The Express.
London, England, 1867-09-25 00:00:00

ETWOPPY

THIS MUTILATION OP TEA

THE GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY.

Yesterday afternoon, Dr. Hardwick° deputy-
coroner for Central Middlesex, held an nest at the
Rsulway Hotel, Colney-lietch, relative to the death of
Fanny Slim, Mary Anne, and Henry Albert Roddis, aged
seven, five, and three years respeetively, who lost their
lives in a shocking manner on Saturday morning by being
run over by the express rip Midland train while erasing
the line, at a short distance from the Colney-hatch station.
Mr. Wontner, solicitor, watched the proceedings on be-
half of the Great Northern Railway Company ; and Mr.
Ring, solicitor, appeared for several local inhabitants
interested in the inquiry.
The jury having been sworn viewed the bodies, and
afterwards proceeded to the scene of the accident, which
is about 'NC yards from the railway station. A public
pathway runs parallel with the line on the western side,
and in the attempt to get on to it by moans of a crewing
over the line reached by a bye. way on the eastern ride,
the poor children came by their death. On the return of
I the. lry, evidence of identification was given by
mily
um. Taylor, hall porter at the Colney Hatch Lunatic
Alfred Glover, platelayer on the line, deposed to having
found the bodies inunealately after they had been run
over. Ha said he was attracted by the noise et the
whistle, and on Wiring round he saw the dessesed chil-
dren under the engine. The train dragged the Smiled*
lids thirty-four yards, and the bey lefty-ow yards. He
picked up the body of the boy, which was nearer to him
than those of the girls, and laid it on the bank. The body
drawly Eliza was dismembered and lay on the rail, and
Mary Anne's body was in the middle of the line. A goods
train, which was going at the rate of four miles an hour,
just before the express came up.
William Smith, being examined, said he was an engine
(Myer, and drove the express train from telemeter to
King's-crass on Saturday morning. When the goods train
lied passed the mowing he saw the deceased children on
the line, but as they were only four or five yards distant he
he could not stop. The train was going at the rate of 40
miles an hour. He stopped at the station, and reported
the occurrence.
Benjamin Murgatroid said he was guard of the np Mid-
land express on Saturday morning. He was looking out of
the window, and after the goods train had passed he saw
the children get on the line in front of the engine. As
soon as they stopped at Colnsy Hatch station, he found •
Keck straw bat belonging to one of the little girls attached
to the train.
Edward Taylor, the first witams, was recalled, and
stated, in answer to the coroner, that he supposed the de-
ceased children were going " blackberryin g." They crossed
and recrossed the line four thrice a dey, on their way to
and from school.

A juror remarked thlt from 100 to 130 children pawed
over the crafting daily.
Mr. Ring said it was a regular thoroughfare wholly um.
guarded.
John Angus, residing at 10, Ely-place, Colney Hatch,
laid there were twenty cottages on the eastern side of *a
lift, sad the children residing in them went over the '
crossing daily to go to Flying Barnet echo& There wee
also an infant school on the eastern aide of the line.
Edward Dibben, station-master at Colney Hatch, was
next examined. He stated that the wowing in question
was a public • , and he had never heard of an acci-
dent having occurred there before Saturday last. He was
not aware that the company thought it unsafe at any
time. Up to four years ago the creasing was approached
by an embankment. He did not think it was more fre-
quented now than formerly. Four years ago the path was
diverted, sad a safer and • better way of approach was
made, but it was altered at the request of .aome
parishioners, who did not like to have the old church path
removed.

—fie witness, in reply to Mr. Ring, mid no one wee stn-
boned to protect the path. There was • bridge between
the crossing and the tunnel.
The foreman, in the course of some remarks, said the
accident might bare been avoided by small expense on the
part of the company, and the construction of a tunnel
under the embankment. He thought that if Blackstone
was any authority, the company were liable to a charge of
murder.
The Coroner said the jury might memorialise the Great
Northern Railway Company for a tunnel or approach, and
he was sure the request would be attended to.
The foreman thought the killing of the deceased children
was a powerful memorial. lie considered that under Lord
Campbell's Aot the case was one for compensation.
The Coroner replied they were not lawyers ; they only
wanted to know the come of death.

The jury then retired, and returned with a verdict,
which being read by the coroner, was pronounced by that
gentleman to be one of manslaughter against the company,
inasmuch as it charged them with not hiving cued proper
precaution.
The foreman said they did not intend to return a ver-
dict of manslaughter, although they wished to say some-
thing strong with regard to the company.
The Coroner said any remarks they wished to make
should he made the subject of a distinct resolution.
The jury spin retired, and, after a long deliberation,
riturwa with a verdict of "Accidental distil," accompa-
nied by • resolution to the effect that they were of opinion
that all public creasing, on reeds and railway lines should
have proper superintendence and protection for the pre-
' vend= of accidents in future. They also considered the .T
crossing in question to be =rife, and they thought the .41."
we of the mother of the dammed chilblain to be • proper • '
one for the consideration of the Great Northern Railway
Company.
Kr. Weenier said he had been instructed to say that
the =now would bear the =pease of burying the chil-
dren, and it had been the intention of the authorities of
the company to lay the circumstances of the mother of
the children lid= the board of direct.= ; but after the
strong animus against the company that had been shown,
be could not my whether those views would be altered or not.
The Coroner std the Great Northern Company invaria-
bly gave arialimos in eases of this kind.
The inquiry then terminated.
THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT OP THE
METROPOLIS.

A meeting of the Council of the Metropolitan
Municipol Association was held yesterday at 209, Picca-
dilly, for the purpose of establishing some means of inter-
communication between the several districts of the metro.
polls and the City of London, interested in the establish-
ment of local municipalities in London ; Mr. CONTI
Citing in the char.
Letters of apology far .1
flueatial Nimbus of Mau
The committee now ()mats of seventeen members of
parliament and about 200 other gentlemen resident in
t►e sevend parliamentary boroughs.
Mr. Banns proposed—" That public meetings be con-
vened in each pullardentery borough, and that special
invitations Ye addressed to the local vestrymen, for the
purpose of subeiltsing and diagnosing the proposed bill.;"
which, being seconded, was carried unanimous y.
The Hun. Secretary *as requested to convene the
meetings, and to request the lord Mayor to allow the use
of some suitable room at Guildhall foe the purpose of en-
plisiniug the proposal to the corporation of London.
It wee decided to press the question upon the govern-
ment by a deputation, and to make the same as large and
Anil uential as possible.
It was also decided to canvass the leading parishes for
pecuniary support, and to obtain signatores to petitions la
support of the admire, so as to present a vigurous front I.
the eusuing session.
The meeting then separated.

'bosses were read from many in.

Mr. and Mrs. Howard Paul &matinee their bene-
fit and . last appearance at the Strand Theatre for this
evening, when the whole of their popular entertainment
will be given.
(hint RATING IN THE EARTNRF
Opium eating, it is said, goes on to an incredinle extent
in the eastern counties. Dr. Hawking, of King's Lynn,
toile the readers of the Medical Journal that half the
opium imported into England la consumed in Lincolnshire
and Norfolk. One Lynn chemist sells 2001 b., another
1401 b. a year of solid opium, besides five or six gallons of
laudanum, and five or six gallons of " Oodfrry's Elixir"
(a pint of laudanum in every three gallons) a week. Plis
will be shurtled to hear of drawers full of half-draohnt
perketa of opium, of which many customers take three
a day. A farmer came in to get some good lau-
danum. " How, many drops?" asked the chemist.
" Drops ?" was the reply; give me an ounce and a half."
The chemist looked at him, sow he was in the habit of
taking it, and gave him the dose. He drank it off, re-
turned twice in the day for the same quantity, and took
home a half-pint bottlefull with him when he left the
market. The habit is no new one. The present writer
can mach for its existence in and round Spalding, and
even across is Leicestershire a dozen years ago. The ex-
cuses would be obvious—deficient food with the poor,
ague and " rbeeir.atie," 'lading an anodyne. with others.
But it is a growing habit, and Dr. Hawkins speaks very
strongly of its pernicious effects in poisoning the
To it he attributes the excessive infant mortality in the
district, and the " !Miserable, feeble, brownish yellow
countenances so striking among many of the inhabitants."
In fact, he thinks its effect on the system almost as bad as
those of syphilis, and hills for same interference to dis-
sent-lege what is becoming a cause of wido-spread de-
generacy in the breed.
Important evidence was adduced yesterday at
the inquiry held by Mr. Lewis, the coroner Inc
Elmo, Wetly* to the death of George Chememau, the
steersman of the Metis at the time of the colliaion between
that vessel and the screw rtesizooollier Wentworth on the
evening of Friday, the 6th of leptember. The inquiry
was adjourned to Friday, the 4th of October.

PAWS F.EIIII3ITION FIEST-CLA.SS SILN Eft MEDAL, 1867
JOHN BROGDNN.

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JOHN BROGDEN'S GOLD ALBERT CHAINS.

JOHN BROG DEN'S GOLD BROOCH CHAINS.

BROWN and POISON'S CORN FLOUR
for CHILDREN'S DIST.
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To obtalti ultra profit by ado; alteritinda arCeotnetimea
offered luster of BROWN and POISON'S.
..3oho Kr au," ...John Palma," Is akraed by the makers on
each packet.

COVENT GARDEN PROMENADE
CO:TEATS.
COVENT HARDEN THEATRE. EVERY EVENINO at Eight.
tinder the sole direction of Mr. JOHN RUSSELL
Thursday nights, a Selection of Classical Mork: Other nights
Miscellaneous. The Programme Is varied every evening.
Conductor—Sigoor BOTTESINI, and for the Ussice Musk Herr
JOHANN STRAUS:A—Admission, Ous BhilUng.