The Express.
London, England, 1846-11-19 00:00:00

the merchant princes derived 'their opulence and Wealth. I
The memorial, which contained much valuable infor-
mation, and which was most ably drawn up, detailed an
amount of misery and disease which it would be impossible
fur the most sceptical reader to refuse credence to. The volu-
minous character of the details, as read by the officer of the
ward meeting, prevents its appearance in our columns; but we
are the less disappoiated in that respect from the knowledge
that by the decision of the meeting the valuable document will
be in the hands, in a printed, form, of every resident house-
holder of the district.
On the motion of Mr.CARPESTaIt, seconded by Mr. FIELD,
the adoption of the memorial was unanimously agreed to.
Much desultory conversation followed, in which it was
admitted by all the speakers that the bye-places of the dis-
trict were in a most unhealthy and dangerous state ; and the
representatives of the ward, including Mr. Deputy Obbard,
Mr. Deputy Bedford, Mr. Burn, Mr. Isherwood, Mr. Har-
ding, Mr. Anderton, Mr. Buckmaster, Mr. Williams, Mr.
Stokes, and Mr. Richard Taylor, with others of the body,
expressed their readiness to support the prayer of the memo-
rialists.
After some general conversation of no practical result, Mr.
GEOROB WALTIE, of Shoe-lane, moved that the memorial
which had been read should be printed and circulated in the
ward.
The ALDERMAN intimated after, with the ward clerk,
that the present meeting, not being a wardmote, it had no
power to tax the community for such a purpose. The report,
however, he felt to be so valuable, that if the expense of its
circulation would not exceed 10 guineas, he was quite ready
and willing to bear it. (Hear, hear.)
It was afterwards resolved that copies of the memorial
should be forwarded to the Secretary of State for the Home
Department, to the Chief Commissioner of Woods and Fo-
rests, and to the Commissioners for Metropolitan Improve-
ments.
The meeting was aubsequently addressed by Dr. LYNCH,
who with great ability advocated the adoption of sanatory
regulations, and deprecated in strong terms :he indifference
of the Corporation of London to that important subject.
Thanks were then voted to the chairman for his conduct
in the chair, and for the punctuality with which he had
convened the meeting ; and Sir Jas. Duke having returned
thanks, the court-house, which hail been fully attended, in a
short time was without an occupant.

THE FALL OF THREE HOUSES.
ADJOURNED INQUEST.
Yesterday forenoon, at 10 o'clock, Mr. G. I. Mills,
deputy coroner, resumed the inquest, adjourned from Satur-
day, at the Hoop and Toy Tavern, Old Brampton-road, on
the body of James Casey, killed on the 12th inst.
Mr. Ernest Jones attended to watch the proceedings on the
par of the family of the deceased.
John Collins deposed that he was a bricklayer's labourer,
in the employ of Messrs. Emmens, the builders, and lived
in Jennings-buildings, Kennington. Witness was on the
houses in question, and on the same scaffold with the de-
ceased, when they fell. The scaffold was round the chim-
ney.. Part of the scaffold rested on the last floor, and part
on the one below it. Deceased was within a few feet from
witness at the moment of the accident. No one else was
there on the scaffold, which was erected to build the chim-
neys. He had no notice of the moving of the house. The
chimneys made the first move. Witness and the deceased
were tying up two ledgers at the time. There was not
cords enough,and witness said to the deceased it was too dark
to go on further, and that they had better put it off until the
next morning. Witness then turned round to go down the
ladder, and as he did so he saw the scaffold going under
him, and the building all going down together. Witness
then fell, and when he again came to himself found that he
WAS lying on the top of the rubbish. Witness was so con-
fused at the mom :at he saw the scaffold going down that
he had not sense to look for the deceased. Witness was much
hurt about the head, arms, and back. Did not consider the
buildings dangerous before that. Deceased and witness had
put the scaffold up. In answer to a arious questions witness
stated the scaffold was well tied and braced round the chim-
neys. Was not afraid of the safety of the scaffold or of the
brickwork of the chimney., as the bricks were &shard as iron.
Had thrown ore of the bricks from the top of the house to
the bottom without its breaking. Had seen better mortur
than wag. used in the buildings, and also much worse. Had
not heard any one say that the mortar used was not
good mortar. A good many bat bricks were used
in building the walls, and some were also used for facing
work. By batshemeant half bricks and three-quarter ones.
Heti they not been so used in erecting the chimneys, whole
bricks must have been cut. Would have complained of bad
materials being used if he had thought there was any danger.
World have spoken to Mr. Emmens had he thought there was
danger. I lad previously never complained of bad materials be-
ing used, but had grumbled at having too many bate to carry.
Had not done so in the present instance. Had not com-
plained of the mortar. Did not watch the mortar to see how
it was made. Did not think the buildings were run up faster
than they ought to be. He should not object to work there
again without any mare protection than he had before.
Cola not say if the chinineya falling took everything else'
with them, or how the fall was occasioned. Considered '
four bushels of sand to a bushel of lime with water in pro-
portion was a good mixture for mortar ; should put Thames
sand for the best work and pit sand for common work. Did
not know if bad sand had been used in the mortar in the
houses in question for cheapness ; could not state the rela-
tive proportions of the sand and lime he used in making the
mortar for the houses : never measured them, but when
m iking the mortar used to shove a barrel of lime into a heap
of sand and mix it. Thought that any eminent surveyor
wonl,l sanction the use of four bushels of sand with one
bushel of lime as a mixture of pod mortar. Thought too
much lime in mortar never did it any good. Had he built a
house for himself or his lather to live in he would not have
found fault with mortar made like that at the houses which
hail fallen. Did not know if the sand used was Thames
sand. It was sand good enough. l'art of it was brought
from Mr. Holmes's brick-field. Did not know where it had
come from to there. Ilad no direction.) given
him as to the making of the mortar, but made
it a. he had nen the witness Mason make it.
Had he had plenty of lime, and was building a house for
himself and family, he would have put half a bushel more
lime in the mortar. When he was working for Mr. Freak,
another builder, he put is more lime, but the same quantity
of sand. The witness here said he was in such a weak state
that he should answer no more questions.
Michael Rockwell, of Berry-street, Chelsea, deposed that
he was foreman over the bricklayers in the employ of Messrs.
Emmens, and had been engaged on the row of houses far the
last six months. The three houses in question had been in
hand about six weeks. Had been told to do the work
in a workmanlike manner. Could not say where
the bricks came from, but thought them good. Had never
complained thatthere were too many bate amongst them, and
that they were h id. Had not complained of the mortar to
any one. It worked very easy. Thought too many bats had
not been used. Had he been building lis own house he
shoukl have used more. Had used worse mortar on govern-
ment buildings. Had he made the mortar, he should have
used three barrels of sand to one of lime, which he considered
would be sufficient for anything. If one more barrel of sand
Was used to that, the mortar would be inferior. Inferior
mortar was sometimes used for party wall.. Could not ac-
count for the fall of the hoes. Would now top the stack of
chimneys still standing, butte uld take no more precaution-
ary measures than was taken before the accident. Had be-
fore worked for Mr. Griasell. Could not say how much
lime was proper for a rod of work. Could only answer
by the comparison he had just given. Had used worse
mortar, and had used better, but then it was nearly all Lim?.
Good mortar would stick to the bricks if it had stood long
enough to set—say four months, but bad mortar would not.
Could not say if at was the bricks, the mortar, or the iron
tying, that first gave way. The scaffold was erected in the
usual way, with putlocks. Eleven labnirers were con-
tinually running up and down the ladders. The wall was
held by iron beeping, which run along throughout it. It
was tied wherever they could do so. Did not think' iron
tying so safe as wood. Thought the want of wood bands
had nothing to do with the falling of the houses. Thought
it would have been much safer if return bond timber had
been put in. Was sure that the houses still standing were
quite safe, and would say so if he or his own family were
going to live in them.
A solicitor, who attended on the part of Mr. Holmes, the
owner of the property, said be wished for the fullest in-
quiry. and would assist, to the utmost of his power, in
attaining that object.
Patrick Marra, the first witness examined on Saturday
last, recalled, and further deposed, that he made the mortar
before Collins, but had no directions as to the making of it.
Thought about four bushels of sand to one of lime was the
quantity he used, and, as no complaint or fault was found
with him about it, he went on so from first to last. Had
made mortar at the Great Western Railway, and for Mr.
Hoof, but had there done so under the direction of a fore-
man, who, when he did not like it. told witness to put in

more lime.
Thomas lianniland, a carpenter' in the employ of Mr.
Holmes, and
came to
on the works: Could not say how
the houses came to fall. Thought they had been run up too
quick in damp weather. They had been only five weeks in
erecting, when they ought to have been two months. Had
not complained about the quickness, as that was not witness's
place. When they were got up to about the first floor, the
weather was very wet ; and he thought that the lower part
was not sufficiently set to bear the weight of the upper part.
Was in the third house, which fell about five or ten minutes
past five o'clock. Witness heard a rumbling noise, and ran
out of the kitchen in which he was as fast as he could, and
then found the two adjoining houses had fallen down. The
walls were tied by irons which were torn out. Could lay the
accident to nothing hut the dampness of the walls. Con-
sidered the second floor save way first. There was a great
' deficiency in the bends, as the law does not now
allow timber to be used, and iron bonds do not stand. That
was the opinion of all working men. Did not know if the
government examined working men, as well as surveyors
and architects, before the Building Act was passed. No
wood is now used in party walls, as a bond. All the wood
that is now put in must be as a rest, and not loagwise.
Considered the chimneys would not give way at the top, as
the scaffold was • support to it. Should say the chimneys
were run up about forty feet above the top flooring. Was
confident bond timber made walls more secure. Had been
apprenticed for seven years, and had had five years' expe-
rience. Considered *e wall would not have buckled had
bond timber been used in it. Had heard no complaints
against the materials used ; considered them good.
The Deputy Coroner said he believed the witness had stated
the real facts of the matter. He had done so fearlessly, and
he (the eeputy coroner) trusted he would not sustain any
damage from having done so. •
Mr. Blore, the surveyor to Mr. Alexander, the freeholder
of the ground, said that if be was building for a gentleman
of property, or for government, he should require in both
cases that stock bricks should be used, and that th
hale
mortar
should be made in the proportion of two and a sand t
one of lime, or of three to one. Thought four to one was
not a fair proportion of ingredients. 'That was witness's