The Express.
London, England, 1853-02-08 00:00:00

INQUEST ON MR. DAURENT.

OXFORD, MONDAY.
This morning an inquest was held in the Summer
Common Room of Magdalen College, by G. V. Cux, Esq.,
M A., her Majesty's coroner for the University of Oxford,
I and a jury of matriculated persons, on the body of Mr. 0.
J. Daubeny, aged 19, a commoner of that society. The
' room was nearly filled with andergraduates and renews of
Magdalen. Amongst the latter were the Rev. Dr. Bloxam,
Dr. Daubeny, Rev. Dr. Newman, Rev. Messrs. Bulley,
Oarneey, Knight, &e.
The Coroner, in addressing the jury, said he would not
detain them from the necessary duty of viewing the body.
He was sorry they had been °bilged so soon again to visit
this college on such a melancholy occasion. It was true
that amongst so large a body of young men accidents must
at times occur. Indeed, there were reasons to be thankful
that there were no more. It seemed that there was a pro-
vidence which took care of them in spite of themselves.
There was reason to believe, however, if greater precautions
were taken, they might be in a great measure prevented.
Still it was possible that even if duuger posts were placed
all down the river, such accidents would not be altogether
prevented. It was a very sad consideration that such a
calamity should have again befallen a member ef so good
and excellent a family, and they could only trust that the
deceased's distinguished relative, a member of this society,
might long be spared to adorn the university.
The following evidence was taken;
Mr. Arthur Henry Nicholas kerning stated that he
was net a member of the university, but was living as
a pupil at the house of the Reverend G. 11rwliuson,
in St. Ofles's ; that on the afternoon of Saturday be and
demised hired a boat and went down the river. Oa their
way down they asked the way to the weirs. I was directed
by the university waterman, who is paid by the authori-
ties to assist and prevent accidents. They pasted under
the arches of the Long Bridge, and when within about 10
yards of the lasher, they found the current so strong, that
both stood up in the boat, and with the sculls tried all
their might to keep the boat off the lasher. The boat,
while they were doing this turned round, and went over
the lasher stern-foremost. Witness saw deceased. He
was out of the boat, but close to it. The witness swam to
the boat, which was about five or six yards from the lasher
and was partly filled with water. Deceased called out for
me to come to the boat. Witness partly swain and was
partly carried by the stream. He reached the boat and
hung on to it. Deceased at this time struck out for the
shore. He swam a little way and was then lost sight of.
He was much the beet swimmer of the two. Wit-
ness called out to him " Save me !" The boat
then took him right across the basin. He heard no
cries of distress. When the boat was near the
I shore he found it sinking from its weight.
Ho then swam to the shore, which was only a few yards.
Witness then looked round for his friend; he saw his hat
luting. The body
He immediately gave au alarm, and when the men came to
render assistance, be stayed on the bank a quarter of an
hour, and was then persuaded to go home, as he could do
no good there. Witness (nor deceased it appeared after-
wards) had been on the river here before, and was
not aware of there being a lasher until they were aura
upon it.
Mr. George Charles Hitching', surgeon, stated that about
3 o'clock, a messenger came to his house and informed him
that a gentleman was in the water. He hired a boat at
Hall's, and took the humane box with him, and arrived at
the spot before the body was found. When discovered he
found deceased's watch had 'topped at a quarter to three.
The body had been in the water three-quarters of an hour.
Witness bad not much hopes of restoring animation, but be
thought it best to try. He suggested that it would be most
desirable, where the Royal Humane Society's apparatus
was kept, that at each place • bath should be provided
sufficiently large to admit the body of an adult. He stated
several instances of the benefits derived from placing the
body in a warm bath, and more particularly alluded to the
case of two children that he had restored from drowning
by using a bath.
The Coroner stated that be had no doubt of Mr. Hitch-
ings's valuable suggestion being put in practice ; he would
certainly mention it to the proper authorities, and that
without delay.
Thomas Hands, boatman, son of the university water-
man, stated that on Saturday afternoon be was acting as
deputy for his father from one o'clock until five. De-
ceased and the first witness passed him in a two cored boat,
and asked him to show them the way to the weirs; be
replied through the Long Bridges. In answer to the
Coroner he said he did not caution them of the lasher; he
said that they handled their oars and managed their boat
well, and he thought it unnecessary to do so, although as
witness admitted, the lasher was just now, as the water was
subsiding, more dangerous than when the floods were very
much out. He afterwards went to the spot, and then de-
scribed how with the assistance of three other persons the
body was found.
Other evidence could have been provided, but the jury
coinciding with the coroner, expressed themselves sati-tied
with the evidence, and without clearing the room returned
a verdict of " Accidental death by drowning from the upset-
ting of a boat at the Weill Lasher Pool."

COMMISSION OF LUNACY ON A LADY OP FORTUNE.
—A writ de lunatic° inquirendo was executed before Mr.
Commissioner Winslow and 16 special jurors, at the Abbey
Arms Inn, Plaistow, Essex, relative to the mental condi-
tion of Susannah Grundy, aged 68, of Cobley-hall, Plais-
tow, widow of James Grundy, Esq., late of Waltham
Abbey, who when living wax, together with his wife and
her sisters, the wealthy proprietor of extensive house aid
freehold landed property. The commission had issued on
the petition of Mrs. Duff, of Manor-house, Poplar, • sister
of the alleged lunatic, and was supported by Mr. Giraud, of
Furniyars-inn. The jury proceeded to Cobley-hall, and
examined Mrs. Grundy. They found her in bed, though at
twelve o'clock in the day. Her replies fully confirmed the
evidence, and they returned a verdict, dating the unsound-
ness of mind from Ist of April, 1848.
CHEAP POTATOES.--A vessel belonging to South-
ampton, riding off oar coast duving the late hurricane, was
driven down to the Orkneys. On being blown so far out of
course, like • provident man, the captain determined to
make the best of a bad job, and, accordingly, he endea-
voured to obtain a freight at several of the northern ports.
At length, arriving at Dumbarton, nothing offered except
potatoes, so he resolved to purchase a cargo, and last week
he arrived at Shields, but, unable to dispose of his cargo, he
took his ship rotted to Sunderland, and commenced to retail
them over the side of the vessel at 7ld. per stone. The po-
tatoes were both white and red, and of excellent quality,
and when the news began to spread, people went in crowds
with swills, baskets, hampers, &c., and the whole cargo was
taken away as last as it could be weighed. The wholesale
potatoe merchants were taken aback, as the previous price
ut t,underiand had been le. per stone, and when about halt
of the cargo was disposed of, a large dealer offered to pur-
chase the remainder, but the captain declined, determined
that the poor people should have the benefit of the whole.—
..Omelet...and Herald.