The Express.
London, England, 1853-09-10 00:00:00

SINGULAR AFFAIR AT WALWORTIL

Yesterday and during the precious day the
utmost excitement prevailed tn the neighbourhood of Wal-
worth, in consequence of the discovery in coffins containing
th bodies of two children, on ler the following most extra-
ordtaary circumstances, vili;eh gave rise to the rumours
that the children had been murdered :

Information having bete forwarded to Mr. Cook, the
coroner's officer, he proetcded to No. 5, King'estreet,
Surrey-square, where he found in an empty room the
coffins, which were of the most singular construction. Upon
examination he found them to be formed of • much harder
material than any used for such purpose in modern times,
leaving a greater resemblance to the Roman stone coffins,
which are occasionally brought to light by the researches of
the antiquarian. On closer inspection, it was evident that
they were composed either of asphalt, or some ether bitu-
minous substance. On each was a metallic inscription
plate, bearing the following:—" John Gibbs Kirrage, died
4th June, 1342, aged 10 weeks"—" Rua Amelia Kirrage,
died sth April, 1848, aged 11 months."
This singular affair was brought to light in the follow-
ing manner. About seven months ago a woman, giving
the name of Mrs. Kirrage, took the house No. 5, King-
street, but not being able to pay the rent, the landlord on
Thursday last distrained upon the goods, and the men sent
to remove them, much to their astonishment, bound coffins ;
and immediately gave information to the police. Mrs.
Kirrage, who is still remaining in the house, and who is
far advanced in pregnancy, is in the deepest distress, not
having a vestige of furniture, or even a bed to lie upon,
although her confinement is hourly expected. She stated,
In explanation, that her husband was in prison for debt,
near Brigoton, and that he would not be heard at the In-
solvent Court for a twelvemonth. He was a bricklayer and
builder, and formerly re,ided at Norwich, where the child
John died in 1812, for whom be made a coffin of asphalt°,
one of those found. The other child (Rua) died at Kenning.
too, and another coffin, a:so of asphalte, was made for it by
the father. She also ststtd the children had not been buried,
in consequence of their poverty, but afterwards admitted
that her husband had tried to get a patent for the construc-
tion of coffins on the principle of those found She then
handed to Mr. Cook two certificates' one of them being
from Mr. Carter, the coroner (or East Surrey, ho held au
inquest on the body of ltosa, at the Greyhound Tavern,
Kennington•common, on the Bth of April, 1848, the child
having died suddenly, and a verdict of " natural death "
was returned. The other certificate, relative to the death
of the second child, is from Mr. John Nicholls, physician,
of Surrey-street, Norwich, certifying that the death oc-
curred at Bt. Peter's Mancrolt, Norwich, on the .4th of
June, 1842.
Superintendent Lund, of the P division of police, on
being informed of the discovery, decided that he could not
move in the matter until he had communicated with the

Information has been forwarded to Mr. W. Carter, the
ooroaer, for his decision as to whether an inquest ought to
be held upon the body of the child John, who died at Nor-
wich, or whether the certificate of Mr. Nicholls is sufficient.

SEVERAL DEATHS BY DROWNING.

Yesterday aftermeem Mr. W. Baker, the coroner,
held an inquiet at die Bleck Hone Tavern, Kingaland-
read, Slwviflrl, ea vim, of the body of a male person
a anent 26 years of age, who was found
dew abairislPlPrietarenesianal. It appeared that the body
IPSO Mad on Titwolday morning floating in the water near
UM Gas Works, Hartgentone. The deceased was
bestmese% an in his pockets wore found sixpence io
owe% but avising to lead to his identity. He was
neon is Kash sloth coat end mowing. black satin vest
man mums it, calico shirt with false front, black
ma tie,pSOniee boots, and white cotton stockings. The
body, while bed been in the water several days, was taken
to Blionditdi Workhouse. The Jiffy returned a verdict of
"Found dee4
_impunity ilmewsed."
Kr. W. Beim aim seeeived information from Kr.
Vaisibash the needle et Beennal.green, respecting the dis-
avow of dm lady et • goatteinan, which was found yester-
day assaisi is the water of Sir George Duekett's
Cann Ifieteria-park, Boaner's.fields. The deceased was
was dressed in • suit of black, the waistcoat being lined
with pink silk ; Wellington boots. A silver watch, with
gold guard chain, end min shillings in silver, were in his
pcketa. No letten or paper writing were found upon him.
The body was conveyed to the City of Paris Tavern, to await
an inquest, which will be held this day (Saturday). The
deceased is at present unknown.
Another body was discovered yesterday morning near the
Twig Folly bridge, Boating near Sir George Duckett's
canal, and bad the appearance of a labourer in a state of
great destitution. The deceased was without • shirt and a
hat, and the only articles of dress were a pair of ragged
black cloth trowsers and • dark frock coat. Nothing could
be found in the deceased's pockets, and the body was taken
to the Victoria beer-shop, by the side of the canal, to be
identified, and for • coronar's inquest, which is appointed
to be held this afternoon.

A fourth body wu found on Thunday, in the same canal
and was that of a boy about ten years of age. The deceased
was unknown, and had bees in the water only a few days.
The deceased was conveyed to the Theft Colts Tann, Old
Ford, Bow, when an inquest was bold before Mr. Baker
yesterday, and the jury, after basting the evidence of the
finding, returned an open verdict of " Found dead."

SIIII'WRECIL—On Saturday the schooner Susan,
of Sligo, Captain Sandford, commander, bound from Liver-
pool for Galway with a cargo of salt, wee wrecked off the
Blaaketty. At 10 in the morning she struck upon a sunken
rock, and immediately commenced to fill. The captain,
who was standing on the deck, at once set the pumps to
work, but before five minutes elapsed the water was on a
level with the beam. All hopes of saving her being now
,lost, the crew took to the jolly boat, and had hardly time
' to escape from the unfortunate schooner when she sunk.
They palled towards the schooner Eliza, which was in
sight, bound from Bangor to Galway, and were 'received
with every attention by the commander, who landed them
here on Monday morning. As nothing which could indicate
a rock was visible, the impression on the captain's mind is
that she must have struck against some old sunken wreck.
Cargo and everything were lost ; but the vessel, which
belonged to Middleton and Pollock, of Sligo, was insured.
—Galway Pucka.
NEW MODE OF PLUNDEIL—Within the last few
days a gang of juvenile thieves have endeavoured to gain
admission to dwelling-houses for the purpose of plunder,
in the following novel manner; Three or four of them go
about together, accompanied by a dog, whose appearance is
sufficient to alarm any timid person, particularly females.
As soon as the street-door is seen to open, the animal, evi-
dently trained for the purpose, makes a rush into the house,
and either bolts up or down stairs, as may take his fancy.
The confusion naturally excited 'swag them by the appear.
ante of the dog in the house is snotty increased by the boys
shouting, '• Don't go near him, he is very savage—mind he
don't bite you," &c. At length one of them kindly offers
to relieve the parties from their apprehensions by following
the dog and dragging him out of the house, his confederates
remaining in the passage ready to avail themselves of every
opportunity to plunder the house that may present itself.

CLERICAL.

NlO
The Rev. Septimse Henry Lee Warner, to the vicarage
of Houghton in the Dale, in Norfolk, oa the presentation of
the Rev. Daniel Henry Lee Warner, of Walsingham
Abbey.
Rev. Henry Jones, to the perpetual curacy of Shelley, in
Suffolk, on the nomination of Walker Skerrow, E q , and
Henry Urut ton Thompson, E.q., M.P., trustees of the will
of Sir William Desumaurice Rush, knight, deceased.
CrlLACllll.—William Armin. Slipper, to Thirue.
Lewis Thomas, to Broome.
Richard Bcndyshe, to Denham.