared inevitable. At length,
however, a 6ufficiency of water was procured from the mains
in the streets, and the various factories hard by, which was
scattered upon the right quarter; by that means the firemen
were enabled to cut olf the turther spread of the flames, but
before they were extinguished the whole of the valuable
stock of trade in the mill was consumed ; the costly steam
apparatus it contained is supposed to be destroye ', and the
building was nearly gutted. The total loss must be very
considerable, and it could not be ascertained whether or not
the sufferers were insured. A number of poor people renting
houses in Guildford-street and the adjoining districts will be
serious ',men by a hasty removal of their furniture. It is
believed that upwards of 'lO,OOO persons were present to
witness the progress of tee fire.
FIRE NEAR HOUNSLOW.—The day before yester-
day, two stacks of clover, worth 400/., "belonging to Mr.
Sherborn, of North Hyde, about two miles north-west of
Hounslow, were destroyed by fire. The origin of the
calamity is unknown.
A ItAll.wAY TRAIN ON FIRE.* On Wednesday
evening a fire broke out in one of Mr. Cheal'e vans attached
to the mixed train from Exeter. It was first discovered
after the train left Ealing, a few minutes before eight
o'clock; and, after ineffectual efforts to subdue it, it was
considered advisuble to detach it from the train near the
junction of the West London Railway. The inhabitants
in the vicinity of Kensall-green lent their assistance to
extinguish the fire, but their efforts proved unavailing.
The contents of the van were couaumed, excepting two
barrels of ale. The cash-box and invoices cannot be found,

so it is to be presumed they have been destroyed. The
origin of the fire has not been ascertained.
INQUESTA.-1)EATII FIT FALLING FROM A CHAIR.

—By Mr. Payne, at Guy's Hospital, on the body of Ann
Steed, aged 62, of Tower-street, City. She fell from a chair
six weeks ago, and fractured her thigh. Her constitution
was tacit so impaired by a long illness, that there was but
little hope of her recovery. and she died yesterday morning.
Verdict " Accidental Death."—DEATH FROM A KICK.—
Also by Mr. Payne, at St. Thomas's Hospital, on the body of
James Fames, aged 36. On Tuesday the deceased was
driving a team from Eltham to Maidstone, when his horses
suddenly started oft: In his endeavours to atop them he was
kicked on the head, the lower jaw broken and otherwise
injured. He was removed to the Hospital, but died at the
gates. verdict '• Accidental Leath."—DEATH "'KOK
Poises.—late on Wednesday night an adjourned inquiry
was concluded by Mr. W. Payne, at Guy's Hospital, on the
body of Jane Robertson, aged 35 years, who destroyed her-
self on the afternoon of Monday, the 31st ult., by swallowing
poison in a coffee-house in the Westminster-road. She lin-
gered until the Bth instant, when she died. Mr. Lund, the
assistant surgeon, mado a post-mortem examination, and
found that the deceased had died from the effects of a large
quantity of eorroaive sublimate. The summoning officer
stated that he had made every inquiry, but no clue to her
relatives could be obtained. One of her articles of clothing
was marked " Lambeth Workhouse, On Loan," but the
authorities at that place knew nothing of her. The deceased
was heard to say while in the hospital that she took the poi-
son through distress of mind. The jury, after a long con
sultation, agreed to a verJict of " FeM de se."—St mine.
—by Mr. W. Baker, at the Sash and Crown Tavern, on the
body of James Guest, aged 47, whose case has been noticed in
Worship-Street report. Verdict, " Temporary Insani-
ty. '— DEATH FROM VlULENCE.—Adjourned inquest
by W. Baker, Esq., at the Hare, Cambridge Heath, on
the body of Mary Comber, a widow, aged 43, lately
residing ut No. 13, Martha-street, Cambridge road.
The jury having viewed the body, on which were many
marks of violence, Mr. James Smith, a surgeon of Denmark-
terrace, deposed that he was called to attend the deceased on
Tuesday afternoon, and on entering the room, was struck
with the stains of on the floor, as also the broken glass
in the window-frames and on the floor; he found the de-
ceased in bed quite insensible, in which state she remained
until her death the next morning. Ile ordered Inc stimu-
lants and sent her some medicine. Sbe had nn incised
wound on the left side of her forehead, which appeared to
have bled a great deal, and the hair was in it all matted to-
gether with blond: the wound wss about an inch and
half in length.—To the coroner • It is, I think, possi-
ble for the woman to have inflicted the injuries herself;
the cot on the forehead might have been caused by corn-
ing in contact with a pane of glues, and breaking it.—
I have made a post-mortem examinatiun of the body, and I
found externally marks of violence or bruises on the arms,
hips, thigh., and legs, but none on the trunk of the body.
Both eyes were black when I first saw her. On opening the
body, I found the contents of the chest and abdomen
quite healthy. On reflecting back the scalp of the head, I
found extravasated blood throughout its whole extent, parti-
cularly beneath the external wound. Oa removing the
skull-cap, I found the vessels of the brain enormously con-
gested, sufficient to cause death, and which 1 attribute to the
external injuries. To the Ceroner: Excel-site drinking
might have caused such congestion. There was no evidence
in the hods that the deceased seas a drink( r The sisti rof
the deceased stated that the deceased had formerly been in
Bermondsey workhouse, but about 15 months ago Mr. Gray,
a s ,lieitor, got her to go and live in his house, and he received
for her board and lodging 301. a year, hieing the interest of
1,0001. in the funds. A woman lived with Mr. Gray 11,‘ hie
wife, and of this woman deceased was much afraid. Wit-
ness went to Mr. Gray's to see her sister on Sunday,
:std was admitted into the house, and saw her sister in the
back kits hen. She was very dirty; and on witness asking
Mr. Gray if he had no dean clothes for her, he said they
were in soak. She took her sister home to tea with her,
and she entreated to be taken away from Mr. Gray's, for
Mrs. Gray ill-used her and beat her a good deal, took her
muff away, and threw water over her, and she was afraid she
would kill her before long. Mr. Gray would lock her up in
a room sometimes, because his wife, who was deranged,
should not get at her, but he was out nearly all day, and the
deceased, who had been subject to epileptic tits for the last 14
years, was left without protection. hlary Ross, the datiahMr
of deceased, stated that on Monday last she went to see her
mother, but Mrs. Gray told her, through the window, she
could not see her, for Mr. Gray was not at home, and she
would not let her in. She went three times that day
hut was not admitted; she went again the next evening on
having been told her mother was thing ; she was then ad-
mitted; her mother was insensible and could not speak, she
died te next morning: she then left the house.—George
Ross, the hushawl of the last witness, stated that after the
death of his father-in-law about live years ago, some papers
he left behind gut into the hands of Mr. Gray, who insti-
toted some law proceedings, but the family could never get
any satisfactory answer from him relative to the property,
further than that at the death of Mrs. Comber her children
would ehare the I,oool.—The Coroner here remarked, that
as the deceased had no power to will the property to Mr.
Gray, or any other person, it would be rather his interest to
keep her alive than to hasten her (bath, and he would, with
the consent of the jury, examine him.—Mr. William Gray,
of 13, Martha-street. Cambridge-road, said I am a private
gentleman, the deceased came to my residence to board and
badge with me, and paid 11 shillings a week by the
year; she had bud health, and was subject to fits
about once in a fortnight. I have tried to per-
suade her to go back to the workhouse but
could not succeed. She had a fall on Thursday, and
fell on her face. On Saturday evening I ease her about
nine o'clock, she was then in bed, and I saw blood on the
floor, but a little blood makes a great mark. I thought she
had fallen down again in a tit—Coroner : Do you know of
any injury done to her by any one ?—Witne.'s: No.—A
juror: Do not you think you ought to have had medical
assistance ?—Wituess : You are putting a question I am
not bound to answer. Coroner: The witness is quite right
there, he is not bound by law to criminate himself—Fore-
man of the jury : It is merely a straightforward qu. stion,
and deserves an answer ; it seems strange Mr. Gray
should have a person in his house seriously ill on the
Saturday night, and not send for medical assistance till
Tuesday evening.—Witness: 1 did not send at all. Some
woman went for Mr. Smart. The fact is, I did not know
she was so near her aeath. I have been her best friend in
the world. I got her property for her. They drove me into
Chancery. Here is the decree of the Master of the Rolls.
I have never been paid vet. 100/. will not pay my expenses
out of pocket. Pray, Mr. Baker, did you order the post
motley; I.—Coroner : I thought it necessary. I don't charge
you.—Witness : How dare any man charge me ?—The
Coroner: No one does charge you. I say you had an
interest in her living, none in her death.—Ultimate:y the
jury returned a verdict " That the deceased died of conges-
tion of the brain, but whether it was caused by violence, of
which there were marks, or by natural causes, they had no

. _
evidence."
FLOGGING AT ROCHESTER uTniorr A COURT-71IAR-
TIAL.--FRIEND: The Duke of Wellington, in his evidence 1
before the committee of the House of Commons on military
punishments, is reported to have dwelt much on the fact
that flogging is always inflicted in public, and he is said to
have used these words:—" It is done in public, and there is
a security that it will not go to any excess." My present
object is not to inquire how iar this alleged publicity, and
the preliminary of a cotr, omartial have had the effect of
preventing all excess., for public opinion is in a measure
matured on this n'Ant; but I am anxious to invite your
attention to the floggings inflicted in the district military
prison, Fort tlarence, Rochester, without the publicity to 1
which th'.., duke refers, and—what is more important—
without the formality of a eonst-martial. Having
collected the following fragments of information on nne
rach case, that of private —, 57th Regiment. I shall
state Mem as they came itaier, may notice, with etwollier
comment than this—that the reservation on the part of the
government of the power to inflict 50 Luhes, now appears to
open a door fur a great excess of cruelty. Private —, 21st

Regiment, stated in substance as follows :—Private was
sent to the prison for desertion. It appears that he spoke to
another prisoner, which is forbidden by the regulations of
the prison. He was reproved by a corporal, and some
altercation ensued, when he struck the corporal with
the leather stock from his neck. He was put in
close confinement, and by order of the visiting officer for the
week, received fifty lashes. " The mutilation which
this poor creature suffered, his groans and writhing; were
beyond description, causing an involuntary shiver to creep
over my body. I have frejuently seen men receive by public
flogging 150 lashes, but their punishment was not so severe
as these fifty. The blood ran down his poor body as water
runs down the kennel. I was compelled to stand by
and see it. (You may put my name to this statement)"
Soon after giving me this information, Private em-
barked for ladle. I therefore hesitated to make a public
use of it load I could meet with some collateral proof
of its correctness. With this view, I called on the colonel,
and inquired of him if it were true that had
received fifty lashes by his order, and without a court-mar-
tial; and I asked him to put me in a situation to contradict
the stat, ment, if it were untrue. This he firmly though
courteously declined to do. I then went to the governor of
the prison, alai asked him if he would authorise me to con-
tradict the statement that had received fifty lashes by
order of the visiting officer, and without a court-martial ?
This the governor, like the colonel, declined to do ; but sug-
gested that I could ask the prisoner himself on the day of his
liberation (the 20th of last month). I accordingly saw him
on that day, when he stated as follows :—" That he was re-
proved by the corporal for speaking to another prisoner,some
words passed on both sides, he struck the corporal with his
stock and was put i i close confinement. This wasabout the end
of May. Two or three days after he was marched out before
Col. —, who said, " I have ordered you fifty lashes
without any unnecessary delay." Is quite sure Col.
said, " I have ordered." He did not say, "The Court
orders you." The governor stood by at the time; there was
also another officer:: does not know whether he was an ensiga
or what; knows that he was not one of the visiting officers.
Had no opportunity of making a defence ; was simply
marched out t hear his sentence. The neat
morning received fifty lashes in the usual mili-
tary style by two drummers. Tore a piece of the
lining out of his trowsers to bite during the punish-
ment. Durst not take a button from his dress lest it should
get him more punishment. Bogged repeatedly of one of the
drummers during the punishment not to flog him over the
seek and chest. At length the non-commissioned officer
standing by, said, "Strike lower," and then he did so. Sat
on his bed for three days afterwards with wet cloths on his
back and a rug over them, keeping his shoulders as still as
possible. In eight days was sent to beat stones; it was very
painful and difficult. Went at length to shot drill and the
other "hard labour" of the prison. Was liberated this
morniag. liad lost 24Ibs in weight in the four mouths. Takes
off his upper clothing, shows marks of corporal punish-tent
on the shoulder-blades, neck and chest, also the brand
. .

D,' under the arm. It is also elated by
one of the wardens, tha: "corporal punishment is inflicted
in the prison, not by order of the governor' but of the vi-it-
ing officer, and without a court-martial. They now go as
far as fifty lashes. For some time after the opening of the
prix m, they were limited to a smaller nunaber."—FßE n
WHEELER, Rochester.
[Our correspondent has put us in possession of the names
of all the parties mentioned in his letter; but fur obvious
reasons we refrain from publishing them.]
THE " TIMES" AND ITS STATISTICS.—Sir: Mr.
Hudson has, unluckily fur himself, provoked a com-
parison between the principles on which the system of
railways and the system of the press are respectively
emilucted, both subjects In ing considered as matters
of commercial speculation. The Times has ably and
triumphantly demolished not only the attempt to set up an
analogy between the two eases ~enerally, but has com-
pletely vindicated itself from Mr.'lludson's charge of com-
parative cupidity, founded on the fact that the Times
charged 3!. ISs. for an advertisement fur which the Chronicle
charged only 3/. 34.; indeed it is surprising that so acute •
person as Mr. Hudson should have made such a charge in the
face of the obvious fact of the immense difference between
the circulation of the two journals. So far the public will
no doubt syinpathise and agree with the Times. But in the
count of its arguments the Times makes statements which
will not meet with such ready acquiescence, nor will the in-
ference he readily accepted which it covertly draws from
those statements, namely, that a newspaper charging Is,*
than :id. per copy cannot pay. Take the following, which
is correctly copied from the Times of this day :
Cost of paiwr fur each copy of tins 'a publication..
Newseentlet,' profit

Sale to the public

Profit on each paper ......... .................
Now, admitting these figures to be accurate, the calcula-
tion is too bare to enable the public to pronounce
judgment to the effect that it would not be possible to supply
the public with a well-conducted journal at " a lower tariff
than the present." Yet the Tim's coolly suggests this infe-
rence, and further, that to continue the operation of a lotyer
tariff " invoices one of two conditions—either that the pro-
prietor, shall always be able to fall back on ti.e ample sub-
sidies of some undisclosed millionaire, or that they shall be
eventually ruined." Hut unless the Times discloses fully
and entirely its whole p out and loss account, showing its
profits by adrerlisements, and from every other source, we
shall not adopt its dogma that less than sd. cannot be a pay-
ing price, and we may go so far as to assert that the partial
sk, tch given by the Times to show the profit on a single
copy might even show a loss, and yet the paper, on the
whole. be n highly profitable concern. The Times enjoys,
and des,vvedly enjoys, gloat influence, and no party grudges
its influence and its reputation ; but fair play is tAO bright a
jewel to be given up even to so great a public favourite ; and
therefore I venture, on behalf I f the Daily News, whose
spirit arid talent hate justly woa it both the gratitude and
support of the public, to deprecate the side blows aimed at it
by the Thunderer, and nut allow the imputation of reckless-
ness to stain the good name which it has so worthily earned
in the cause of the people.—M. 1).
TUNDRIDGE AND ITS VICINITY r. THE SOUTII
EAsTNUN Itattway.—Sir,—The train 4,1 the South-eate'rn
company, which ought to arrive at the town of TunbritLte
about five o'clock in the morning, is frequently as late as
nine and half-past, thus causing the greatest delay and in-
convenience, not only to the town itself, but to the numerous
small carriers who come to this place from the viliaoes round.
The time of receiving goods iu London fur the goods train
is live o'clock in the evening, so that in a town situated only
'orty milts from London, sixteen hour; elapse Wore they
are at the station, and it is usually two or three hour. after
this that we have them delivered at our place of business.
Surely we may as well go back to the good old-fashioned
road waggon,, unless we get better accommocl ited than this?
The rate of cairiage, too, is quite as high as the smallest
colliers would charge.—A TRALESM AN.

the witness, and denied that he made such a statement.
Cole spoke to me, and told sue to mind what I said at the
inquest. I made no reply No persuasions or threats
could induce the witness to say another word on the subject.
Coroner: It is very evident to me that you have been
tampered with in the moat unjustifiable manner, and it is
confidently stated that your master is the person who
has interfered with you. It appears that your master is a
Person named Wisbey, and at the present moment sitting
in this room as a member of the jury.
Mr. Wisbey declared that he bail done nothing with the
boy, further than counselling him to tell the truth.
Mr. Spencer, a juryman, said : Mr. Wisbev, it seems to me
that you allowed your servant+ to take a liberty. with you,
which no servant of mine would dare to take with me.
When that boy, John Chesham, left this room on the last
inquiry, h.: touched you on the arm, looked up in your face
and smiled. You then said," Well done, boy, you did it
very well."
C•ironer (to Wisbey): I have no doubt you made that re-
mark to the boy, and that could not have been done without
an object. It was a strong remark to make, because it was
the conviction of all present that the boy had committed
perjury. Has any one mentioned the subject to you ?
Wilber : No.—Coroner: Not either of the Newpurts ?
WisheY : No. I never spoke to them on the subject.—
Coroner: Have you not been up there occasionally of an
evening to talk about this subject ?—Wisbey : Yes, I may
hare been up there to talk about it tom times.--Coroner:
Was anything said about the boy ?—Wisbey : Not that I
recollect —A Juror: Did Thomas Newport say anything
about arsenic ?—Wisbey Yes, he said something about it,
but I forget what.
Air. Spencer, a juryman, expressed his conviction that the
conduct of Wisbey had been disgraceful, and that his crimi-
nality hail been increased by the fact, that as a juror he had
sworn to do justice.
Mrs. Cheatham, the mother of the accused woman, recalled.
Corner: Mrs. Melton, have you since the last inquiry said
that you were not going to let the jury know all the informa-
tion you had about the deaths of James and Joseph ?—Mss
Chesham: No, I have not.—Coroner: Now, on your oath,
did you not say to several persons, when you left this room,
after being examined on the last occasion, " I was not going
to tell them all I know ?"—Mrs. Chesham: I never said
anything of the sort.—Mr. Spencer (a juror) : Mr. Thomas
Newport told me you said so in the presence of fifty people.—
Mrs. Chesham : It is false, and Mr. Newport dares not come
here and make that statement while I am present. While
the children were ill, I made them a little gruel, and one of
them said they would rather have a quart of water, as they
were so thirsty.
John Chesham, hnahand of the accused woman, deposed
that on the Saturday before the children died, he was out all
day at Litticbury. He went out between dark and light.
When be got home he found the children very ill. Ile did
not into bed, hut went to call Sarah Parker and Mr. Hawkey.
the surgeon. I never said to Mr. Hswkes that ho should
not go down. That was all the evidence,
The Coroner said it now became h;a duty to offer to the
jury a few observation+ respecting the very important and
mysterious inquiry in which they had bees engaged, prior to
the consideration of their verdict. They had it clearly
proved that the deceas,d Joseph Chesham died on the Nth
January, 1545, and his brother James on the 22nd January,
but three days afterwards. It had also been proved beyond
dispute that both these children had died from the effects of
arsenic, and it would be the duty of the jury, if passible, to
sac how or by whom the poison had been administered.
The cvideuce having been read over, the court was cleared,
and the jury remained for a long time in deliberation, when
the Coroner said - From certain eireumstanees which have
been disclosed, and of whirls until just wow 1 was perfectly
ignor .nt, the jury as well as myself feel that a further ad-
journment is necea...rv, in order that evidence may be ob-
tained which will in all probability prove of a very important
and conclusive character.—The investigation was ad;ouroed
for five weeks.